Frugal Christmas/Holiday Giving?
By wiccania
@wiccania (3360)
United States
October 14, 2008 11:45pm CST
What kinds of things do you do to make holiday giving more frugal?
First of all, I buy stuff on sale. I seem to have a knack for finding things for people that they absolutely LOVE for under $5. I did all of my shopping one year (for 15 people) with less than $75. It was a great year for frugal gift giving in my house.
I also love to do handmade gifts. I gave my sister a blanket for her birthday today that cost me $10 and about an hour's time to make and she really likes it -- especially since it means she can cuddle up to Captain Jack Sparrow every night if she wants to ;)
Re-gifting is the ultimate in frugal giving, and I don't really find it to be poor taste. Rather than have something you're NEVER going to use get thrown away or collect dust in a closet somewhere, I prefer to re-gift it to someone I know will like and use it.
2 people like this
8 responses
@gyanarath (10)
• India
15 Oct 08
In holiday i also make a travel camp to Mysore . Then buy some famous things in that place .Meet my friends & gift them.
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
15 Oct 08
I do handmade gifts: I knit and sew things. We collect up points and use them to get gift cards, which we use to buy people presents.
I try to find things on sale, or clever combinations of bought items and made items. It can be hard work but it's a lot of fun.
@happythoughts (4109)
• United States
18 Oct 08
I am making a lot of the gifts we are giving this year. I dont have a lot of money but I can give my time. I dont have a lot of extra time but I will make it all work. I have about an hour that I spend here each day. Im sure I can take some of that and use it to make stuff.
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
16 Oct 08
i make a lot of presents and am working on scrapbooks for our 4 nieces and last year i corss stitched a snowman for my mom (i also make my own christmas tags). i start shopping the day after christmas (boxing day means a huge sale in most of the stores) so right now, i am about 50% done my christmas shopping and i shop at sales and thrift stores.
@BinaryKat (735)
• United States
19 Oct 08
When it comes to the holidays, I go to the dollar store and find little knick knacks that I know my family would like and use them as stocking stuffers. I also crochet and knit and one christmas I made everyone a stuffed animal. They absolutely love them. My dad keeps the brown teddy bear I made for him in his office on a shelf with the rest of the toys on display. I sometimes also go to the bookstores like Borders as they have like cute things that are 50% to 75% off the price.
@eaforeman6 (8979)
• United States
15 Oct 08
I bake and also order some freebies. I also look for bargains and specilas. I do check the dollar store as well. I also like to buy baskets, fill them and decorate them.I am baking breads this year. Cheesebread, and different breads in my bread machine and they will be gifts.I look for things that fit that persons tastes.If you have anymore good ideas. Let us know! Happy Mylotting!
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
15 Oct 08
Just last month i bought nice stuff for my grown up cousins... they cost only around $2 but i know they will love the gift because it is from a popular brand... i was planning to finish my chistmas shopping two saturdays ago... because there was a mall wide sale... but i was not able to do that because my daughter got sick... so i had to stay with her at home...
I am hoping that before November ends... i will be able to complete my list... with the other mall sales that will happen... and like you.. i also prefer to re-gift... but right now... i don't have any available...
