Here I want to explore the best ways to save for Christmas and on Christmas gifts. There are a lot of suggestions and ideas on how to save money on Christmas. Gift giving is really a gift of the Magi concept. What I mean by that is we are to be intuitive enough to know what the recipient of the gift desires. Giving of ourselves a sacrifice to make the gift recipient joyful. Gift giving should not be a task required to check off a box. For example, giving a gift of time to someone who desires a store bought gift is wasteful. They really don’t want it and the gift is not appreciated.
This year make a list, but shorten the list. Don’t blanket the gift idea to make your season easier. If that is the case, make the Christmas season super easy and send out a memo that you’re not giving gifts this year. Buy for your immediate family only. Be honest with yourselves and others. Be intuitive and go through the list. Think of what gift this person might receive joy from this year. Homemade gifts should align with their request, not what you want to give them. Take time this Christmas to give thoughtful gifts to your top 10. No more than 10 people and set a budget amount overall. Allow time for shopping and homemade creations.
Store Bought Gifts
Thrifty home moms know that store bought gifts do not have to be expensive. The first way to save is look for deals or coupons. Black Friday is a great day to hit sales and enjoy hefty discounts. Another way is to shop year around. If you know someone wants a Keurig then wait for a good deal on one. Holidays and summer are the best time to shop for cold weather items.
Another way to save on store bought gifts is to not buy name brands. Finding the same product without the special name isn’t a bad thing. Name brands are very expensive. If a person on your Christmas list does want a name brand product or item shop thrift stores, garage sales and consignment shops.
Thrifty Home Gifts of Time
Someone who hates to clean would love to have someone clean their home. Make a simple thrifty home gift certificate with a small dollar tree gift and give them something they will use. Another person might be super busy so some freezer meals or prepared meals delivered on their request can be given. Be creative and give a time gift of what the person needs or wants. Thrifty home families think outside of the box with a multitude of ways to save.
DIY Christmas Gifts
Who doesn’t love a DIY Christmas gift? If someone made me a quilt it would bring me so much joy. A quilt would bring me joy if I liked quilts. Making someone a gift that you like to me is a blanket gift. Trying to cover as many as people as possible with a gift that is easy to make. Instead, using your top ten list choose to make gifts they will be happy to receive. Gifts that bring them joy.
Every year we make a movie basket for my mother- in-law. She loves it, and we switch it up. Last year we added in her favorite drink (Pepsi) and a blanket. Using the same idea with different themes each year allows us to stay in the budget.
Consumable Christmas Gifts
Making consumable gifts is a great idea. I like to package them in a basket idea if it is for a family member. For example If I make a batch of cookies, then they will be divided up and handed out with a wrapped gift they requested. Another way that I shop is to ask questions year around. Knowing who you are buying for is very helpful. Cheese baskets were popular when I was younger, and they were great because there were so many kinds of cheese. But, to someone that cannot eat dairy it isn’t the best gift.
This Christmas give the gift of thoughtfulness. Find out more about the top ten people on your list and shop intuitively. For more tips on how to live a more frugal life sign up for my newsletter.
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