Toni-Ann Neita, Staff ReporterJingle bells are ringing and the change leaving your pockets is jing-jingling into the cash registers. How merry for the storeowners but not too great for you, the shopper, when the new year greets you with empty pockets.
Whatever your financial status, buying a gift can be expensive. So, with Christmas around the corner, any suggestions as to how to reduce the costs of gift-giving should be welcomed.
You don't have to shorten your shopping list in order to cut Christmas expenses. The simple solution is to take a little bit of time, a little bit of imagination and a little bit of the miser in you, roll them all together and become what could be called a 'creative spendthrift'.
Hands on gifts
By far the most popular suggestion is that of homemade gifts. Homemade or handmade gifts do not require a lot of money, just some time and careful planning. And, contrary to popular belief, this kind of gift does not necessarily require artistic ability on the part of the gift giver. A homemade or handmade gift can be something as simple as buying those mini gift bags (as small as three inches in height and costing only $20 and up) and filling them with assorted candy.
This 'sweet and cute treat' is especially practical, and cost effective, for a person who wants to give gifts to a large number of their co-workers or for a person who has many children on their shopping list. Don't forget to adorn each little gift bag with a ribbon or bow. After all, packaging can make or break a gift.
Many persons have started giving cards instead of gifts, partly because it is less expensive and partly because it is easier than finding an appropriate gift for each person. But with cards getting more expensive, this strategy now defeats its purpose. Instead of giving cards to co-workers and friends, a more creative and inexpensive option is to make personalised Christmas ornaments for each of your recipients.
Those of you who are not artistically inclined might be quivering at the thought. However it can be quite a simple endeavour. As simple as wrapping an empty match box with Christmas paper, then tying it with a small piece of ribbon (so that it looks like a miniature present), and then attaching a decoration hook. Or, a person could make an ornament by cutting out a star shape from a piece of cardboard and wrapping it with foil or metallic paper.
The important part of making these ornaments to give as gifts, is to personalise them by inscribing each with the recipient's name, maybe a short message, the year and your (the giver's) name. In this way they serve the same functions as cards - only cheaper, more useful, more thoughtful and more creative.
For the culinarily challenged, now is the best time of the year to brush up on those cooking or baking skills because Christmas cookies, Christmas cakes, and other edible homemade treats are always good options for persons on a tight Christmas budget. Wrap these goodies in coloured plastic wrap and tie them with bows.
As for the technologically challenged, find out how to burn a compact disc (CD) because a great option this Christmas is to make a CD with the person's favourite songs. It costs close to nothing.
Scent of a woman
The key to a great gift for a woman is to listen for the hints that they drop ever so often, especially around their birthdays and Christmas time. Women traditionally want perfume or jewellery, both of which are fairly expensive options.
Buying inexpensive gifts for women warrants great caution since most women are programmed to like expensive things (diamonds, diamonds, diamonds) and they do not want a 'cheap man'. However, women are also moved by thoughtfulness. This is good news for men looking for gift ideas for their ladies since thoughtful gifts are not necessarily expensive.
A great idea, suggested by our 'experts', is to treat her to a "day at the spa", especially if she is overworked. Another good idea is to buy a two-sided photo frame and put a picture of the two of you in one side and a poem you wrote just for her in the other side. Alternatively, compile a CD with all the love songs that make you think of her. Make sure to write a note explaining the significance of the songs.
If money is not an issue, by all means buy her perfume, lotion and the works. Or find an item of jewellery that complements her favourite necklace or earrings. Or put together a basket of her 'favourite things'.
The point is, expensive or not, if the gift is thoughtful (shows effort, time, and care) she will probably be so choked up with tears that the cost will not be an issue.
Even guys need and appreciate pampering. Buy a nice massage oil and help him to relax with a sensuous massage. Or send him to a massage therapist or a day spa. Shop around for a reasonable offer.
Another great idea for a Christmas gift, inspired by an article in Cosmopolitan, is to make a booklet of 'I Owe You coupons' which can be traded in for specific favours from the giver. For example, one ticket could say, "I owe you a foot massage." This makes a great gift for persons of either sex.
Inspector Gadget
Girls love diamonds and guys love gadgets. The problem is that buying a palm-pilot for your tech-crazy male friend is going to mean shelling out big bucks. An inexpensive alternative? Take advantage of the cellular phone craze and buy him a cell-phone accessory, for example a new phone face, carrying case, ear piece or car charger. These items cost within a range of about $200 to $500.
Teenagers
Cellular phone accessories also make good gifts for teenagers. Books and silver jewellery are also good gift ideas that can cost under $500. Nail polish and body care items are also safe, inexpensive bets for the image conscious (and often picky) teen. Buy three bottles of nail polish (preferably in crazy colours) and package them in one of those cute gift bags mentioned earlier.
It must be all about the colours because coloured glasses are also popular among teenagers and so make great gifts. They are available for about $300 a pair in most pharmacies and variety stores.
Gift certificates
Gift certificates for manicures, pedicures, clothes, movie trips and so on make great gifts for persons of any age.
What about magazine subscriptions? A subscription to the person's favourite magazine is another practical and inexpensive gift that is great for any age or gender. Perhaps, Cosmopolitan for women, Sport Compact Car magazine for men, Seventeen magazine for teenagers, National Geographic for children, and Newsweek, Time, or People for all.
In short, there are several good ideas for making money stretch this holiday without seeming like a cheapskate. The key is to start early, shop around for bargains and use imagination. It still holds true that "it is the thought that counts". But the golden rule of being a creative spendthrift this holiday is that even if the gift is inexpensive, make sure it does not look cheap!
