Many people look forward to the great deals that come with Black Friday, but others, including myself, are a bit wary of spending too much on holiday gifts. I love the joy of giving, but with leftover bills and my husband’s student loans from grad school, overspending is something I really want to avoid.
If you’re in a similar situation, don’t worry or feel like you’re being stingy. Instead, appreciate your ability to stretch your budget and still give thoughtful gifts. Here are some strategies you might find useful:
1. **Use Swagbucks**: If you haven’t heard of Swagbucks, it’s worth considering for next year. I try to collect as many Swagbucks as possible throughout the year and then convert them to a PayPal payout in early November. This year, I redeemed 10,000 Swagbucks, which gave me a $100 PayPal deposit to add to my gift-buying budget.
2. **Cash in credit card rewards**: Many credit card companies offer points that can be redeemed for cash or other rewards. For example, my card company offers $50 restaurant gift cards or $50 Visa debit cards for 5,000 points. By letting these points accumulate over the year, I exchanged 5,000 points for a $50 gift card to my mom’s favorite restaurant.
3. **Make homemade gifts**: If you’re good at crafts, homemade presents can be a really touching option. From cooking supplies to clothing, handmade gifts are a great way to show your love. My kids, for example, loved the scarves their grandmother made for them.
4. **Try Craigslist**: When shopping for kids, Craigslist can be a goldmine of bargains. You can often find “new in box” toys at lower prices than on Amazon or eBay. For younger children who don’t mind if a toy is second-hand, this can save you a lot of money.
5. **Check deal sites**: I keep an eye on websites like Groupon, Living Social, and Mamasource for big discounts on attractive gifts. Over the summer, I found a science kit at half-price on Mamasource, which will make a perfect Christmas gift for my science-loving son.
6. **Draw names**: In large families, doing a gift draw can help everyone save money. Each person picks a name out of a hat and buys a gift for just that person. To keep it fair, set a spending limit for the gifts.
The holiday season doesn’t have to bring financial stress. By using these strategies and a bit of creativity, you can give wonderful gifts without overspending. Do you have any other smart tips for saving money on holiday presents?