I don't know about you, but I have a tough time figuring out who to buy holiday gifts for. Babysitters, postal workers, daycare staff...who gets a gift and who gets a card, or even just a "Happy Holidays"? So I asked Debra at A Frugal Friend for some frugal advice! --Diana
This holiday season, many families are struggling with how to celebrate and enjoy everything, but on a smaller scale. Extended families are drawing names in order to give gifts and some have cut their Christmas card list significantly (postage is expensive after all).
Some of us have those people in our lives that help make things a bit easier, and we’d like to acknowledge them in some way. For some it’s the guy that mows your lawn, while others might have a favorite babysitter. Many of us just don’t have either the time or a lot of extra money to do much.
First, I think that everyone needs to be okay with the fact that some people can’t and shouldn’t spend money on extra holiday gifts. I’ve heard of moms who have felt such pressure from other parents to throw in money towards a gift for a teacher…..and they didn’t have the money to give. It’s absolutely okay to just send a card or even wish someone a Merry Christmas.
For those who want to give just a little something:
Set a budget: Come up with a small amount of money to spend on “extra gifts”. Doing this will help you narrow your list down significantly. You might decide it’s better to give a little something to the babysitter instead of the school principal.
Stretch that budget: Just like with your regular holiday shopping, utilize sale ads, online deals, clearance items, and coupons. You’ll regularly find 40-50% off coupons for stores like Michael’s and Hobby Lobby – two stores that are full of gifts.
Find Practical Gifts: When spending less, I like to give something I know the person will use, instead of something that will just sit around on a shelf.
There are a variety of inexpensive ways to say Merry Christmas:
Handmade items
Do you have a special hobby? Knitting? Scrapbooking? I know that some of the most memorable gifts I’ve ever given are my small homemade scrapbooks. I print photos for free (new members get freebies at many photo places like CVS and Kodak Gallery), buy a small scrapbook using a coupon for under $5.00, and use papers and stickers I already have.
Get the kids involved: Make handmade Christmas cards to send, using what supplies you have around the house. When I was in elementary school, I always made my teachers their gift, a wreath made out of yarn.
Homebaked Goods:
Many of us already have what we would need to bake a few batches of something special in our cupboards right now. I love to bake miniature pumpkin bread loaves and wrap them in plastic with lots of ribbon and a holiday tag. They are inexpensive and you know they’ll be appreciated.
Use Freebies: I’ve gotten many packages of Betty Crocker Cookie Mix FREE this year by combining sales with coupons. Betty Crocker has recipes where you can dress up these simple cookie mixes and turn them into something fabulous by adding just a few extra ingredients.
Fun Packages
I love it when I get a creative gift….and creativity doesn’t cost much. A few examples:
- Cookbook w/ a wooden spoon
- Movie Basket w/ video rental gift card, 2 Cokes, and microwave popcorn
- Decorated Jar filled with dry goods (flour, choc chips, etc) with recipe attached
Plan for Next Year: You never know what the new year might hold, but I always like to plan ahead. One way that I do this is to have a “gift box” in my closet. Whenever I find an amazing deal (or freebie), I grab it and place it in the gift box. It’s the first place I look whenever I have a baby shower, birthday party, or holiday coming up, and it will help you enjoy giving gifts at Christmas, without the big price tag.
Every time I think I have this figured out, someone asks me what I gave to the Administrator at the preschool, or I see my neighbors hand a card to the trash collector. It wouldn't occur to me to give them a gift! Is that wrong? How do you decide who you give a gift to?