Tips for Saving Money on Gifts: Temper your gift-giving

You probably read the title and thought, "Wow, what a scrooge!"  Allow me to explain.  I have been blessed a million times over with so many wonderful friends and family.  I have so many people in my life that I want to buy gifts for.  But, realistically speaking, I can't buy gifts for my 18 aunts and uncles, 60 first cousins and who knows how many second cousins, cousin-in-laws, etc etc.  And, all these people are just on my dad's side of the family!

You don't have to go crazy with gift-giving.  That includes gifts for extended family or immediate family.  We no longer do sibling gifts for my sisters or my husband's sisters/brothers.  Instead of giving gifts to people who just go out and buy the things they need or want, try doing something charitable instead.  Last year, my husband's siblings made donations to a specific family and my side of the family collected baby items and donated them to A Hope Center.

Lastly, don't overspend on your kids.  My perspective is one of a mother to a 7, 5, 3 and 1 year old.  I realize that kids 10 years older are much more in-tune with 'things' and want electronics, rather than markers, for Christmas.  But, try this trick out of my mother's playbook.  If the children need necessities such as socks or underwear, wrap them up and put them under the tree.  They may be things you are just temped to buy and throw in their room on a Tuesday afternoon, but hang onto them, and it will be one more present to open on Christmas morning.

Audrey has a girlfriend who buys her children three gifts each, to signify the frankincense, gold and myrrh that the wise men brought baby Jesus.  What a wonderful way to connect the more important religious meaning of Christmas to the commercial version.