Financially speaking, gift giving gets a bad rap. It is not the price of the item that matters, but the thought and love shown by the person presenting a gift that is much more important than the trinket used to symbolize that love. That's why moms and dads get all teary eyed when they receive handmade treasures from their little elementary students. They know that these little ones had limited access to funds for a present, and they get to hear all the silly details that made this particular gift a true gift from the heart.
Saving money on gift giving requires thinking differently about it. Suddenly the challenge isn't how to find time to shop, but making extra time to be thoughtful when you do. It could even mean planning things out well in advance, so you can share some of your hidden talents through a gift that you make yourself.
Not to worry if you decline to share those hidden talents. You can still save money on gift giving because the true art of giving a gift is in becoming aware of the person who will be receiving it. It's sad to say that many times, relatives receive gifts of little or no value to them. If you give a gift just for the sake of doing so, and without thoughtful consideration of who you might be giving it to, you may as well save your money. The gift will be worth nothing more than its monetary value, decreased now that it has already been sold at least once. Giving gifts like that is a waste of time and money.
On the other hand, if you know how to shop like pro, and you've taken the time to think about who will be receiving your gift, you can save a lot of money on gift giving. Half the battle is planning what you will buy beforehand. This should be done well in advance so you can comparison price shop. Watch the ads, search the internet, clip the coupons, and if you can, buy in larger quantities to get that extra discount that some retailers offer.
Finally, do everything you can to avoid paying full retail price for anything. There really is no need with so many choices available these days. Chances are you will be able to find great gifts on sale. Don't limit yourself to a particular item. Be flexible enough to buy a comparable item that costs a lot less. Feel free to repackage things you find on the ninety percent off shelf too. Just because the package is a little banged up, doesn't mean the gift is broken. Check it out thoroughly before purchasing, and if a gift you want to give is in good condition, but the packaging is messed up, go ahead and get it. There's nothing wrong with being creative in the wrapping department after all.