Tips for Cutting Down on the Cost of GiftsTips for Cutting Down on the Cost of Gifts
Most of us will buy gifts for other people at some point. This could be a birthday gift, Christmas gifts, anniversaries or things like this. We all tend to get them but they can cost us a lot of money. It is a good idea to think about ways that we can cut down though, particularly if we are on a tight budget or just want to save money.
Have a no Present Pact
It can be worth talking to family and friends about having a no present pact. This means that you will agree not to exchange gifts. This can be a good way for you both to save money. It is particularly good for people who do not know each other really well and therefore they end up giving things that the other person will not use. They might be really relieved if you ask because they may worry about the cost of buying gifts for you too. It is also a good way to be kinder to the planet which might be something they are concerned about as well.
Regift
If you receive gifts that you do not really want then it can be a good idea to hang on to them so that you can give them to other people that they might be more suitable for. You will need to be careful not to give a person back an item that they gave to you though. Also keep it in its original packaging and then you will be able to make sure that it looks new still. You can also regift wrapping paper if you remove it carefully, gift bags and possibly even cards. It might be possible to cut up cards to make gift tags, for example.
Look for Bargains
It can sometimes be worth looking for reduced items in order to get gifts that are cheaper. You do need to be careful though. Not all reduced items are really that cheap and you may even still find them cheaper elsewhere. Therefore, make sure that you are careful when you are buying them. You may also buy things when you see them on sale ahead of someone’s birthday and then put them away and forget about them or see other things which you feel will suit them better and buy those as well. Then you will end up spending more money rather than less.
Give Less Items
Some people always give more than one gift. They might give a selection of items because they think it is nice for someone to get lots of things or because they feel one gift is not enough. However, most people will feel that just one gift is enough. If you are buying for your children and they are young, then perhaps more gifts will be nice, but buying for adults should not mean that you have to buy lots of things. In fact, research has shown that buying one gift for a person makes it easier for them to remember what they have got compared to when they get a lot of presents from someone. This means that your present could stand out more and be more memorable.
Give Homemade Items
It could save money if you give presents that you have made to someone. Sometimes this can be more expensive but it depends what you decide to make. If you are good at cooking or baking you could make them a cake, cookies or jam. If you are artistic then you could paint a picture, make a sculpture or something like this. There are lots of ideas online and if you already have the materials then this will make it much cheaper.