The holidays can be a wonderful time, but gift shopping can be a very stressful time as you decide who to buy for and what to buy. When your budget is limited it can be hard to decide how much to spend on everyone. Use this guide to decide how much to spend and what to buy.
Making a list and checking it twice:
First sit down and make a list of all of the people you think you should buy a gift for: Family, old friends, new friends, very close friends, and roommates. Then try to organize them into categories by a spending limit that can fit your budget or cut people out completely. For example, you might spend more on a gift for your parents or close friends than you would on your high school friends that you haven’t had much interaction with since the summer. It is important to remember that you don’t HAVE to buy something for everyone, if you can’t afford it.
Gift ideas with a personal touch:
The next step is to think of a few things you want to get each person. If I’m shopping for a group of friends, I like to get them all the same fixed number of items, which cost around the same price, so no one feels that someone got more than anyone else. Think of things that you notice they need or small things they’ve mentioned that they wanted, like a movie or the nail polish shade they’re always borrowing.
Not sure what to buy?
Consider their interests. Is the person you‘re shopping for an athlete? Buy them nice workout gear or a yoga mat. Do they love to read or write? Buy them a copy of your favorite book or a nice journal. Is your friend a music lover? Buy them an Amazon download or guitar picks. If all else fails, ask them what they want. It’s always nice to know that someone took the time to consider what you really want for the holidays. A heartfelt note in a cute card goes a long way during the season of giving.
Shop smart and don’t break the bank!
Shop early! Don’t wait! Now is the time that bargains are popping up in store and online. Take your time to comparison shop, but when you see a deal that it unbeatable, pounce on it! That will definitely save you time, money and sanity during this stressful time.
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