As we approach Christmas time, most of us spend a lot of time thinking about what we are going to give our loved ones. We want to get the best for them so we can see them smiling and happy. As a result, the average household Christmas spending in 2009 will total about $1,218. This includes the turkey, decorations and so on, but the biggest cost will be the gifts.
That is quite a bit of money, and unfortunately many people end up wasting quite a bit of it because of their eagerness to get the gifts they want to buy. Here are a few tips that
can help you get the most for your dollar:
- Make your list and check it twice
- Leave the kids at home
- Give yourself lots of time unless your list is short
- Don't leave it 'til the last minute
- Take advantage of free gift wrapping (saving both time and money)
- Think gift card if you are agonizing over the perfect gift
- Remember to tuck away your receipts and check the return/exchange policy before you buy
- Call ahead if you want a "hot item" - this could save you time and exasperation
- Cut down your Christmas card list considerably
- Do your own baking and resist store-made cakes, pies, cookies and other holiday sweets
Try to avoid going into debt for all of this by putting away $50/pay cheque so that you actually have the cash to pay for your gifts. And always remember, after all the toys are out, the kids will probably spend as much time just playing with the cardboard boxes as with the toys that came in them.
What is the best Christmas present you ever received?
Jerry
A Wayne Gretzky Easton aluminum stick when i was 11. It was the first ever hockey stick invented that wasn't wood and i remember staying up all night just hoping that Santa brought it..... well old St. Nic pulled through!!
ReplyDeleteGreat read Jerry. So true, the money spent on Christmas is mind-boggling.... Christmas to me is about family and that is something you can never put a price tag on!!! Great articles, i'm a big fan. Keep them coming...
ReplyDeleteI actually don't remember the presents I received while growing up. I do remember sledding and skating parties, snow forts and bonfires and hot chocolate. Those are the memories I'm trying to make for my kids as well, because in the end, who wants to remember their things when they could remember people and the relationships they made together.
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