Holiday Shopping on a Budget

I have a very large family.  My parents are divorced, and they both remarried.  So, in addition to my two siblings, I also have six step-siblings.  They all have spouses.  And now there’s children too.  Plus, I’m married, so I’ve got the whole in-law thing.  Seriously, the holidays could break my bank if I let them.  Luckily, I’ve learned a thing or two about saving money and still giving great gifts!  Here are a few of my tips to help you save this holiday season…

Draw names. If you have multiple siblings, and they all have significant others, shopping for everyone can get a little out of hand.  After a couple of years of trying desperately to buy for everyone in our ever-growing family, we all gave up.  Who wants fifteen crappy gifts?  Just set a spending limit and draw names.  You won’t spend nearly as much, you’ll give a nice gift, and you’ll get something you might actually want in return.

Reuse gift wrap. Wrapping gifts is expensive!  I save every gift bag, box, and piece of tissue paper that’s salvageable after the holidays, and I use them again and again.  I can’t tell you how many times the same gift bags have sat under our Christmas trees.  Be sure to save the tissue paper that came in those packages you ordered.  They are usually stuffed full of tissue paper, or thick brown paper that’s great for wrapping.  I highly recommend making your own wrapping paper out of brown packing paper or brown paper grocery bags.  Just stamp a little holiday color on, and you’ve got really adorable (and cheap) wrapping paper.

Go homemade. I don’t know about you, but I could spend my entire paycheck on Etsy!  Still, there are some really great, and really affordable, hand made gifts.  Personally, I’m always amazed at the bargains you can find on Etsy for such lovely items.  Be sure to hit up your local craft fairs as well.  You can find beautiful things for reasonable prices, and you can often haggle if needed.  If you are crafty yourself, then get your craft on!  Make ornaments for everyone in your family, or knit some scarves.  The possibilities are endless!

Bake something. Want to give something, but you just don’t have the money?  Bake some cookies, make some jam, whip up some candy.  Food is always appreciated at the holidays, and baking won’t break your bank!  Plus, holiday treats make wonderful hostess gifts for your holiday parties.

Do a swap. I adore my friends, and I want to by them gifts at Christmas, but I can’t get something for everyone.  You always run into that problem of where to stop the list.  Who do you not buy for?  Again, draw names, but this time pick a budget and a specific gift.  Scarf swaps are great for this time of year.  Ornaments make great swap gifts too.  With a small swap, you all aren’t worried about who to buy for and how much to spend.  Plus, it makes for a fun mini-holiday party at lunch one day!

Send a card. There are a lot of people in my life that I would love to be able to buy gifts for, but I just can’t.  Still, I have always found that sending a thoughtful holiday card goes a long way.  I know that I always feel great when someone takes the time to write me a heartfelt note and the holidays, so why not do the same for others?  Just taking the time to tell your coworker/hairdresser/teacher/etc. that you appreciate them is really what the holidays are all about.  Just make sure you write a personal note.  Sending a pre-signed card with a photo of your puppy is not enough!

Skip each other. I know this might seem strange, but my husband and I rarely buy each other Christmas gifts.  Our birthdays are both in the fall, and we already get so many gifts at Christmas that it seems silly to spend more money on ourselves.  If you are really strapped for cash, consider skipping each other this year.  Truthfully, time with the one you love is more valuable than any gift you can give!

Happy holiday shopping!

Original photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/98214568@N00/75793086

Popularity: 4% [?]