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Holiday Shopping at the Bottom of the Budget


Christmas is right around the corner and not only have you not finished shopping for everybody on your list, but you’ve been a good budgeter and you’re almost out of cash. You are NOT alone!  There are some things you can do to stay within your monetary limits and still hit everyone for whom you’d like to get a present; it just might not be as extravagant as you’d hoped.

Here are some ways to save on last-minute Christmas gifts.
  1. Food–what are you famous for? Do you bake? Put your talents on display and take some goodies to a few of your family members.
  2. Cutesy “neighbor” gifts–Christmas-colored hand soap in a pump bottle, a dollar-store mug with hot chocolate or towel with a candy bar, there are lots of ideas online of cheap, quick, and easy things you can do to share your holiday spirit. Just include a little handwritten card with some curling ribbon. If you can write a poem to go with it, even better! If prose is not your thing, just ask Google.
  3. If you are crafty or artistic, make something one-of-a-kind for friends.
  4. Make homemade “coupons” for something you can shop for after Christmas during the killer sales.
  5. Regifting–this CAN be done tactfully, but the rules are strict (search “how to regift without getting caught”).
  6. Service–don’t ask what you can do, just find something that needs to be done and do it.
  7. AVOID shopping online this late in the game–the extra shipping you’d pay to ensure its pre-Christmas arrival will put you way budget way over the top.

Don’t panic–you CAN do this. The goal is not to go deeper into a debt hole so you’ll be ready to start eliminating debt right after the new year. Speaking of the new year…come back and we’ll talk resolutions.

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