The holidays are the time of the year to show the people around us our gratitude and how much we care about them. They deserve the best, but to a lot of people, this means overspending on holiday gifts. You do not have to break the bank to give awesome gifts. Check out these ideas instead.
Use a wish list
Asking your friends and family to write wish lists is a great way to make sure that you get them something they really want. Let them make wish lists early on, so you can buy their presents throughout the year. Make use of social media or sites like Elfster to gather a list of their wants and needs that you can easily refer to when you see something they might like.
Wish lists are also useful for shopping sales. It is easy to get carried away when seeing a big discount on a potential Christmas present. If you have wish lists to refer to, however, you can keep yourself from spending money on something they will not enjoy.
The wish list does not have to be specifically made for the holidays. If you have loved ones who made a birthday wish list and a wedding or baby shower registry, you can refer to it when buying holiday gifts.
Stick to your gift budget
Allocate your holiday gift budget early on and make sure that you stick to it. Instead of setting an amount right away, you can put money away for the gift budget during the months leading up to Christmas. Use the wish lists to guide your budget.
There might be some entries in the wish lists that you can make on your own. Instead of buying, you can simply include the materials in your budget or exclude the gift altogether if you already have the materials at home. You get to save money and the recipient of your homemade gift will surely appreciate the care and effort you put into your gift.
Your budget should have space for a few extra gifts, as well. Last-minute parties and get-togethers are common during the holiday season and you sometimes have to bring a gift to these gatherings.
Time your shopping well
You can score great discounts throughout the year, so do your gift shopping ahead of time. Everything, from perfumes to flat screen televisions, goes on sale after a big holiday, like New Year and Valentine’s Day. This way, you do not have to wait for the big sale events when everyone else is clamouring for the same discounted item.
Think about the seasons when buying your gifts. Skis, for example, usually go on sale on the summer months and camping equipment in late autumn. Some products also come around seasonally, like how it can be difficult to buy beach-themed home décor in October.
Special gift services like champagne delivery are in-demand during the holiday season. So you should place your order earlier to anticipate the longer delivery time.
The holidays are a time to be extra generous, but you should not overdo it. Follow this guide and save money on Christmas gifts, as a gift to yourself.
