The Christmas holiday season is all about giving. Giving of ourselves in various ways, and giving gifts to the people we care about, which includes family, friends and co workers. When times get a little tough, like they are right now, and money is tight, there’s not as much money to spend on gifts for everyone. If you’ve got five or more people on your usual Christmas giving list, then this can seem like a big problem. You don’t wanna come off looking like a Scrooge, yet, you can’t bust your budget either.
Ok, so you’ve only got $300 to spend on everyone this year and you’re determined to stick to this budget. After all, bills have to be paid and you’ve got to keep food on the table. First thing you need to do is throw any guilt you may be feeling out the window. So many people are in the same boat right now that most people will understand that you can’t spend elaborately for presents.
Secondly, write down the names of all the people on your normal gift giving list. Take time to look at this list and think about your relationship with each of these people. What do they really mean to you and how well do you get along with them? This is important, because there may be people on this list who you feel obligated to buy a gift for, but aren’t really all that close to them.
Put a check by the names of people who you feel the strongest connection with. These are the people who you will spend the time to buy Christmas gifts for this year. For the names you didn’t check, you can send them a Christmas card, with maybe a photo of yourself, or the family tucked inside. Or, if you’re a wee bit creative, you can write them a poem or heartfelt note. The personal touch is always appreciated – even more during the holiday season.
The people who you do plan to buy gifts for, you’ll need to do some thinking about how you plan to divide the $300 budget amongst them. For children, you’ll want to get them that one special gift that they’ve been asking for if it’s within your budget to do so. If it’s a pricey item(s), you may decide to spend most of your budget on them. If you just can’t swing for it at this time, then give them an IOU with the name of the item written on it. This let’s them know that you know their wishes and do plan to give the item to them sometime in the future. Also, the IOU relieves you of guilt. Give them something a little less exciting, but still something they’ll find cool.
For the adults on your list, you can give a lot of thought to what type of person they are, and what you can reasonably buy them within the $20 $40 range that they’ll really like. Practical gifts like gadgets, perfume, books and clothing are always great ideas. If someone plays golf, you can get them a nice golf shirt. If someone likes to cook, you can get them a cooking gadget or cookbook. If someone likes to draw, you can get them a drawing pad and art kit.
While a $300 budget for Christmas gifts may not seem like a lot of money at first, with some careful thought and real planning ahead, you can stretch that money further than you ever imagined. Coming up with practical gift ideas that the people on your list can actually use and enjoy is a great way to show them that you care, and, best of all, you can continue to feel good about the quality of your gifts.
Author Resource:
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