It’s that time of the year again where the bells and cash registers
jingle and the retailers laugh all the way to the bank. If you’re the
type of generous Santa who gives gifts to everyone from your family to
the anonymous mail carrier, Christmas doesn’t have to end with you
bankrupt. Or if you dread this season for the simple reason that you are
out of cash here are a few tips that will make Scrooge proud and your
wallet thick.
Make a list- And check it twice. Any smart shopper
will tell you that the key to not exceeding your budget is knowing who
and what you are shopping for. Make a list of all your friends and
acquaintances you are reasonably on good terms with. Then assign the
amount you are willing to spend on each person. Friendship may be
priceless but gifts are not. If you are on a strict budget trim that
long list to people you absolutely have to give gifts to. You may not be
popular with all of your co-workers but at least you have your cold
cash to keep you company.
Stick to the plan- While you are shopping it is
unavoidable to suddenly see an item that you think this person would
absolutely love. You start thinking that although the item is
ridiculously overpriced it would make the person happy if you buy it for
them. Don’t. You’re sticking to the budget. Avoid that nasty impulse to
buy everything that’s marked ’sale’.
Buy for groups- It will be easier to group people by
the importance (expense) of gifts you would give them. A bunch of
people may just be given candy or cards. Buy in bulk and you’ll save a
lot of money.
Co-opt someone to share the gift- Try to waylay
someone to share a gift with you. This will help you get someone a
really expensive and special gift without costing too much for everyone
involved.
Get your Christmas jollies early- The early bird really does get the worm. Shopping months before Christmas allows you to stagger the cost of gifts.
Have your very own workshop- You don’t need an army
of elves to be extra handy this Christmas. Homemade gifts are the best
way to save money. And if you’re really on a very tight budget you can
recycle gifts and spruce them up. You can make your own gift wrappers
instead of buying. You’ll be surprised at how much this will save you.
Be thoughtful- It helps if you really know the
person you’re buying the gift for. If it’s a close friend, it’s easier
to find items that mean something to them without costing you an arm and
a leg. If one of your friends are mad about bottle caps why not fill
their collection?
Explore- Just relying on malls to buy gifts would
restrict you in terms of choice and price range. Go to alternative
shopping places like bazaars or even garage sales. One man’s trash is
your cheap gift.
Avoid buying the first thing you see- Christmas
shopping is an art and it requires patience to perfect. After a day of
shopping your feet maybe killing you and your stomach is demanding
sustenance but the key to Christmas shopping is telling yourself that in
the next shop there may be a better bargain.
Go to on line auctions- The Internet has made
finding bargains so much easier. On line shopping gives you the vast
resource of the World Wide Web in your home. Auctions give you the best
chance to get that item for a reasonable amount. Try not to overbid.
There you have it. Your bank account survival relies on you finding ways to cut Christmas shopping costs. Good luck.
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