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How to Be Festively Frugal and Still Afford All the Usual
Christmas Gifts
By Dave Kershaw
Traditionally, the festive season is a time for giving but the reality
is that many of us simply cannot afford what we may have had in previous
years. The recession has certainly changed the manner in which we
approach the festive season rush, and has definitely changed our
behavior when purchasing gifts.
A hug is a great gift - one size fits all, and it is easy to exchange.
~Author Unknown
It is not the size of the gift that matters, but the size of the heart
that gives it. ~Quoted in The Angels' Little Instruction Book by Eileen
Elias Freeman, 1994
Here is a list of clever ways to not break the bank this festive season
that will allow you to budget effectively but still spoil your nearest
and dearest, albeit with a careful grip on the purse strings!
1. Draw Names - If you have always bought individual gifts for your
extended family, consider drawing names instead. Put all their names in
a jar and each person pulls one and buys or makes a gift for that
person. Some families even have the children do this within the
immediate family. It is a great way to do Christmas on a shoestring
budget.
2. Give a Family Gift - Rather than purchasing individual gifts,
purchase one gift for the entire family. Board games, photo books or
family journals are great choices.
3. Make Homemade Gifts - Now, now! Homemade does not have to mean
strange looking pottery or inedible homemade culinary 'delights'! Search
on line for craft ideas that involve supplies you already have around
the house. Photo albums are always appreciated by grandmas and grandpas
while tasty baked treats are received with delight by neighbors and
friends!
4. Gift Certificates for real life - If you want to survive with your
wallet intact during the Festive Season, do not buy expensive
store-bought gift certificates. Instead, make your own. Print your own
certificate from you or the kids for a free car wash or a ticket for
planting the garden in the spring. The recipient/s will enjoy those so
much more than a purchased gift that would probably just end up sitting
at the back of a closet.
5. Swap Toys - If you are worried about getting toys for the children,
but cannot afford the prices during the Festive Season, consider
swapping toys with neighbors. As long as the kids do not live right next
door to each other, no one will be the wiser.
6. Shop Second-hand - With careful shopping, you can find brand new
clothing for a fraction of the cost you would pay in a department store.
7. Do not shop for yourself - All the special offers around at this time
of year make it easy to adopt a one for me, one for you mentality. Set a
rule that you will only shop for the people on your list - not yourself!
The payoff: Less clutter in your home and more money in the bank!
8. The gift of your time - This is the thing that many people most want,
even though you cannot technically wrap it up and put it under the tree.
Consider spending time with those you love, as a gift for them this
Christmas. Not only will it help your pocketbook survive the Festive
Season but it will also strengthen the love you feel for each other.
About the Author:
Find out more about the author and the author's views on:
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