5 Smart Tips to Keep Your Christmas Gifts on a Budget
Christmas is coming! It is known to be the jolliest and the merriest time of the year. Well, it is the jolliest time indeed, except for that moment you just can’t help but feel a headache about what to get for your loved ones.
Quick Summary
- Make a List and Stick to It
- Make a Special Rule - Secret Santa, for example!
- Create Your Own Creative Gifts
- Give Them Great Time & Experience Instead
- Use Tools to Help Cut Down the Cost
Christmas has been known as the biggest shopping festival with millions of winter sales and new items. Families worldwide may spend more than their monthly income on Christmas (up to 156% of their monthly income).1
Of course, different people have their own different needs and lifestyles. Some may live in a large family with grandparents and children. Some people may have fewer people in their families.
So, the answer to the question “How much money should I spend?” usually depends on the individual. However, we have some tips on how to keep your gift-giving spree within your budget!
1. Make a List and Stick to It
A well-made list will help you to realize which gift is necessary or which is not. Likewise, you will have a clearer picture of what might be a bit too pricey. With this list, you have something to remind you that you won’t be swayed by special products with special prices.
2. Make a Special Rule - Secret Santa, for example!
These special rules will not only make your gift-giving experience more memorable, but they can also save you tons of money. There are multiple ways for you to try. Secret Santa or drawing lots for gifts will reduce the number of gifts you need to purchase to just one. Besides, you can set a budget within your group with this trick. Another interesting choice is to agree within the family that only kids will get gifts this year so that everyone won’t need to be worried about what to give to every single member of the family.
3. Create Your Own Creative Gifts
Nothing is better than something made by your hands and your heart! The ideas are limitless. You can knit something warm and cozy, draw something lovely, or bake something miraculously delicious. Even if you are terrible at art and crafts, a heartfelt handwritten letter is always well-appreciated.
4. Give Them Great Time & Experience Instead
They say time is money. So make use of it! You can take your loved ones to beautiful parks, to a show, or to an exhibition. Alternatively, you can host a board game session or an art session, bringing everyone together with one activity. Sure, some of the activities may need some budget. But you can give many people this wonderful time and experience at once. Your budget and your headache (over what to give to each person) are both saved!
5. Use Tools to Help Cut Down the Cost
Nowadays, if you choose wisely, you can save money at every step of the shopping process. In many online shopping platforms, you can search by price or search within your budget range. You can search products across multiple platforms in Google Product Search and even filter for sale-only items. On top of this, there are many other price comparison tools and apps available.
Or, if you are planning on buying something from abroad, the DeeMoney Neo application is a good option to make your international payments more affordable. You can transfer with a lower FX rate and a low-cost fee of only 125 THB on the app.
No matter what you choose to give this Christmas, keep in mind that it’s not about how expensive the gifts are. The miracle is in the good intentions and loves you're sending each other during this joyous and delightful season!
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