Christmas often busts our budgets and it’s a shame. That’s not what the season is about at all.
Here are some tips to help keep you in check and maybe brighten up your gift giving experience at the same time!
1. Keep all of your receipts and continue to watch prices on items that you have already purchased. If the price drops, take your receipt and ask the store to refund the difference. If all else fails, return the item and re-buy it at the lesser price.
2. Use cash. If money is tight and/or you are trying to stick to a budget, use cash. It’s so easy to lose track of what you’ve spent when you are swiping a debit or credit card. Put your money in an envelope and when it’s gone, you are done.
3. Make your gifts. If you have someone that has everything, consider making a gift. I’m sitting down with my kids this weekend and we are going to make some gifts for family members that seem to already have it all. If you need some inspiration, Pinterest is a great start. You might be interested in my “I Can Make This” board if you need a kickstart!
4. Do a lot of asking! If you see something that you like, ask where it was purchased. You might find a great deal! My friend’s teenage daughter is making wreaths that look like they are from a really expensive boutique. They would make an awesome gift and I could buy several for what I would pay in a fancy shoppe!
5. Gift thoughtfully. Sometimes we get really caught up in the size of the box under the tree and forget that sometimes the best gifts cost the same amount and can help in our everyday life. If you have a person on your list that is just making ends meet or sometimes gets slapped big time with Murphy’s Law, think about a different kind of gift. For the price of a sweater, you could buy a gift certificate for an oil change to keep their car running smoothly. Perhaps you could buy a one-time house cleaning (a fabulous gift for a new mom). Think about something that would really help their life, but might be considered a splurge. Just buying one oil change or one house cleaning (or the like) can be less money than what you would buy in the store, but the blessing will be even more! (Use those coupons on these items! They aren’t exempt.)
€¦ and remember, there’s no cents in paying full price!
* This post is part of a weekly segment on KSBJ Christian Radio. For more on segments featuring Stephanie Click, the Texas Money Mom, click here.
