How to Save on Gifts When You Have A Lot of Them To Buy
Christmas gifts can get expensive, especially when you have a lot on your list to buy. With many people having large extended families, this is often a reality. Outside of the normal tips for saving, here are some additional ones if your “Santa’s List” is a mile long:
1. First and foremost, make a budget and stick with it. Those little moments where you are tempted to go outside your budget will add up fast if you don’t.
2. Consider doing “family gifts”. This is where instead of buying individual gifts for each member of a family you are buying for, you buy one that they can all enjoy. For example, if you have to buy your brother’s family’s gifts, try giving them a movie basket. In it, include a couple movies, popcorn and candy. This way, they get a gift they can all indulge in and it gives the an excuse to get together to use it.
3. Do a gift exchange instead of individual gift giving. Get together with your family and pick names out of hats in order to make sure everyone gets a gift and no one has to spend their life savings. This is very useful for large, close-knit families.
4. Buy gifts in bulk. By this, I mean, when you find a sale on a certain type of gift, say board games, buy one for each child (age appropriate) on your list. Most kids like board games and this will take care of a large section of gifts you will be buying.
5. Make some of your gifts. Bath scrubs, soaps, and goodies all can be made fairly cheap and you can make a large quantity at once. Just jazz each one up with something that fits it such as a new loofah for the soap or a nice serving plate for cookies.
6. Don’t worry too much about being too “cheap”. The last thing you want to do is go over budget because you are worried that the giftee will not like what you are getting for them.
7. Coupon for gifts. You can get shaving cream, soaps, makeup, body lotion and most any personal care item free or cheap with coupons. When you have a bunch ready to go, just head to the dollar store and make themed baskets for those on your list.
8. Buy gift cards at a discount rate on websites like cardpool.com. You can usually get them for lower than the remaining balance on the cards. Who doesn’t like a gift card? If you don’t want to give them, use them for doing your shopping. Buy a discounted one and buy gifts for others with less money!
If you need some gift ideas, be sure to check out our GIFT SECTION!
10 DIY Christmas Gift Ideas
5 Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas Under $25
Plus you can find more frugal Holiday Tips here:
You could not have posted this at a better time- things are tight this year. Thank you!
These are all great ideas! One year we required everyone to make a gift for each family member. We all enjoyed receiving gifts that were specially made just for us.
~Bonnie @ Our Secondhand House
Yes. Budget, plan, then plan some more and maybe budget a bit. Thanks for posting. Hello from Busy Monday.