Tis the season. Christmas and New Year are just around the corner. The end of an old year and the beginning of a new year. The tips covered in this post not only apply to Christmas but also to any occasion where gift buying may be called for. Everyone likes receiving gifts no matter the occasion. It could be a birthday, an anniversary, or the spontaneous “I was just thinking of you” gift. As exciting as it is to receive a gift, it is also just as exciting to give. The thrill of brainstorming and shopping around for that perfect item for a special person. The reaction of the person receiving the gift can be very exciting. It’s not all excitement; sometimes a person is disappointed because they didn’t get what they want or they are unable to afford the gift they want to get someone. The thought of not being able to buy gifts for those you care about can be stressful, but don’t worry, these tips can help alleviate the stress of gift buying when pocketbooks are low.

START SHOPPING EARLY

Like the saying goes, “The early bird catches the worm.” Most of us are buying gifts for the same people every year. Every now and then someone new comes into our lives, but other than them, we are buying gifts for the same parents, friends, kids, and significant others. In the case of the holidays, you don’t want to wait days before Christmas to shop for ten people. Even if you’re not strapped for cash, spending $20 for ten people at one time can be a burden. Spreading out those purchases over a period of time will lessen the blow to your pocketbook.

LOOK FOR BARGAINS

If you begin to shop early, this will give you the opportunity to shop around and look for sales and discounts. Many stores run sales and discounts throughout the year for promotion. If you see an item that you would like to buy, you can wait for it to go on sale and buy it and put it up until it’s time to present it as a gift. The biggest challenge may be where to hide the item if it’s for someone that you live with. 

LOW-PRICE ITEMS

Get rid of the idea that a gift needs to be expensive to be a great gift. What makes a great gift is thoughtfulness. If a person is only grateful for a gift because it is expensive, then they are not deserving of your effort. The key to presenting low-price items as gifts is quantity, presentation, and knowing the personality of the person the gift is intended for. If you know your uncle’s favorite beverage is Coke and his favorite candy bar is Snickers, buy those items as gifts. Wrap them in wrapping paper with a card with some nice words, and there you have it. A thoughtful gift for your uncle that is inexpensive. This strategy is perfect if you have to buy gifts for a lot of people. Visit any gift shop, and you can find many items that are inexpensive and cool.

PAYMENT PLANS

In the case that you are buying a big-ticket item, explore a payment plan. Say you want to buy a TV as a gift, and the cost is $800. You may not be able to pay the $800 upfront, but you may be able to make six equal payments over six months. If you’re able to save up the money beforehand, you should do that, but if you’re unable to, that’s fine.

LOOK FOR THOUGHTFUL GESTURES

Looking for thoughtful, inexpensive gifts takes effort and patience. You have to be observant of whoever you are buying a gift for. Pay attention to conversations and keep in mind the interactions you have with the person you are buying a gift for. Keep this in mind while you are gift hunting. Here’s an example of a thoughtful, simple, inexpensive gesture. A woman dating a guy discovered that buttons remind her boyfriend of his late mom. His mom was a tailor that used to mend his buttons and clothing. The woman decided to give her boyfriend a button with a note that reads, “So she is always with you.”

ACTS OF SERVICE

In the unfortunate situation that you do not have any money to make any type of purchase, consider acts of service. There are many reasons for gift-giving, and one of them is to show that you value a person. It is a great way to show that you value a person by doing something nice for them. This will take some effort, but it’s worth it, and depending on the person, they may appreciate this more than an item bought. We watched enough movies to know that effort put into performing an act of service can go a long way.

Here are some examples of acts of service that you can perform for someone you care about in the place of a gift. One of the things you can do for someone is make them dinner. You may be thinking, what if I always make them dinner? That’s fine; make them their favorite or something exotic that you never made before. Turn off the light, light some candles, and put on relaxing music. Set the mood, decorate the table, or change the location. The location could be on your patio if you have one or in the backyard. You also have the option of a public park or area. More planning is required, but it’s worth it.

The second thing you could do is write or find a poem and dedicate it to the person. You don’t have to be a poet. A few lines of heartfelt words will melt the heart of any loved one. If you’re struggling to find your own words, go online and search for poems that fit the occasion and the person. Another thing you can do is throw the person a dance party. This does not require a lot of people. It could be you and whoever the person is. Turn on their favorite genre of music and turn it up loud and dance your butt off. Your energy is important in this, so don’t be afraid to go all out.

Some of these examples may seem silly or romantic, but don’t think you are limited by who you do these for. Cooking and planning a dinner can be for a significant other, your child, a friend, or anyone. When you’re strapped for cash, you have to be creative and think outside of the box and not limit yourself to conventions.

DON’T STRESS OVER WHAT YOU CAN’T DO

Everyone finds themselves at one time or another in a tight financial situation for one reason or another. There’s no need to beat yourself up about it. Easier said than done, especially during special occasions when gift-giving is expected. It’s hard to face your kids during holidays and birthdays knowing you’re financially unable to buy them what they want. Take solace in knowing that you may not be able to provide what a child wants, but if you fulfill their needs, you have done your job. More often than not, what loved ones want from us is love.

FINAL THOUGHT

We live in a consumerist country (the United States), and more and more the rest of the world is adopting this characteristic. Due to that, consumers are bombarded with a manifold of advertisements. This can cause many people to feel pressure to live up to an ideal they can’t maintain. Keep in mind that the thought does count, but the thought without effort and action is useless. Not all efforts and actions will be a success, but the manifestation of trying goes way further than not trying. A person who truly cares about you will appreciate a failed attempt more than no attempt with excuses. Also, these examples are not the standard or the norm. Whether you are low on cash or not, it’s good to mix things up. It’s good to use a variety of ways to show your appreciation and affection. What matters is how you communicate your appreciation and affection for a loved one. That appreciation does not need to be communicated with expensive and luxurious gifts. The suggestion provided can help anyone make a deeper connection and stronger bond with loved ones.