Budget-Friendly Christmas Shopping Tips
How to Buy the Christmas Gifts You Want While Following a Budget
Oct 5, 2009
The holiday season is busy and stressful enough. So the last thing people need to worry about is too many bills in January. Here are some Christmas shopping tips to help shoppers follow a budget and achieve that Norman Rockwell Christmas of their dreams.
Make a List to Stick to a Christmas Budget
Write down each person to buy a gift for, gift ideas and how much they cost. Add everything up and if the number is higher than the budget, start paring it down.
Decide Who to Really Buy For
Just because someone has 30 friends, it doesn't mean they have to buy a gift for all of them. Many people are relieved to stop a gift exchange that just creates stress, and instead get together for dinner or an afternoon.
Group People Together to Save Money
Many people tend to buy multiple gifts for entire families, so group them together instead. A basket with everything needed for a movie or game night (popcorn, drinks, candy, movie rental vouchers etc) makes a memorable gift that gives them the most precious thing: time together.
Save or Shop Ahead of Time
Either set aside money from each paycheck for shopping in December, or buy a few things each week, starting right now. This way, people can avoid doing a bunch of shopping at one time and using credit cards if they don't have the cash.
Watch for Sales
For those who know what they're getting for people, keep an eye out for sales. There are often discounts for shopping online, and early in the season, some sites throw in free shipping.
Homemade Gift Ideas
If someone loves to cook, making a gift from their kitchen would be a tasty treat. If they're crafty, make ornaments for friends who love to collect them. Whatever the talent, start early to avoid creating more stress in the weeks before Christmas.
Comparison Shop Online
Even for those prefer to buy gifts in person, checking out the websites of their favorite stores can save valuable time and money. By doing that research, they'll know a good deal when they see it.
Donate to Charity
This doesn't help people follow a budget per se, but it does serve as a reminder that many people need help at this time of year. Helping others can also help them feel grateful for what they have instead of stressed about what they don't have.
If people create (and follow!) a budget for the holiday season, they can reduce their stress during the Christmas rush and in January, when only the bills remain. By paring down what they buy, they have more time and money, and can focus on quality, personal gifts, rather than quantity. And that in turn makes it easier to focus on the best part of the season: time with family and friends.
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