ALT-1 Budget Gifts for the 2010 Holidays
Anyone that is on a budget right now wants to find ways to give good Christmas presents this year while staying on track. This is quite possible to do. You just have to be a bit creative in your gift giving approach. In the end, a few simple steps will help you out a lot, both with staying true to the budget you have set, and to get some good gifts this holiday season.
First, it is important to determine how much of your budget you can allot to presents. Then, the next crucial step is to not deviate from this set amount of money, but to work within its boundaries. If you start to go over-budget even slightly, it is very tempting to go over much more than originally planned. So set a firm amount and stick by it, no matter what. This way you will not disrupt your budget. Some good examples of gifts you can give would be books, picture frames, sheets, and mugs. Always know what you generally will be needing for a particular person you are shopping for, and get something close to it if it is not available. Try to take advantage of two for one sales.
Next, you need to target a few critical avenues and take full advantage of opportunities that arise. One thing to focus on when shopping on a budget is use coupons and discounts wherever possible. Yes the stores will be madhouses but you will at least save a bit of money by using coupons. Some people might feel guilty about this, but you are on a budget. You cannot afford to feel guilty for getting a good deal. Besides, it is about giving the gift, isn't it? Not about how much you paid for it.
The third important advantage you can give to yourself is to buy everything on sale. Do not pay full price for anything. This will indeed help your budget. But don't let sales lull you into a sense that you can afford to spend more because it's all on sale. Be smart about shopping. Write a list of the people you need to get gifts for. Determine what items or stores they like the most. Then find the gifts you can and get them on sale. Sales are your friend, but don't let them fool you into thinking everything is a deal. Do comparison shop. Yes, that is going to take up more of your time. But in the end it is definitely worth it, for the sake of money. Don't be afraid to take advantage of lower prices in discount stores. For example, you can find a lot of good chocolates for stocking stuffers for Christmas at discount shops.
Spreading out your shopping through the calendar year will be easier on your wallet. Buying things out of season will help reduce costs. Do not be afraid of braving the crowds if you need to. But you can find a lot of your ideal gifts if you buy them far enough ahead of time. The prices will always drop after the season and that is the ideal time to take advantage of sales. But if you have left everything to the last minute this year, just utilize your discounts as much as you can. There is no shame in that. The person you are buying for does not need to know how much money you spent on them, they will just be grateful to get a present they really enjoy.
