I remember when the children were small and so was the budget. I was working fulltime and even though I loved the idea of making something, the thought just overwhelmed me. It was easier to spend money I didn’t have, then to think of budget-friendly holiday gifting ideas for people. I am not particularly crafty, so I worried it would just look silly. To make matters worse, I constantly battled procrastination. If you are like me, then you know that it only makes the holidays more stressful.
Holiday Overwhelm and Procrastination can Derail a Budget
Have you ever overspent on a gift because you ran out of time, or was embarrassed because you completely forgot to buy a gift for someone special. Maybe you have found yourself frantically trying to put together a last minute gift. It can leave you feeling frustrated and disappointed with yourself.
How to Come Up With Budget-Friendly Holiday Gifting Ideas
You deserve the chance to enjoy yourself this holiday season. I know you want to experience the blessing of gift giving without the gaping hole in your wallet, or the stress of deciding what to give someone. I have put together some tips to help you do just that. This would have made my life so much easier back then, and it will certainly help you now.
Tips for Inexpensive Personal, Gifts They will Enjoy
- Make a list of all the people you would like to give to this year. I recommend using the note app on your phone. I can’t tell you how many times I wrote up a list in a notebook and never seemed to be able to find it or have it with me when I was shopping.
- To make the gift meaningful, think of a hobby or habit they enjoy. As ideas come to you that fit their interests, put them down next to their name.
- Don’t worry if you can’t think of a gift right away. You can always ask friends or family members for ideas.
- Set a budget. A homemade gift can add up quickly with a long supply list.
- Look for practical gift ideas. They will appreciate it more if they know what to do with it.
- Set a plan to to complete one or two gifts a week. I would suggest having a goal of completing the list two weeks before you want to deliver them. This will give you the wiggle room for any unplanned events.
- If you have children, choose gifts they can help with. They will only love it more and it becomes a fun holiday activity the kids will enjoy.
- Keep it simple! Maybe you’re tempted to pull out all the stops, but resist. You don’t need to put extra pressure on yourself.
- Don’t underestimate how special a handwritten note is. A humble gift wrapped with a little effort and a meaningful note means more than you probably know.
- Remember the holidays are for you too. Set aside time to do what makes the holidays special for you.
