by Sun Meilan

Created on: October 14, 2009   Last Updated: May 24, 2011

How to avoid spending too much on Christmas gifts

Christmas is considered to be a wonderful time for most families in the West, and, because it does only come around once a year, people tend to go a little bit mad and spend far more money than they intended. That may lead to a great Christmas, but the January blues then hit hard because of the lack of money. In the current economic climate, this is an even bigger problem than usual. However, there are some ways to cut down on spending, at least on gifts for families and friends.

Start early

Leaving everything to the last minute is bound to result in over-spending as you rush around the shops desperate to find something appropriate. Retailers aren't stupid; they know that people do this, and prices will be a lot higher right before Christmas. Settle down a few months in advance and make a list of what you would like to buy for whom and start planning how you can afford it by setting aside a certain amount of money each month. Of course, if you are really organised, you could buy all the following year's Christmas gifts in the January sales!

Liaise with friends and family

While you are making your list, think carefully about who you buy for and whether it is actually necessary. You may be able to suggest to certain people that, for this year at least, you don't buy for them and they don't buy for you. You can still celebrate the holiday together by sending cards and sharing a bottle of wine instead of swapping expensive gifts. Of course, this depends on the person in question, but it may well help you through a difficult time - and the other person may well be relieved as well.

Shop aound for bargains

If money is no object, then buying expensive designer gifts is what a lot of people would like to do. Unfortunately, that is not an option for most people. There is still a certain amount of stigma attached to pound shops and other bargain shops, but it is always worth looking. If you are worried that the person in question will know where you bought the present from, then try visiting shops in other areas, or make sure you buy them early enough that the gift in question hopefully won't have been noticed by the receiver. Charity shops and car boot sales are other places to look - often unwanted gifts are donated in the original packaging, but at a bargain price.

Use the Internet

You are no longer limited to a certain number of shops to buy gifts. Once you have decided on the present you want to buy, price it on the Internet by using one of the many price comparison sites. Kelkoo is one that is commonly used in the UK, but any number of sites can be found by typing 'price comparison' into Google. If you are looking for books and DVDs in particular, you should always check online first - prices are almost without exception lower than anything that you can find in shops.

Be creative

If you enjoy crafts, then consider making your gifts. Often, a hand-made gift is more welcome than a bought gift, purely because the receiver is aware that a lot of time and thought has gone into the making of the gift. Depending on the craft in question, it is usually cheaper to make gifts. If you knit, for example, you could consider knitting a bolero jacket for girlfriends - they knit up amazingly quickly and don't need very much wool. Or you could hand-make sweets and put them in a pretty presentation box. A little bit of time and thought can save you some money.

The important thing about Christmas is that you enjoy it with friends and family. It doesn't have to be an expensive occasion, it just needs a bit of forethought.

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