Giving gifts is one of the best parts of Christmas. In fact, for many people, seeing the joy and excitement on a person’s face because of something they gave them is more rewarding than any gift you can receive. However, when you are strapped for cash, the task of getting gifts for your loved ones can be stressful. Luckily, Christmas gifts do not always need to cost a lot of money. In fact, with a little creativity and planning, you can give wonderful gifts for almost nothing. Here are ten ways to save money while still giving your loved ones great Christmas gifts this year:
1. Get baking
Baking for the people we love is a wonderful way to express how much we care. Who doesn’t enjoy sweet treats? While you will need to spend money on the ingredients, the more you make, the more value you are getting for your money. Whether you choose to bake savory bread, pies, or pastries or sweet cookies or cakes, a basket or box of tasty goodies delivered with a handwritten note will be very gratefully received.
2. Give a small gift card
Gift cards can be a great gift as they put the recipient in control of what they buy, but you do not have to spend a fortune to brighten someone’s day. Consider spending just a few dollars on a gift card for coffee, donuts, or a movie download to make them smile on a cold wintry day.
3. Order online
To save money, time, and a whole lot of hassle, consider doing more of your shopping online. You can sit at home in an armchair in the comfort of your pajamas and avoid the need to walk around an endless number of busy stores, dragging your kids and partner in tow, or paying higher prices because you have no other options. When shopping online you can compare prices from multiple retailers in a matter of seconds and order the items to be delivered to your door so you don’t have to spend money on gas or parking. Also, if you buy lots of items from one online retailer, you can often minimize postage costs.
4. Head for the clearance sales
Keep an eye on the clearance sales in the months leading up to Christmas as many of them will be trying to get rid of old stock before the new product lines come in. Clearance sales happen online and in the physical stores, and you can even set up email alerts which will tell you when prices drop.
5. Hunt for discount vouchers
You might be surprised just how much money you can save off major luxury brands if you are able to find a digital coupon. You can achieve significant savings with a bit of research including Kohls coupons for luxury watches.
6. Plan an activity
Some of the most precious things we have are our memories, and we can create the best of them for very little money. Consider planning an activity or trip which you can do with your friend or parent, such as a movie night, a picnic, a trip to the beach, or any excursion which enables you to spend quality time together. Too often, we are too busy to give people our time, but often that is all our loved ones want from us.
7. Take advantage of seasonal sales
Throughout the year, there are lots of holidays and retail seasons, and once they are over, the prices tend to drop off a cliff. Keep your eyes open after Easter or Valentine’s Day, and look out for Back to School sales, or any other short-term promotion, as you may be able to stock up on great gifts.
8. Cook and deliver a special meal
If you fancy yourself a dab hand in the kitchen, treat someone to a home-cooked meal delivered to their home. Package it up in a fancy way or prepare several meals that can be frozen and eaten later. This is a particularly good idea if you know busy new parents, students, or elderly people for whom cooking fresh food can be difficult.
9. Collect free samples
There are lots of companies offering free samples of their products all year, and many of them can be repurposed as stocking fillers or festive treats. Cosmetics and perfumes are a great example, as well as confectionary and small bottles of alcohol. This takes some preparation and works best when you package the samples in an attractive way.
10. Make it personal with a photo
Photographs bring our memories to life and keep the best times in our past fresh in our minds. There are lots of low-cost ways to add a personal photo to a gift like a cushion, t-shirt, or mug, but alternatively, you could choose to create a photo album or slide show to music. You will have a meaningful, fun, and cheap gift for friends or family with just a few clicks of a button.
