Five Gift Sharing and Holiday Ideas That Won’t Break the Bank
Christmas is approaching quickly and many people are stressed out about having a tight budget this year. Here are a few ways to enjoy the holidays on a shoe-string budget:
- Flex your imaginative muscles: consider making something instead of buying it. Everyone has something that they are good at; arts and crafts, photography, baking, making preserves. This year instead of spending copious amounts of money on gifts, make something and give it to people you know. The initial cost of purchasing the supplies will be a fraction of the price of buying gifts. Many people will appreciate that it is something you spent time and energy on, instead of lots of money.
- Do a Secret Santa: if you have a large family or group of friends, pull names out of a hat instead of purchasing gifts for individuals. Be sure to set a reasonable price for the gift and don’t forget to have fun with it. You could tease some of your friends or family members into thinking that you are their Secret Santa and investigate what several people want/need. This would throw everyone off the trail and help you gather future buying ideas.
- Arrange a simple festive gathering: so often we get caught up in the commercial aspect, we forget that the holidays are a time to gather together with loved ones. Make it a pot-luck so everyone contributes and ensure that at least some of the treats are festive. Rent a few favorite holiday movies to get everyone in the mood. Have everyone attending agree not to buy gifts for anyone else attending. You may be surprised by the amount of people who are relieved not to have to buy gifts, but still want to participate in the holidays.
- Pull something from your existing collection: maybe you have something in your closet that a friend has always admired, a book that you have been meaning to lend, or a movie that you think someone would enjoy. They don’t need to know it came from your collection, unless you choose to advise them. Should you want them to know, just be honest and tell them that you thought they would appreciate or enjoy it, so you want them to have it.
- Give a gift of your time: design your own Gift Certificate, print it and give it to someone. Perhaps you know a single mom and she is always busy; give her a Gift Certificate with however many free baby-sitting sessions you feel comfortable with. Create another to help someone shovel their driveway through the winter months. Simply examine the needs of people in your life and fill that void. People realize that time is a precious commodity and they will appreciate your thoughtfulness.
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