1. Figure Out Your Budget! It's really easy to get into the holiday spirit and over spend. Think of a realistic amount of money that you can stash away just for gift giving this year and try to stick to it.
2. Make Your List and Check it Twice! List all of the people you want to give presents to. Next to their names, jot down the gifts you are planning to give to them.
3. Do Your Homework! Try to find what the going price is for each of the gifts you want to give. A simple search on Google or Swagbucks can help you figure out what you can expect to pay. Write the price next to the item. Then start searching for sales to get an even better price! (that's my favorite part "How low can I go")
4. Check The Ads! Look around and find which stores have the best sales prices for each of the gifts you want to get.
5. Keep Checking Over The Budget! If you are going over budget you may need to readjust. And I don't mean your budget amount! You may need to readjust the number of gifts you get someone.
6. Give Yourself a Break! I think everyone gets overwhelmed by trying to find the perfect gift. Sometimes just a potted plant (think poinsettia) and a box of chocolates can be a great gift. If you are running out of steam (or money) remember, the people you are probably giving gifts to, know you, love you, and are just thankful to have you in their lives (and to have made your Christmas list). Sometimes the smallest gifts are the most heartfelt!
7. Remember The True Meaning of The Holidays! Make time to help others. Donate some of your stockpile items to shelters and soup kitchens, send a care package to a soldier, or deliver a home cooked meal to a family in need. That's what really helps to spread the holiday cheer!
Good luck readers! I hope this helps and please feel free to comment below with any great holiday tips or ideas you have! I would love to hear from you!
love this, Jaidee!!! Your blog is AWESOME.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite gifts to give for those people that you're on the fence about whether to give or not, are homemade mixes, like "cookie in a jar" mixes (google it and there are TONS of great recipes)....you can buy masonry jars cheap at a craft store, layer the dry ingredients, and decorate the jar with a pretty ribbon. Attach the recipe, (they add the wet ingredients) and you have a gift people will hopefully use, and it's cheap cheap cheap!
others: homemade ornaments (put your kid(s) to work) are great to attach to a gift instead of a ribbon. Some faves I've received as gifts are homemade hot chocolate mix and a pretty box of homemade fudge. i'm a fan of sweets if you can't tell :)
Awesome Chrissy, thanks! These are great ideas - I am thinking of putting together a new post about great inexpensive and homemade gifts that people would love to receive! I'll definitely have to use ALL of these!
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