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Step 1
Make a Budget: Look at your income from last money and your expenses. Determine how much play money you have. This is your budget for the holidays. Now go to the bank and get this much in cash. This will help you really feel the impact of the purchase as you buy things and help you keep track of costs.
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Step 2
Make a List: Write a list of everyone that you want to give a gift for and what you want to get. Add a couple wildcard gifts for people you forgot and people who unexpectedly give you a gift so you feel that you need to reciprocate. Now look at this and think if you can replace any of these with a homemade gift. Instead of a Starbucks gift card how about buying a cheap 99 cent basket, some cellophane, a 99 cent mug, and a small bag of coffee and make a coffee gift basket. It looks expensive and costs very little.
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Step 3
Go Online: Go online and query coupon and the gift you want to buy. Many times you can find great discounts. Additionally check e-bay.com and amazon.com, many times you can get low cost gifts here. Additionally try small online stores which often how very low mark-ups. If you are looking for canes or walkers try greendura.com if you are looking for linens try linens.com. Look for the stores that are near the end of the google or yahoo search results because these tend to be the smaller ones.
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Step 4
Block out time to shop: Do all your shopping at once. This will minimize browsing which often results in you buying more than you need. It also will minimize driving and save you money on gas. At $3 bucks a gallon this can be huge.
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Step 5
Don't Buy for ourself: Often when you go shopping it is easy to get tempted and buy yourself things. Set a rule that you will not do this. It can save you significant money.
Comments
sneedc said
on 12/22/2008 LOL one for her, one for me. One for him, one for me! Funny. Seriously though, I make my list a perpetual one, by shopping year round due to the fact I have an endless list of peeps to purchase for! GOOD TIPS!