How to Stay Debt Free During The Gift Giving Season

By: Dee Marie
Submitted: 2007-01-17 16:17:16
Print this article | Tell a friend | For publisher | Social Bookmarking
Rating:
 

With the Christmas season rapidly approaching, you may be worrying about the financial impact of the gifts you will be giving. It is difficult to relax and enjoy the holiday season knowing that big bills will be coming in after the start of the new year. You can have a wonderful holiday season without spending too much money. A commitment to celebrate your holiday season in a debt-free fashion will bring much peace to your life when the New Year comes around. You will not need to worry about the credit card bills that will be coming due in January and February. Here are some ways you can give gifts without going into debt.

1. Make a detailed gift giving list including recipient’s name, gift, and budgeted amount. This way you can gain an overall picture of what you are going to spend. Then, vow to stick with the list and not go over the budget. If you spend more money on a gift than you have budgeted, then another gift will have to cost less than the amount you budgeted. Take your list with you whenever you go shopping and cross off the items as you purchase them. Remember, the goal is to celebrate the holidays with no debt. Avoid impulse purchases as they are usually not budget friendly.

2. To save money on gifts for children, shop for toys and games at consignment stores and garage sales. Many times you can find items that have never been used, are in their original packaging, and cost a fraction of what they would cost in the store. Games are always a great gift idea for children as they have long lasting value.

3. Save money on your gift giving by making your gifts. If you enjoy cooking, make up some pre-made baking kits like your special cookie recipe. Put it in a decorative jar and use fancy ribbon and bows to make the presentation look great and include a hand-written recipe card. If you sew make a handmade blanket or pillow. Even if you are not the crafty type, visit your local craft store and see what gift ideas they have featured. Some of them require very little in the way of expertise and can be made inexpensively.

4. Shop for gifts at your local dollar store and create a themed gift basket of the items you find. You could choose a bath theme gift basket and fill the basket with different toiletries; a toy gift basket made of an assortment of dollar toys; or even a Christmas gift basket filled with some of the Christmas merchandise.

5. Be on the lookout for sales and clearance items. The earlier you start shopping, the better your finds will be. Scan those sale ads every week and check the clearance aisles frequently. I look for kid dress up costumes after Halloween when they all go on sale for 75% off.

With just a little bit of planning and the determination to stay on budget, you can enjoy a holiday season with no worries about debt in the New Year.

Dee Marie is a freelance writer who enjoys saving money. You can find more money saving tips and ideas at www.NotMadeOfMoney.com

Article source: Expert Articles

Most Recent Articles in Finance category

  • About Gerber Life Insurance - By: Christine O'Kelly
    We've all heard of Gerber baby food and most people can even conjure that iconic image of the Gerber baby's face on all of those mini glass jars in the grocery store. But not many people know about the Gerber Life Insurance Company, which was formed in 1967 as a subsidiary of the Gerber Products Company, made famous by its widely popular Gerber baby food.
  • Looking for the perfect car finance deal - By: Laura Smith
    When thinking about car finance it’s vital to get to the bottom of your own personal needs. If you think you may only be eligible for a small car loan you could think about hire purchasing your car.
  • How to use independent car finance advisers to get the most from your new car finance deal - By: Laura Smith
    Car finance tips
  • Great tips on getting the best Independent Financial Advice for every occasion in life - By: Laura Smith
    Great tips on getting the best Independent Financial Advice for every occasion in life
  • Car Finance Online - Easy to Organize - By: Michiel Van Kets
    If it's time for a new family car but you are worried about the financial impact on your budget, then approaching your bank for a loan isn't always the wisest thing to do as interest rates are so high. There are lots of other places you can get a loan at much more reasonable levels, just visit an online car finance broker for advice and reasonable rates.
  • Small Business Loans - By: Wallker Tuener
    The conventional structure of a woman fixes her to a stereotype, whereby she is attributed to a defined set of duties that she is supposed to perform. According to traditional society, a woman is a home maker and is capable of merely influencing the actions of men in the corporate world.
  • Learning the Foreign Exchange Market - By: Cristian Stan
    Learning the basics of Foreign Exchange Trading could be as easy as learning A-B-C. To start with, the Foreign Exchange Market is the place where currencies are being bought and sold.
  • What can I get on a Rent to Own Basis? - By: Paul Sharp
    People often confuse about what they could get on a rent to own basis. This article will answer the question.
  • What are the Terms with Rent to Own? - By: Paul Sharp
    Same as other businesses, rent to own has its own terms. Different companies may have different terms. To understand each of the terms is very important. This article will discuss the terms of rent to own in general.
  • Why are so Many Homeowners Selling Privately with a Rent to Own Option? - By: Paul Sharp
    With the popular of rent to own property, more and more homeowners involve in this kind of business. It comes a question that why are they doing that. This article will analyze the reason why homeowners sell their property through rent to own schema.