We love Christmas for so many reasons, but not everything is jolly. Even though we love giving and receiving presents, we don’t love spending a lot of money on gifts. Here are some ideas to help you save money during Christmas without reducing the quality of the gifts you give.
Shop Early
One of the keys to saving a lot of money at Christmas time is to shop all year-round and not just right before the holiday. You can save money by thinking ahead and taking advantage of great deals or sales whenever you find them.
You might find a very inexpensive item or something on clearance, and it could be used as a Christmas present for someone on your list. Buy it now while you have the chance to save, and just store it in a closet until Christmas rolls around.
As you prepare your shopping list and your trips to the mall, keep in mind, those people in your life or those you will encounter who rely on tips.
Compare Prices
People who save money, especially on big purchases, do so by shopping around and comparing prices before they buy anything.
You will almost always save if you resist the temptation to buy on a whim and instead wait until you can compare the price of the same item elsewhere. Sometimes a quick online search can yield a lower price, and sometimes you can even show the lower price to another store and challenge them to meet or beat it.
Look for Rebates and Gift Cards
There are so many opportunities out there to save money, and you just have to know where to look for them. Websites like Ebates.com reward you with cash back by just signing up for an account and making online purchases. Some of your favourite stores could offer 5% or more cash back through sites like this.
Also look for deals in stores such as a gift card for $10 when you spend $100. Take those savings into consideration to see if a good deal can be better.
DIY Presents
One of the best ways to save money and give a great gift is by making it yourself. Homemade gifts are cherished at Christmas time. The dedication, creativity, and effort you put into making the gift really demonstrates how much you care about the person you’re giving it to. DIY presents don’t have to be large or expensive, and they can be just about anything at all. There are so many ideas for DIY presents, so here are just a few to get you started.
Bake large batches of Christmas cookies as gifts and put them into inexpensive, decorative boxes. Paint or embellish a plain, wooden picture frame and place a meaningful photo inside. Follow a pattern to knit a scarf or a blanket. Make a scrapbook with photos and mementos.
There are endless possibilities for DIY presents, and there are so many ideas that you can find online, especially through sites like Pinterest. Even something as simple as making a homemade card can be an excellent way to raise the value of an inexpensive gift significantly in the eyes of the person receiving it.
About The Author:
Stacey Margaret is a mother of 5 and holiday veteran who loves to blog about anything from healthy snacks to setting a suitable Christmas budget.
Photo credit: smartphotostock.com
