2021 has been a financially taxing year for many, and with the holidays upon us, financial stress has only increased. Gifting can be an especially stressful holiday tradition—not to mention a huge contributor to blowing our end-of-year savings plans. Fortunately, there are many ways you can trim down and put your holiday gift ideas on a budget this year.
By making gifts at home, taking advantage of deals and seasonal offerings, and even gifting experiences, you can spend less during the holidays without sacrificing the joy of watching someone unbox their perfect gift. Here’s your definitive guide to spending less on gifting this year.
Crafty? Try a Handmade Gift
One of the easiest ways to save money on gifts is to utilize your own talents and passions to create one yourself. If you’re a craftsman, baker, potter, jewelry maker, or knitting enthusiast, why not use your skills to create unique gifts for friends and family?
Not only are these gifts one of a kind, but they are also a great way to save money if you already have the supplies around the house. Your loved ones are sure to appreciate the greater time and effort you take to make a gift by hand. Plus, this is a great way to practice sustainable gift-giving and avoid gifting items someone might already have.
It is important to note that making a gift rather than purchasing one can sometimes cost more. Make sure you’re utilizing this option only if you already have the supplies handy.
Build Your Holiday Gift Ideas Around Deals, Coupons, and Seasonal Offerings
Even though we’re approaching the end of the holiday season, there are still tons of deals you can take advantage of to save on gifts. Seasonal offerings like end-of-year sales can be a great time to purchase gifts—particularly if they’re bigger items. Stores will often try to get rid of inventory at the end of the year, which means they discount items to help open up shelf space.
When shopping around for holiday gifts, it’s always best to make a list of the items you’re looking for, and then check out a variety of sites to find the best deal. Don’t forget to take a photo of the listed price. That way, if the price listed in-store doesn’t match the price online, retailers will often give you the online listed price (as long as it’s not an online-only deal.)
There are also a number of coupon apps like Honey or Dosh that you can use to your advantage.
Give the Gift of Experience
If you’re not super crafty and your coupon hunt comes up dry, you can always opt to give your time, as opposed to your money.
For some, spending time helping out around the house can be a great gift. This is particularly true for new parents or older folks. A little help completing tasks like tidying up, making meals, or DIY home improvements can go a long way. For partners or kids, a great gift could be dedicated one-on-one time spent doing something they love, like a picnic, outdoor sport, or even a dinner out.
Shared experiences are a great way to show someone you care. These gifts usually require a bit of planning, but they can be very rewarding and can even help foster better relationships. These types of gifts also don’t contribute to excess things around the house, so they can be a great option for the minimalists in your life.
Stress-Free Gifting Thanks to DEXSTA Federal Credit Union
Coming up with holiday gift ideas doesn’t have to be a drag when you’re on a budget. With a little time and creativity, you can hunt down the best offers, create beautiful handmade gifts, or find the perfect experience to share with your loved one. Then, all that’s left is to sit back and enjoy the holidays.
At DEXSTA Federal Credit Union, we’re committed to helping our members make the holidays a stress-free time. With competitive rates on personal loans and low barriers to entry, we’re here to help you make the most of the holiday season, even with a small budget. You can find out more about our seasonal offers and personal loan options here.