Now that the biggest shopping
season of the year is in full swing it might be a good time to
create a holiday budget. I'm sure there are lots of names on
your list, but hopefully you can find gifts that won't put a big
dent in your pocketbook. I've come up with a few good ideas that
might help.
Make your own. Everybody
loves a homemade gift. It means that you really put some time
and thought into it. You can make your own bath salts, bubble
bath, brownie mixes and more! Choose an inexpensive jar, add a
ribbon and you've got a really cool gift that didn't cost a
fortune. You can find the recipes to these homemade gifts here:
Pioneerthinking.com And I've got some homemade stocking
stuffer ideas here:
money-saving-tips.blogspot.com
If it's too late to
start this idea for this holiday season, you can plan ahead
for the next. After Christmas is one of the best times to buy
gifts. Almost everything is marked down-sometimes as much as
50%. So create a list for next year and hit the shops after
Christmas!
If you have a talent
share it with others. You could give "gift certificates to those
on your list. Do you play the piano? Offer free piano lessons.
Are you good with kids? Offer free babysitting for a day. Are
you well organized? Offer to clean someone's house. Do you work
on cars? Offer a free oil change. These gifts cost no money to
give but could be some of the most well-received gifts!
You could take the above
option a step further buy using your services to barter for a
gift. If your neighbor sells candles and you would love to get
two or three for your sister-in-law maybe you could barter your
services. Offer her a free night of babysitting. Or maybe
there's a gift in your closet that you received last year that
you got one too many of. Offer that to her in exchange for a
candle.
Remember the holidays
aren't about buying the most expensive gifts. They are about
sharing traditions and making memories with those you love.
Shannon Jarvies is a WAHM mom with five beautiful children and
wonderful husband. Visit her
Debt Management Website to learn more about debt
consolidation, budgeting and money saving tips and ideas. You
can also join her
Money Management Discussion Group.
More inexpensive ideas:
*Check out local
thrift stores for great, one-of-a-kind items to be cleaned up,
repainted, decorated, etc.
*Write a poem, paint a picture (or have the kids do this). Place
in an inexpensive frame (from a garage sale, perhaps?) and wrap.
*Take a cute picture of the kids (like they could take a bad picture,
right?), frame and wrap for grandparents and loved aunts/uncles.
*For teachers, create a coupon for helping with a needed task
(organizing classroom/supplies at end of year, a 20 minute break for
her/him while you share a story time with the children, etc.)
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