Making the Holidays Affordable, Part I: Gift Giving on a Budget

The average American family spends nearly $1000 on holiday gifts each year, and that doesn’t even take into account the cost of that fragrant Frasier fir tree, your colorful holiday decorations, or the ingredients for your traditional holiday feast. When you’re on a fixed income, the holidays can put a damper on your budget, but not every holiday has to come with outlandish credit card bills. 

While it’s easy to get carried away during the holiday shopping season and spend more than you can afford on that perfect holiday gift for a special person in your life, you don’t have to spend lots of cash to give a great gift. Love isn’t measured by the money you spend on someone. Actually, the most treasured gifts come from the heart. 

Here are a few ideas to make gift-giving more affordable: 

• Consider a thoughtful, homemade gift instead of one that’s store-bought.

Homemade sugar scrubs (find a link) are easy to make with simple ingredients you may even have around your house, and they’re great for smoothing dry, cracked winter hands and feet. Or put your baking talents to work and make some yummy breads or cookies for friends and neighbors!

• Give an experience. 

Time spent together can be the most memorable gift of all, and it doesn’t have to cost a thing! Check out our list of top Bay Area beaches here. 

• Skip the gift-giving tradition altogether, or change it up and make brand new holiday traditions. 

Gag gifts from among items you already own are sure to bring out the fun and laughter at your family gathering! 

Author’s note: When I was a child, my dad’s family had an ugly monkey statue that made the rounds each Christmas. Somehow, my dad ended up with it every other year...

• Draw names instead of giving gifts to everyone on your list. 

This is especially important if you have a large family or a large group of friends on your gift list. It’s much more affordable to buy for one person than ten, and you can take the time to find a truly thoughtful gift for the recipient of your gift.

You can give a thoughtful gift even when you’re living on a budget. With these money-saving gift-giving tips, not only will you have a lower credit card bill in January, it might even be your most memorable holiday yet.

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At Harmony Communities, we feel strongly that each resident has a sense of home. That they come home from work and feel pride in their environment and in their place in the greater community. That families are comfortable raising children in our neighborhoods, and that couples and singles know that they belong to something bigger than their four walls. In other words, we seek to create harmony within each community, making our communities not just passable, but peaceful, safe, functional, and beautiful.