With the holidays coming up, gift shopping can be a daunting task. What do I buy? Where do I shop? How do I stay on budget? All these questions run through my head as December starts, and as I plan my gift-giving activities.
The first major step in cheap holiday shopping is to curate a budget. It’s difficult to stay on budget 100% of the time, but if you make one, you’ll be less likely to spend hundreds of dollars on unnecessary items. Following the budget comes the harder part: what to gift? Where to shop to stay in your budget? What to get your friend who has no interests? These questions echo through my head as I begin shopping and planning, hoping to find the best gift for every loved one.
So, in hopes of benefiting your holiday season this year, below is a description of a few ways to stay on budget. There are ideas you can make cheaply, and ideas if you’re willing to spend a few extra dollars on. Take your pick, and good luck with gift giving!
DIY Gifts
My favorite way to stay on a budget while holiday shopping is to hand-make gifts. Whether it’s a picture frame, keychain, or bracelet, the time and effort put into the gift often equals a $20 or $30 store-bought item.
picture frame
A DIY picture frame is a classic. You just have to run to your local craft store and get a frame; it can be the cheapest one on the shelf. Then, paint it your gift receiver’s favorite color (or any color) and add whatever speaks to you. You could add stickers, glitter, doodles, or a quote from a song or a poem that reminds them that they’re loved. Some popular quotes include “Love actually is all around” and “Well, I’ve been afraid of changing cause I’ve built my life around you.”
A bigger frame can also be found at the store, with ample space to fill the inside with items alongside the image. This is often called a shadow box and was a major trend during Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. People were filling these frames with their friendship bracelets, Eras Tour bracelets, and any costume material small enough to fit behind glass.
homemade keychain
Another DIY gift is a homemade keychain. There are many ways to do this, whether you use a wooden block and paint it or create your own from scratch. I’ve made a few homemade key chains in my gift-giving past, many of which were made from thread and beads. I themed them after shows my friends and I were watching together, spelling out their favorite character’s name with the letters.
There are so many DIY gifts nowadays, whether you’re working with no budget or a decent amount. You can take a deck of cards and write “52 reasons I love you,” or you could paint a Jenga set for them, whatever speaks to you. If you have the time and the creativity, DIY gifts may just be the way to go.
Shopping Sales
DIY isn’t for everyone, and that’s completely understandable. It takes time and brain power, which, after finals that can be hard to conjure up. Another way to stay on budget this holiday season is to shop during sales. This may seem obvious, but there are some hacks to finding the best deals with the lowest prices.
check your email
If you’ve ever created an account with a store, whether it be Hollister or American Eagle, they’re most likely sending you emails. These messages are probably in junk, but if you open them up, you may find a coupon or two waiting for you. All the big brands like to reel you back in with a “huge sale” during the holiday season, and if you’re shopping for someone who wishes for clothes, then these deals may be perfect.
try to find pieces on clearance
Not only do big retailers often email out coupons, but they all have a clearance section. Although these clearance sections aren’t always the best, they can have good finds if you look hard enough. Many retailers also have an outlet store, which is where I’ve done plenty of shopping. So, if your gift receiver is begging for a new style or hoping to add to theirs, I’d recommend playing the game that these big corporations are setting up.
budget stores with big finds
Shopping sales don’t just apply to clothes; they can really apply to anything. If your gift receiver wants hair or makeup products, head to your nearest T.J. Maxx or Marshalls and check out their aisles. I’d recommend waiting until after leaving Tallahassee to do this because those sections are usually ransacked in the winter.
These sections are full of big brands such as Morphe 2, It’s a 10, OUAI, and anything you can think of. They’re marked down from the usual prices, making them an easy grab at a major chain.
If your gift receiver isn’t into clothes, hair products, or makeup, there are often stuffed animals, books, and electronic items on sale in the wintertime, too. I can’t promise that Jellycats will be on sale, but Amazon has plenty of stuffed creatures that mimic their softness for half the price. They may not come in the iconic blue string bag, but they’ll be much cheaper (and get here much quicker) than a Jellycat.
Holiday gift shopping can be a struggle. Between figuring out what to get, where to buy it, and how to stay on budget, it can feel more tedious than joyful. Just remember, your gift receiver will love whatever you get them, no matter what it is!
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