Christmas can be a very expensive time of year, especially when you have a big family or lots of friends to buy for, so we’re here with some simple tips to take the financial pressure off and to help you still get great, thoughtful presents, but without the huge price tags.
Whether you need to get little black dresses for your sister, a thoughtful gift for your partner or something homemade for your parents, we’ve got you covered!
Remember It’s The Thought That Counts
The first thing to remember when it comes to Christmas presents is that it’s the thought that counts. This should be in your head whenever you’re shopping to help you save money, as it’s easy to get caught up in how much everything costs, when you could think of the most thoughtful present in the world that doesn’t cost much, and that would mean so much more to the person than a more expensive gift that anyone could have got them.
Your true friends and family won’t think about how much you’ve spent, and even more importantly they won’t want you to get stressed financially as a result of buying them a present, so just focus on being thoughtful and choosing a gift that you know they’ll love, then the money really doesn’t matter.
Choose One Quality Present
One thing that we find really adds up when it comes to Christmas is lots of little presents. When you keep just getting “little presents”, before you know it you’ve ended up spending a lot of money without getting them anything that they would really love or want. So, when it’s getting near Christmas, get a list together of everyone you’re buying for, then you should make a list of what they might like for their main present.
For example, rather than buying your sister lots of random bits of clothing they could buy themselves, treat them to something special like a good quality pair of gym leggings that they might not spend much on themselves. Instead of spending money on little bits your parents might not like, why not use the money to take them to lunch and spend some quality time with them.
Before you buy a gift, think about whether it will really be used or appreciated, or whether focusing on one gift for each person is a better route to go down.
Go Charity Shopping
When it comes to gifts, you should definitely not overlook charity shopping. Charity shops and thrift shops contain so many hidden gems, whether it’s clothing, accessories, homeware or anything in between. Plus, of course, you get good quality items for a fraction of the cost! If your loved one is really into something with a bit of character, then charity shopping is a great option that will also save you a lot of money around the festive period.
You could also take a friend with you if they also need to get gifts and make a festive day out of it, with a hot chocolate along the way!
