There’s no need to go into debt at Christmas with this handy guide to saving money on gifts. Dozens of ideas.
Christmas is fast approaching. Do you have more people on your gift giving list than you have money to buy presents? There are some tips you can try that might help you get through this season without racking up credit card debt or disappointing those you love. With a little creativity, a dash of luck, and some footwork, you’ll be able to check off every name on your list.
Money Saving-Gift Giving Tips
- Don’t be afraid to get creative. Just because you wish you could give every person on your list a $25 Starbucks gift card, doesn’t mean that type of expense is feasible, especially in a down economy. The important thing is to find a gift the person will love. Although just about anyone would love that gift card, that doesn’t mean you can’t find something less expensive that they’ll love just as much. Well, almost as much, anyway.
- Sign up for coupons from JC Penney and Kohl’s. both of these stores often send out coupons for decent savings. JC Penney recently sent me a $10 off $10 coupon. In addition, they sent it to a couple of friends who said they weren’t going to use it and handed the coupon over to me because they know I love coupons. I kind of felt like they handed me a $10 bill, because, well, they did.
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- Shop clearance items. Clearance items are often pushed to the back of the store or on end caps on the back side of aisles. For example, this week, I found discounted cat toys for $1.26 each. I bought two to put in with my cats’ Christmas packages. What? Cats need gifts, too.
- Chris Telden, a sociology major, suggests in her article Good Cheap Christmas Gifts that you “buy in bulk and divvy up.” Her idea is to get a big discount at wholesale club stores and then make up your own gift baskets. You can find cheap baskets at the thrift store or at stores like Old Time Pottery, Big Lots and Tuesday Morning.
- Did you receive an item you don’t really like? Give it to someone else. Laura Brown, a Canadian blogger, explains how to regift with style. “The item must be kept in brand new condition,” she explains. It is probably a good idea to keep a list of who gave you what, so you don’t accidentally regift to the person who gave it to you. This method can really cut down on unwanted clutter, too.
Make It!
If all else fails, make gifts. If you start ahead of time, you can crochet, sew or bake items. If you are making something last minute, you might want to consider a do-it-yourself (DIY) photo project.
When you think of the Easter holiday, you likely have this perfect vision of a family gathering, perhaps an Easter egg hunt with the kids, and everyone laughing and smiling. Reality can be almost the opposite at times. At least one thing gets burned, the siblings are in a fight because one got more eggs in the hunt than the other, and three family members came down with the spring flu.
