Holiday shopping always seems like fun at the time, but when the bills start rolling in, things get a lot less festive in a hurry. The good news is that you can still enjoy giving the perfect gifts to your friends and family without the post-holiday financial hangover with a little planning. If you’re ready to break the cycle of holiday feast-then-famine spending, these tips for budget-friendly shopping will help.
Talk About Expectations
It’s easy for kids to get caught up in the season and present you with an impossibly long wish list. This is why talking with them ahead of time about what to expect from gift giving is helpful. Giving kids realistic expectations will take the pressure off of you to deliver a holiday that is out of your price range. It will also help your kids understand more about what giving is about. If you have a large extended family, talk to the adult family members about setting some boundaries. Choose a price limit for gifts that you all adhere to or consider drawing names so that each person only has one gift to buy. Budgeting for the holidays is stressful for most people, so chances are good that your family will appreciate the conversation.
Go for Thoughtful Gifts
You’ve heard the old saying that it is the thought that counts when it comes to gifts. Most people really do appreciate you thinking about them more than they do you buying something expensive. Take the time to think of small, thoughtful gifts that show how well you know the recipient and how much you care about the things that are important to them. These kinds of gifts help you reduce your budget while increasing the impact of your giving. If it is challenging to think of personally significant presents for everyone on your list, homemade gifts are another budget-friendly option to give something that is meaningful rather than costly.
Make a Plan
A surefire way to overspend on your holiday shopping is to start buying things without a plan in mind. Decide what you want to get and how much you’re going to spend in advance. This will help you avoid overspending on unnecessary items. Making a plan is also useful because it lets you shop around for the best prices and keep an eye on sales. The best prices aren’t always found during Black Friday or Cyber Monday events, so be sure to spend a little time monitoring sales to score the perfect deal.
