by Christina A. Armani

Created on: October 24, 2009   Last Updated: November 27, 2011

Many of us are facing tough economic times. The last thing anyone who's financially struggling wants to do is spend too much money on holiday gifts. The good news is  there are plenty of ways to show you care that don't include going into debt. In fact, a great way to show that you care is to not go into debt. After all, your family  and friends don't want to hear you complain that you're broke do they? In a time when the majority of us appreciate the value of the dollar, no one will expect you to buy them a expensive Christmas gift.

One way to save money is to buy all your gifts at the same place. If you buy from one website you save money on shipping and handling and you don't use any gas money. Avon has great gifts for anyone at any budget. Avon has around 2,000 products and many of them make great gifts or stocking stuffers. Avon has many great gift ideas ranging from $5 to $70 that are aimed to please the recipient and not drain your wallet. However, here are some great ten dollar gift ideas. They are practical gifts and no one will have to know how little you spent on them. You can buy by phone or by catalog or online. The products normally arrive in two to three business days.  Of coarse there are other similar sites and stores including Gap, Bath and Body Works, Macys, Target, etc.

A great way to save is to wait for the best sales.  This is hard to do if you're not a last minute shopper but there are always many last minute holiday deals out there.  Retailers want to make sure they sell everything before Christmas which means that whatever is left just before Christmas will be greatly discounted.  It's also important to shop around whether you're buying in the store or online.  Comparing prices can be dull and tedious but it's great for your wallet.

The best way to avoid spending too much is calculate your holiday budget and make a list.  Include everyone your shopping for and the amount you plan to spend on them.  It's recommended that you include yourself on this list since the majority of us shop for ourselves on the holidays too.   If the amount goes over your budget you have the option to cut some people off the list or spend a little bit less on everyone.  Whatever you do make sure to keep track of that spending and be aware of how much you're spending.  Have a safe and merry Christmas!

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