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5 Great Ideas for Holiday Gift Giving on a Budget
By Rachel Becker
‘Tis the season of gift giving! With Christmas just weeks away, and Hanukkah coming to a close, holiday shopping is in full force. This year I have long list of people who I need to buy presents for. Though I would never skimp on my friends and family, as a twenty-something with limited funds, I have had to re-evaluate how much I can spend. With a tight-budget in mind, here are some financially-savvy gift giving options that will impress everyone on your list this year:
(1) DIY Gifts are the Best Gifts – Get creative! Nothing is more sentimental than a gift you make yourself. If you knit, why not knit your friend an infinity scarf in her favorite color? I used to make photo collages for my friends – with the total cost under $10.00. There are so many things you can do, and your hard work will be appreciated.
(2) Try an Experiential Gift – This year for Hanukkah, I took my mom and sister for manicures. It cost me $40.00, and it was a great opportunity for some quality family bonding. The options are endless and you can tailor the activity to anyone on your holiday list.
(3) When in Doubt, Buy them Books – Ok, so this may not seem like the most exciting gift, but agreeing to buy books for the people on your gift-giving list will help keep your costs down. Not to mention, there are so many different types of books you can find something for everyone.
(4) People Love Baked Goods –I have done this for years. Instead of running out to a retail shop around the holidays, make your friends or family members their favorite pastry or cookie. Package it up in a nice tin and you have a delicious holiday gift that everyone will love!
(5) Don’t Say No to Regifting – This may seem tacky, but it is actually an incredibly useful money-saving tip. If you receive a gift that you know you won’t use, save it for someone who will. (They don’t have to know where it came from) Just make sure to remember who gave it to you!
Hopefully these tips will provide you with some framework for your holiday gifting this year – and don’t forget to budget!
Would love to hear some of your holiday ideas here too!
Image from Laurenconrad.com
2 Responses
I love that you shared your advice about re-gifting. Why save something out of guilt when you can give it to someone who will get use/joy out of it? I’m trying to live better with less stuff and antiquated “rules” about re-gifting, returning or getting store credit for gifts seem silly. As a gift giver, I want the gift receiver to be happy, even if that means I didn’t get it quite right the first time with my present.
Cheers,
Meredith
Hi Meredith!
I couldn’t agree more 🙂 Regifting doesn’t mean that your gift giving doesn’t have meaning. In fact, there are some things I have regifted in the past that were perfect for my friends and family, but not quite right for me. The most important thing is that it goes to the right person, and gets some good use!
Happy Holidays,
Rachel