So...it's time to buy gifts. I wasn't Stateside for it, but from what I understand there were some great deals on Black Friday. However, not everyone can (or wants to) go out and deal with the mess and the deals are very specific and the deals may not have helped you out on your holiday shopping.
So here are some ways to still get people great stuff, but more affordably:
1) Think group. This can be taken two ways:
a) Get together with another friend or family member and go into together for a gift. Often people do this for when someone wants something that is particularly expensive, but it can work to help save money too...if you and your sister usually spend about $30 each on dad, then go into together and get him something that costs $40-50. It will save both of you money and dad will still get a nice gift.
b) Get a gift that is good for more than one person. This year I am getting a joint gift for my mom and dad. I found something that will be great for both of them and it costs about 2/3's as much as buying them seperate gifts would have without having to give them really pathetic gifts.
2) Spend time. Do something creative for someone.
a) If you're good at photography take a picture someone will love and have it printed out (if you go to the right place it isn't even expensive to get it printed out bigger). Maybe it's a picture of people (your parents would probably love a cute picture of you and your brother) and put it in a frame. Turning pictures black and white often adds a more professional touch. Frame the pictures and maybe even buy some precut matting from a place like Hobby Lobby.
b) Buy gift certificates or make your own for fun things to do together. Offer to take someone out to eat and hang out. Make a certificate for manicure with a friend. If your best friend and you like to bake, buy some of the things (the stuff you don't have to refridgerate) that you need to bake a special kind of cookie and make a cute little card with the recipe and a "coupon" to make cookies together.
c)Think it out. Have a list of the people you need to buy for and about how much you want to spend on each gift. As you buy check off the name and write how much you actually spent. This will help you to avoid forgetting anyone and spending way too much on gifts (if you say, "I'll just spluge a bit for this one" too many times you will break the bank). Also, thinking ahead allows you to order things online (why buy a movie for $20 when you can buy it for $8?).
Use these ideas with a bit of caution though. Dont' bite off more than you can chew (offing to spend time with 10 people even though you only have a couple of free days a month). Think about who you're giving it to-most people understand that money is tight and won't be offended or think you are tacky, but if you have someone on your list who won't understand. And...if you know of a friend who has a similar financial situation go and talk to her and see if she wants to agree to just do something nice for eachother or get together and make dinner and watch a movie or something.
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