T’is the season for holiday gift giving, but if you are not careful, the process of selecting and buying gifts for a joyful holiday season can turn into a nightmare and stress-induced activity. Here are some holiday gift giving strategies to keep the stress away, the budget in check and the results gratifying!
Shop and ship early.
When planning your holiday purchases, plan to make as many purchases as you can early during the holiday season. By making your purchases early, you can mail any out of town gifts on time. The postal service gets very busy during the holiday season, and you don’t want your holiday gifts to arrive late. It is a wonderful feeling to be able to cross the out of town packages off your “to-do” list!
Use internet shopping wisely.
Cyber-buying saves time and energy but can be costly. It can be very easy to click and buy items and then find that you have blown your entire holiday budget. When the credit card bills start arriving in January, you don’t want to be overwhelmed with debt and worrying about how you can begin to climb your way out of the mountain of expenses you racked up being overly generous or not quite as disciplined as you should have been. Stick to your pre-planned
holiday budget,
and be careful with those credit cards and on-line shopping.
Try giving handmade items.
There are many items that you can give to family and friends that provide memories and joy without costing a lot of money. Hand-made crafts by children are always a wonderful treasure for grandparents, relatives and teachers. Kids can try their hands at handmade ornaments, cards, collages, or jewelry items. Work with them baking cookies or making homemade snacks like GORP, Chex-mix or hot chocolate mixes that can be put into specially hand decorated containers. Plus, if you are interested in making candles or molding soaps, you can find special ways to craft them into holiday decorating accents. Plan ahead to give yourself and your kids time to create their masterpieces. If you wait until the last minute to complete these craft projects, then you know you can expect more stress and less fun. The opposite results are what we want to encounter during a joyful holiday gift giving season.
Incorporate learning opportunities for the kids.
Make certain that your children understand the reason for the season and the true meaning behind the holidays. Choose a charity to which you can send a money donation or purchase clothes and toys as donations. Children will learn the importance of giving back to others and to be appreciative of the many benefits they have in their lives.
Make certain purchases are returnable.
Last tip. If you make holiday gift purchases for others, make certain that the recipient can return the item and exchange it for another if necessary. Don’t forget the gift receipts. Sometimes it may be difficult to return items bought on line, and be careful that sale items can be returned. It’s crazy out there! Now, get busy, stay safe, and enjoy your holiday season!
