For the first time I can remember, I’ve found myself headed into the month of December without having a single holiday gift purchased.

Typically by this time, I’m just about wrapping up (pun intended!) my annual pilgrimage to find the *best* presents for those on my list.

This year? I chose a trip to Germany over indulging in a bit of Black Friday madness (it is definitely my favorite retail holiday).

Despite the sense of urgency I feel to cross off all the items on my list, I’ve decided to take a more frugal approach to my gift buying this year.

Here’s the frugal holiday gift-giving guide I’ll be adhering to as I make my way through the throngs of thirsty shoppers:

Shop Around

Before making any purchase, I’ll make sure to dedicate a few extra minutes to searching for the best price, deal, coupons, etc. for the item.

I also won’t be afraid to ask stores about their price-match guarantees (some online retailers will match brick & mortar store prices and vice versa!), I’ll check a few of my favorite online haunts for extra savings (email me if you’d like the list) and I’ll be sure to peruse the Sunday newspaper circulars.

Think outside the box

This one will be done quite literally–I’m going to try to give as many non-boxed gifts as possible. Sound a little strange?

When you consider that gift baskets are a great, frugal way to customize a gift for that special someone, I hope you’ll see what I mean with this one. Bags and baskets are on the agenda this year–and what they’ll be filled with will vary depending upon the recipient.

Stock up

While out shopping, if I notice a great sale or clearance on a certain item, I’ll pick up a few extras (within reason–talking more like $1-$5 here, not $100s!).

Regardless of whether or not these items make it into the holiday gifts I’ll give this year, they’ll certainly be saved for the plethora of birthdays, anniversaries and weddings that are in the near future. 

Embrace the DIY spirit

DIY doesn’t mean cheap. Rinse & repeat this until you believe it. Jewelry, baked goods, recipes, scrapbooks, coffee table photo albums, the list goes on. The thought will be appreciated far more than another gift card or mindless article of clothing that was shoved into a box at the last minute.

This year, at least one of my gifts to be given will be a hand-drawn comic of a few favorite memories for the person receiving it. I’ll most likely put it in a nice frame for good measure, but who cares if that frame costs $5 in the clearance section? I’m willing to bet that person won’t even notice the frame after seeing the fun representation of the fun memories we’ve shared together.

Remember that more is less

This is the year of “do not go overboard with presents” for me. If I’ve learned anything throughout my debt payoff journey, it’s that life should be filled with people, love and experiences.

Money and things might fit in there from time to time, but they should never be the main focus. A truly thoughtful gift is based on love and time–not money.

 

What is your frugal holiday gift-giving plan this year?

 

Photo credit: Jo Naylor