The holidays are fast approaching and I know many of you guys are wanting some ideas on how to save money on gifts this holiday season. Here are a few of my ideas, but I’d love to hear your ideas as well! Feel free to add any ideas to the comment section below.
1. Write out your budget. Make a list of everyone you need to get a present for, what your budget is for each person, and then stick to it!
2. Give gifts where you get something free too. For example, Chick Fil A is currently running a promotion where you get a free Chick Fil A calendar (that has lots of free product coupons) when you buy a $20 gift card.
3. Watch Surviving The Stores for $ off or % off coupons to take to the stores. For example, JCPenney recently had a $10/$25 coupon, which would mean that you could get someone a $25 present for only $15!
4. Use sites like Savings.com, Pricegrabber, Online Price Alert, or BizRate to find the best prices on specific items.
5. Search the web with Swagbucks.com to earn gifts cards to Amazon, Starbucks, or other online retailers.
6. Make homemade candy/cookies/fudge to give as gifts. One of the most well-received presents I’ve ever given was homemade fudge! (Recipes to come soon!)
7. Make gift baskets from the items you get for free. Those who regularly use coupons at the drug stores get all kinds of products for free. Turn them into a gift basket for a fun and unique Christmas gift!
8. Give magazine subscriptions. I get most of my magazine subscriptions completely FREE, and the ones I pay for I wait until they go on sale at Amazon for only $5/year. Instead of ordering the magazines for yourself, send them to a friend or family member and give them a card letting them know their subscription will be on its way soon!
9. Be creative with extended-family gift giving. Draw names from a hat, or challenge everyone to find creative gifts for under $5 from thrift stores!
10. Cut back on presents and get the family involved in community service. Help your kids focus on blessing others instead of just thinking about what we can get.
11. In addition to #10, remember why you celebrate the holidays. Make it a point to focus on being together as a family, not on spending lots of money.
12. Start thinking now about planning for next year! Look for sales throughout the year and you can have Christmas for next year taken care of WAY before the holiday rush begins.
Do you have a “survival tip” to share? What are your tips for surviving the stores? Feel free to send me your idea in article form to “rachel AT survivingthestores DOT com” and you just might get featured! If you have a blog, be sure to include your blog link in the email so that I can link back to you. Just make sure you put “Survival Tip Tuesday” in the subject line of the email.
