Ah. I love gift giving. I love people’s reactions when they open up the perfect gift that I picked out for them. Gift giving has always been a way of expressing love in my family, but sometimes they can be dysfunctional expressing what they want. Then I got a boyfriend. Now don’t get me wrong, I love him, but he is hard to shop for. Also, I am now a broke college student. Now, what do I do about Christmas? So here is some helpful tip to do Christmas on a budget
1. Bring It On, DIY
Go grab your hot glue gun and get going, because you have some Christmas presents to make. Making your own gift is sentimental and also cheaper. If you are crafty or creative or can follow directions well, then this is the way to go. I have saved so much money by making gifts, and it gets you brownie points. There are a ton of DIY’s out there to explore online through platforms like blogs or craft stores. If you get frustrated working on an art project, I promise that your piece of work is going to look amazing and everyone will ask where you got it. So, get your Pinterest board ready because it is time to start getting the creative juices flowing.
2. Deals Are Your New Best Friend
Do your research before you buy. I know I am terrible about this. Here are the tips I use:
- Look on Amazon
- Compare to other stores
- Look for store wide deals
- BUY THAT GIFT or wait for a deal
The worst feeling is when you buy something, and then the next weekend, it went down $20. I promise if you do your research you will not regret it. I know for me that research is very scary. Do it when you are bored in class or taking a study break. The extra work will be worth the money saved.
3. Discount Stores/Clearance
TJ Maxx and Marshall’s have high-quality gifts at a low cost. Everything is pretty much at a clearance cost but find the clearance sections. These stores have EVERYTHING. They even have a food section. I have found so many gifts and upcycling things here. I recommend these stores first before any other store. The only downfall is that their online platforms do not have everything that is offered in the actual store. You have to actually step foot in the store. With discount stores, be willing to walk into hoarding central. You might have to dig through stuff to find what you are looking for. I know the TJ Maxx I go to is not organized so it can be overwhelming. I once found a $200 purse for $50. It is worth searching.
Christmas can be cheap but super meaningful for the person on the receiving end. Be the favorite gift that person receives this Christmas. Shop smarter, not harder.
XOXO
Samantha.