Tis the season! The holidays are upon us, and with that comes the stress of gift giving. Christmas is an amazing time of the year that brings families & friends together. The neighborhood homes are decorated with lights and there’s a Christmas tree in every window. You can smell the holiday spirit wafting in the air.
Christmas can also be a very stressful time of the year. Figuring out who you have to get gifts for, what gift you are going to get them, and the most important question: can you afford it?
Financially speaking, to have a successful christmas you need to have a plan. Take a hard look at your financial situation and understand your position. Set a gift budget and stick to that. If you can’t afford to buy gifts then don’t, it really is that simple. You don’t want to go into the new year in a bad financial position because you overdid it on xmas gifts.
With all that being said here are 3 affordable Christmas gift ideas that will definitely be a hit.
#1. Homemade Food
If there is one thing that I know for sure, it’s that everyone loves food. Cheffing up someones favorite dish is a sincere, thoughtful, and affordable gift.
Gina is basically the Gordon Ramsay of our generation and she’ll make your soul cry with joy from her home cooked dishes. If you’re lucky enough to be on her gift list then get your taste buds ready because santa is coming to town.
Whether you decide to cook a full meal, appetizer, or dessert, a home cooked meal is always appreciated. The perfect gift in my opinion is one that is thoughtful, and what is better than gifting someone their favorite dish that you handmade.
If you’re looking for some recipe ideas here are two of our go to sites:
#2. Homemade Crafts
There really is no limit when it comes to the amount of creative craft ideas that you can do for gifts. You can do something super simple like a photo collage, or something more difficult like handcrafting a table. Either way, this type of gift is thoughtful and unique which will make the person you’re gifting it to feel special.
Last holiday season, our friend made us a hand painted picture of our dog Jamie, and it was easily our favorite gift. It was so thoughtful and the fact that she painted it herself made it so much more meaningful.
Gina and I have done an array of homemade gifts in the past. A few years ago, we bought wood coasters from a local craft store and used our wood burning tool to customize them. We made one family member a set of Game of Throne sigil coasters and another Boston sports team coasters. These gifts were an absolute hit and our family still uses these same coasters to this day!
#3. Gift An Experience
One of our favorite things to give for Christmas is an experience. Gifting an experience is more affordable than you may be thinking, and it’s generally more memorable. Here are some affordable experiences that we’ve gifted in the past that have costed us $40 or less:
- Tickets to the Aquarium or Zoo
- Movie Tickets
- Axe Throwing
- Trampoline Park
- Paint Night
- Escape Room
- Bowling
I could go on and on but I think you get the point. Gifting someone an experience is always an appreciated gift that can create memories past christmas day.
Alternative Christmas Ideas
If those gift ideas don’t tickle your fancy then you may want to consider these alternative christmas ideas.
Yankee swap, white elephant, and secret santa are all fun Christmas games that normally only require you to buy one gift at an agreed upon price limit. If you have a large family or group of friends then this can be a great for making xmas more affordable for everyone. (For more information regarding the rules click on the links above ☝️.)
My favorite alternative x-mas idea is skipping out on gifting presents and doing some type of charity work instead. You could volunteer at a local shelter, donate food to the local food pantry, provide clothes to the homeless, volunteer at an animal shelter, and so much more. Charity/volunteer work is a fantastic way to give back to the community during the holiday season.
Closing Thoughts
The holidays are not meant to cause stress and financial set back. Understand your personal financial situation and create a gift budget that is appropriate for you. We hope these affordable gift ideas allow you to save money, get creative, and put smiles on faces. Gina, Jamie, and I wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Check out these articles for more wicked reads:
- Our Favorite Free Weekend Activities
- How to Budget for Daycare
- How to Become Financially Free in 10 Simple Steps
