Cheap Christmas Gifts

As each year goes by, our families grow and friends multiply. Christmas time rolls around and you want to get something for everyone but your budget is just a little lacking. Here are some ideas to help you get something for everyone or just about everyone on your list without breaking the bank.

First of all, if there are multiple children in your family you will probably not be able to get them everything they ask for. However, if you do a little planning and use a few sensible shopping tips you may just be able to achieve the impossible.

You need to determine what your holiday budget will be per child. Start buying Christmas gifts six months in advance and sooner if possible. You can plan on purchasing about 2 toys per month, per child, until Christmas. Shop for clearance toys at places like Target, K-Mart, and Wal-Mart. They always carry good clearance items.

Offset additional costs of items by using rebates and shopping early before the Christmas crowds. Right after holidays are a great time to shop online for drastically reduced items. Make sure you keep a list of all the Christmas gifts you have purchased and where you purchased it in the event you need to return it later, and also, stay within your budget limits. This way you will have a reminder of what each child wants and you will want to always try to get at least one item for your child that they have requested.

For the others on your list, there are any number of cheap ideas that require a little thoughtfulness and creativity. One good idea is to make calendars, mugs, memory books, or even puzzles, out of photos and use inexpensive websites to create a personalized gift that will be a big hit.

Another idea that won't be much more of a cost to you is to bake little extra goodies. You can bake in advance and freeze some items, such as cookies and breads. Print out little recipe cards and attach to each gift and the recipient will be thrilled that you thought of them. You could even gather your family and friends' favourite recipes and make a recipe book that you can print out at home or at an office supply store pretty reasonable. This is a gift that will be treasured for years, and perhaps passed down through generations.