The tradition of giving Christmas gifts has been dramatically impacted in recent decades due to publicity from retailers. Previously, Christmas festivities consisted of giving away sweets or small trinkets, but now everything circles around expensive gifts.
Do not lose sight of the holiday season and time spent with good friends and family sharing holiday memories. The problem is that now we confuse having a good time or sharing with giving expensive gifts to everyone. However, the holidays can be financially stressful if there are insufficient funds to purchase everything on a wish list.
If you do not have enough money to buy expensive gifts, here are some tips for saving money and joyfully giving during the holiday season.
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Use your skills
If you have a special skill or hobby, use it to your advantage, especially during these times of giving. For example, if you know how to knit, then you can give scarves. If you are a natural artist, give a handmade drawing, or if you are a talented pianist, then play a Christmas melody and dedicate it to someone.
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Cook
Cooking is effortless today, especially when you can search for recipes on the internet or YouTube. You can bake your cookies and decorate them for Christmas. Or, if candy making or cookie decoration is not your preference, make dinner for your friends before Christmas. This is also an option if you are a guest at a Christmas dinner where you can contribute a dish.
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Quality time
Even though the weather is unpredictable during Christmas, make every effort to spend time with loved ones. If you do not have much time to be with certain people, make it a priority to be mentally present when you are physically present. You can offer to help prepare dinner or make decorations when you are visiting. This is a great gift to parents when you no longer live at home.
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Books
Books are a good option because it is only necessary to know the type of genre the person likes. Although books can be costly, you can search online for used books, visit flea markets, or shop at resale bookstores for a favorite author or genre.
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Photo memories
Before social networks, having photos of relatives was a treasure. You do not need to print all the photos you have with your loved ones, but a better idea is to gather those old photos from their boxes and create an original album as a gift.
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Gift exchange
Gift exchange is a great option when you do not have enough money to give a gift to each member. It is unnecessary to put a minimum or maximum limit on the exchange since you may not know the economic situation of others.
Exchanges do not require things to be acquired in stores because gifts can be creative. Use your skills and create your exchange gift. Take the necessary time to have options, acquire the material, and make your gift.
Other Ideas
Christmas gifts do not necessarily need to be packaged or wrapped. You can give surprises to your loved ones in many ways. You can vacation together at the beach later that year or provide them with gift certificates to amusement parks, nice restaurants, or a concert. Give a gift that provides a new experience or brings happiness. If so, you will feel at peace during the Christmas holiday.
Contributing to a gift with others also lessens your financial burden. You have two options for financial peace: either you save money from the start of the year for Christmas expenses or buy different gifts each month according to your budget. Always try to avoid overspending if you are spending money altogether. You can make a shopping list that suits your budget.
People have multiple memberships or paid accounts, like Netflix. If you wish to balance your Christmas expenses, you will need to avoid purchasing additional items, or you can share some expenses with a friend. This way will lighten your monthly financial burden so you can use the saved money during the holidays. It not only gives you financial relief but also gives you a chance to spend time together with your friends.
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