1. Budget
2. Make a list — and stick with it
Once you know how much money you have to spend, you can start looking for gifts that fit the bill. Before buying, browse. This way, you can create a neat list of what you want to buy for each person. Now, here comes the hard part: sticking to your list. If you commit to sticking to your list and avoiding impulse buys, you have a good chance of staying within your budget.
3. Shop with Cash
When shopping for holiday gifts it can be tempting to pull out your credit card and worry about paying it off later. Avoid this urge! Remember the budget you created? Stick with it. Just because you can put something on a credit card doesn’t mean you should. Also, research shows that people are apt to spend more with a credit card than they are with hard cash. When you pay with cash, you know exactly what you started with and exactly what you have left. Then you can use your handy budgeting app to keep track of all your purchases.
4. Shop Sales
Sometimes, sales shopping can result in impulse purchases. After all, if you see decorative candles on sale for $2 apiece, how can you not buy them? But these are not the sales we’re talking about. Buying on sale will save you money only when you stick to your budget and list. When you know what you want to buy, you can shop around for the best deals. Alternatively, if you find something that’s not on your list but costs the same, you can change your list. Just don’t buy double! Black Friday and Cyber Monday are typically great times to find killer sales on large and small items.
5. Go the Homemade Route
Buying retail is great, but getting a homemade gift can be absolutely lovely as well. While you need to know your audience for this one, creating something yourself can result in a unique and special gift. Homemade jewelry, photo collages, scrapbooks, and gift baskets are just the beginning. Check this out for more inspiration.
It’s the Thought That Counts
It may be corny, but holiday gift-giving is usually more about the thought than the actual gifts. Buying or creating a gift that’s thought-out and especially suited for a specific person shows that you put a lot of thought and effort into it. Moreover, it’s a way to show the people in your life that you care about them.
