by Cody Hodge

Created on: November 19, 2009

Gift giving can cost a lot of money, and just because the economy is down, it doesn't meant that people aren't going to still want gifts. If there is anything in life besides death and taxes that are certain, it is that people are going to want to have gifts given to them on Christmas morning. So how can you create a budget that is going to help you purchase gifts, and not contribute to you spending too much this holiday?

The first thing to do is figure out who exactly you are buying your gifts for. Not everyone is going to be demanding something expensive out of you, so you can spend more on some gifts, and still stay within your budget. Think about who you have to buy for, and how many people you buy for. You should try to spend equally on everyone, but you don't always have to.

If you have a small child, they aren't going to know if that truck you bought them was five dollars, or 50 dollars, so you shouldn't have to spend too much on them. A teenager on the other hand is going to know that an Xbox costs 300 dollars, so you might have to do some figuring to see if you can afford to get that or not. Your parents probably aren't going to worry about how much you spend on them, but your girlfriend might, so you have to think about that too.

How many people do you have to buy for? If you are younger, you might just have to buy for your parents, and maybe a girlfriend. If you are an adult, you might have to buy for your parents, grandparents, kids, nieces, nephews, and your husband or wife. It can get frustrating, but if you don't have to buy for a lot of people, it can be much easier to make a budget.

Combine gifts if you can. Buy your parents both one gift. Get a bunch of movie passes for your extended family, or promise to pay for a big family dinner for Christmas. This is a good way to get everyone a gift, and maybe only spend 20 bucks for them all, while still getting them something that they can use, and will appreciate getting.

Remember, that the thought of the gift is more important than actually the gift itself. Just make sure that everyone gets something that they want, and will enjoy regardless of the price that you pay for each gift. If you can do that, you can stay within your budget, and still make sure that everyone has a merry Christmas.

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