by Dana Sailvie

Created on: November 16, 2010

It is definitely in the air at the moment – and this year it is not that Christmas feeling but budget cuts! Even those who are not directly affected by the recent economic downturn are feeling the need to scale back and re-evaluate what they spend this Christmas. Fortunately, this does not mean that Christmas will be less magical and special and indeed it can mean that it is more so, as more time and attention is paid to Christmas present buying when you are on a budget.

Firstly and most importantly everyone should set themselves a budget for Christmas shopping. Work out your overall budget and divide this between the list of people that you need to buy presents for. This will stop you from making those last minute impulse purchases and most importantly prevent you from spending more than you can afford to this Christmas.

Once you have set your budget for each person it is a good idea to have a brainstorm of ideas for what that person might like. This will really get you thinking about what sort of interests and likes the recipient has and mean that your gift ideas are really focused on something that they would use and enjoy. Spending that little bit of time thinking presents through before you hit the shops means that there will be a lot more thought put into the gift and it will be more likely to be something that the recipient will really enjoy.

Some of the best presents come from the heart and it is evident that there has been a lot of thought that has gone into their purchase. Searching for that one off piece of jewellery in thrift and antique stores will not only save you money but also provide you with a truly unique and personal gift for that special someone. Search second hand book shops for pre-loved books that you know that your recipient will enjoy, old fashioned bound versions will also look very attractive displayed in their home and it will be evident that you have put some thought into the genre of books that they enjoy.

Similarly, handmade gifts always go down well, mainly because of the personal effort put into making them. Make some jam or chutney for your grandparents or aunts and have children draw Christmas cards for family. These little handmade tokens do not cost much but will be treasured much more than a shop bought gift or card.

Ultimately, Christmas is about showing your friends and family how much you love and care for them and nothing shows this more than a well thought out, personal and individual present. It will have much more meaning than money can ever buy.

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