Cheap Christmas Gifts

’Tis the Season to Be Broke

According to the National Retail Federation, the average consumer will spend $791.10 on gifts and decorations during the 2006 holiday season. However, it’s not uncommon for families that have one or more children to exceed this amount by several hundred dollars or more.

To get your spending under control, look for thoughtful yet affordable holiday gifts. Instead of focusing on showing your love by spending a certain dollar amount, try to pick presents that show you understand the recipient’s likes and dislikes.

Ideas for Cheap Christmas Gifts

Cheap Christmas gifts typically fall into one of four categories:

• Food gifts
• Practical gifts
• Gifts for the home
• Entertainment gifts

Since everyone has to eat, food is always a great choice for cheap Christmas gifts. Consider the following suggestions:

• Small box of gourmet chocolate
• Homemade hot cocoa mix
• Homemade cookies or cookie mix
• Home baked bread with a copy of the recipe
• A glass jar filled with assorted hard candies
• Bottle of sparkling cider
• A peppermill with fresh peppercorn

If your friends and family appreciate practical gifts, this opens up a several options for cheap Christmas gifts. For example:

• Sewing supplies
• A flashlight with batteries
• Kitchen gadgets
• A set of dish towels
• A do-it-yourself car wash kit
• Address book
• Stationary set with stamps

When giving Christmas gifts to couples, items for the home are always appreciated. Possibilities include:

• Photo albums
• Picture frames
• Christmas ornaments
• Scented candles
• Potted plants
• Handmade fleece blankets

If you’d prefer to give a “fun” gift this holiday season, there are many inexpensive ways to show your friends and family how much you care. For example:

• Books
• Magazine subscriptions
• DVDs
• CDs or iTunes gift certificates
• Board games
• Puzzles
• Craft supplies

Shopping Tips

As you’re searching for cheap Christmas gifts, remember the following tips to get the most from your holiday shopping dollars:

• Before you head out to mall, grab a copy of your local paper to compare the sales at your favorite stores. Or, if you prefer to shop online, visit My Simon to do some virtual comparison shopping.
• If you decide to do your Christmas shopping online, use a site like Current Codes to obtain codes for free shipping and other discount offers.
• Look for “buy one, get one free” deals to cross two gifts off your list in one trip.
• Consider signing up for a store credit card at your favorite shopping spot to gain access to special discounts and sale notifications. (Just remember to pay off the balance as soon as possible!)
• Plan ahead if you need to use the post office to mail your gifts. Don’t pay extra for priority mail!