How to Reduce Holiday Giving Expenses

Why spend your holiday bonus on wrapping paper and bows? If you want to stretch your dollar for better gifts or put some money in the bank, ignore the empty excesses of the holiday with these tips.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. RE-USE.
   >Use last year's tissue paper and gift bags.
   >If you must attach bows then tape them on. Don't remove the stick'em cover that way you can save them for next year.
   >Cover gifts with the paper grocery bags, the Sunday comics if available.
   >Store Christmas stockings to use the next year.

2. REDUCE.
   >Cut your list of recipients in half. If that is too painful, give them a greeting card. (If they give you a nice gift every year then they might need to stay on the list.)
   >Cut down the number of gifts for each recipient. Think quality not quantity and spend big on a nice gift rather than really big on a bunch of so-so gifts.
   >Sometimes quantity is quality, especially for someone (grandma?) who doesn't receive a bunch of gifts. Keep all gifts meaningful but don't splurge on any of them.

3. RECYCLE. (RE-GIFT)
   >Gather unused free samples into a themed gift basket. Include a gift certificate for a special touch.
   >Gift with purchase 1: Clinique gives product bonuses with minimum purchase that usually include makeup and skin care - add a loofah, a manicure kit, and fun nail polish for a great teen gift.
   >Gift with purchase 2: Your new TV purchase included a few free DVDs. Add some instant popcorn and movie candy for a great guy gift.
   >Kids Re-Gift: Your child received an age inappropriate gift (too young or too old). Send it on to a child who is the right age for enjoyment.
   >Pick gifts apart: You love the smoked sausage your boss gave you but not the cheese ball. Pass it on with an assortment of gourmet crackers.

4. DIY.
   >Buy a cheap roll of newsprint paper from an arts supply store. Let your kids decorate it with drawings. Or buy a sponge in a holiday shape (holly leaves, trees, angels), dip it in tempera paint and create your own print. No sponge? Cut shapes from a large halved potato.
   >If you have kids, let them make greeting cards rather than buying them.
   >A tin of homemade cookies, hand sewn pillows, or anything else crafty will appeal to some of your recipients.

5. BULK UP.
   >Buy greeting cards in bulk boxes. Stick to a general Holiday theme for a broader scope.
   >Buy gifts in bulk when they are on sale. Try to find the same thing in different colors for variety. Great for co-worker gifts or for all 15 of your cousins.
   >Buy gift cards. Pick stores you know people shop at (Home Depot and Borders Books). This is a huge time saver. It can also save you face if you forgot someone's gift and need a quick fix.
   >Go to a bulk store like CostCo and buy an entire pallet of gourmet popcorn tins, one for each person in the office. Don't get carried away with bulk items though, be certain you've reduced the number of recipients on your list before you go shopping.

Tips & Warnings

• If you don't remember who gave you the gift then you cannot re-gift it without taking a big risk.
• If you've had it forever, don't lie. Tell the recipient their gift has held special meaning for you and now you are passing it on as an heirloom.
• If you wouldn't want it for a gift, probably no one else would either.

Resources

• Easy Ways to Earn Extra Income
• Freebies and Discounts Guide
• Sewing for Beginners

[jawhite664]

on 11/9/2009 great ideas! i use these tips every year to save tons of money! 5*

[elkim]

on 11/2/2009 fun article, makes me wonder how many times i have been re-gifted!