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It’s the season for giving! Christmas doesn’t have to also be the season that you go into massive debt to gift something to friends or family members. If you want to take part in the giving festivities this year but without breaking the bank, try these 9 quick tips to save money on gifts this Christmas.
1. Create a Checklist.
Write down the names of all the family and friends you want to have a gift for. Then, when you purchase the item, check them off your list. This will help you stay on track and work as a reminder that you already purchased that person’s gift.
2. Shop Black Friday and Cyber Week.
You do not have to go into a physical store to shop on Black Friday. Most Black Friday and Cyber Week deals are available online. Plan out each purchase on your list. I like researching items at bestblackfriday.com where you can compare prices by item.
3. Search for Store and Item Discounts.
A simple Google search can save you a ton of money. Simply google something along the lines of “Duracell coupons” or “Kohls Coupon.”
You can also find coupons on coupon exchange groups on Facebook.
4. Search for Cashback.
I like Ibotta and Rakuten. These cashback sites are completely free to use and most times you even get a cash bonus for signing up under our referral links.
5. Make Use of Your DIY Skills.
This is the ultimate tip to save money on gifts this Christmas. If you are creative, you can give the gift of your skills. Just make sure you are not one of those people who tend to spend more on the DIY than you would just buying the item at retail price! Here are some DIY ideas:
- Crochet/knitted scarf
- Baking cookies
- Wooden project (signs, etc.)
- Photo in decorated frame
- Candles
- Garden rock painting
- Artwork
6. Never Pay Full Price for a Gift Card.
Here are some places that you can get discounted gift cards:
- Raise.com
- Giftcards.com
- Ibotta
- Cashback apps such as Shopkicks (earn gift cards for free by scanning in-store items in your free time.)
- Reward websites – check out .
7. Skip Buying Pre-Made Cards.
Either make your own or skip them altogether. Just stick a couple of bucks in an envelope instead.
8. Have a Gift Exchange Game.
I’ll never forget when I traveled to my husband’s big family get together the first year we were dating. Everyone was told to bring a gift that was at least $30.00. Then, a song was played and every time the vocalist sang a specific word, we passed the gift we were holding to the right. At the end of the song, we were allowed to make one additional switch with whoever wanted to trade.
The game was so fun. I’ll never forget everyone’s eyes locked in on the wine-boxed shaped gift. I don’t even remember the gift that I received, but I’ll always remember the fun I had playing that game.
9. Re-gift.
There is nothing wrong with re-gifting a nice item that you have gotten in the past, as long as the item isn’t terrible. For example, maybe you are a football fan and were gifted a scarf with your rival team’s logo on it. It would be perfectly okay to gift that to someone who loves that team – or as a joke to another person who doesn’t like that team.
Some important takeaways here are that you should always make a list that includes everyone’s name and the gift you want to get for them. You should also research the items online and find the absolute best price with all discounts applied. And if you don’t want to buy personalized gifts, ask your family or friends if they want to do a gift exchange game.
Just remember that you don’t need to go further in debt this Christmas. Be creative, never pay full price, and most importantly, enjoy the time with your loved ones!
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