Great Gifts on a Budget

Americans often overspend at Christmas especially - many bemoan the holiday expenses and the cost of high dollar gifts. Set an amount and stick to it - and with some creativity you can easily cut expenses drasticly, have no Christmas debt and still give great Christmas gifts! 

Give a serious look to your talents and USE THEM. Can you build things from wood? Can you weave or make quilts or do you preserve things from the garden? Did you take some awesome photographs this summer or perhaps you are mechanically inclined? Perhaps you don't have these talents but are a businessperson who wants to give more personal gifts. There are ways to save a LOT of money. There are ways to give gifts that the recipient can truly appreciate because it's tailored to THEM with just a little thought and preparation. So you're highlighted your talents (and resources) on a piece of paper. 

Now write down who you plan to buy gifts for. Family members, secretaries, co-workers - whomever you need to get gifts for. Think of each individually? What are their interests...what have they mentioned doing or wanting to try or picking up a need. Play salesman...uncover the need only instead of selling something you're giving something to fill the need. Divide your list somewhat by age - under 10, 10-15, 15-18 and adult. Save the majority of the bought gift budget for the kids. Remember even with making things you'll need to buy supplies...it's what you do with the supplies that makes a difference. For example - you might buy $10 of wood but with it can make something that would have cost you $50 or more to buy it! With that you have saved $40. Has someone on the list recently moved into a new home? Has someone made mention of struggling with the food budget? Has someone mentioned wishing they could get a task done but they're unable to do it?