I don't know about you guys, but by the end of our Christmas period there's not much to ring the jingle bells about when it comes to the ole bank balance. Every year we say we're going to cut down on the money we spend on the Christmas present for members of the extended family, but each year we seem to be spending more, not less, on those darn Christmas gift baskets, and other pricy offerings. Well, this year we're really going to make a concerted effort and attempt to find the cheap Christmas gift but without them appearing inexpensive. Now there's a challenge!
We’ve all gotten a terrible cheap Christmas gift from time to time which is clearly something that was picked up at the last minute without any real thought, and it's obvious that the giver did not spend much money or consideration on their gift ideas for Christmas. The situation was even portrayed on the NBC television show “The Office”, where in an office gift exchange a giver gave the ultimate cheap Christmas gift – a used flannel shirt that was the wrong size for the recipient. It was later told that it was just grabbed from the givers own closet that very morning of the exchange. How about that as a Christmas gift for the sake of it!
It is completely understandable that there are situations where a gift giver does not want to spend much money on a gift, whether it be because of an occasion like an office gift exchange where you don’t know the recipient that well, or because of overall finances for all gifts for the year. We have all been in a situation where we have wanted to give a relatively cheap Christmas gift and have ended up frustrated beyond belief because we haven’t been able to find something that didn’t look like it cost a dollar.
But with a little research, we have found that there are ways to give a cheap Christmas gift without coming off looking like a holiday scrooge or a cheapskate. One of the best ways to give a cheap Christmas gift is to dress it up in fabulous wrapping. Presentation is everything, and if you put some time and effort into the packaging you will be surprised how much better that cheap Christmas gift will look. Using things like Papier-mache boxes and thick ribbon can make all the difference in the world, and it also creates a unique Christmas gift, which can only make the receiver feel special.
Let's not forget too that when it comes to the Christmas present, it's not possible to spend the same on everyone even if we wanted to. But great Christmas present ideas are there for the taking with just a little imagination, and after all, it should be the thought that counts, and not how much something costs. One idea we use is to find out what the recipient likes and work around that. I love my neighbor dearly, and she just loves her fresh bread. So, for under $10, I made her a very special homemade loaf along with some baps which were beautifully wrapped. I also included a nicely printed out recipe too.
Everyone always appreciates homemade goodies during the holiday season. You can make up a batch of spiced nuts, chocolate covered pretzels or your best banana bread and package it in a gift box with some raffia. The recipient will surely think it looks like it came from a specialty bakery, but with the great taste of something homemade.
Try making your own mini Christmas gift basket. These types of Christmas gift ideas are limited only by your imagination. The great thing about preparing your presents is that it shows you have thought about the gift, and that goes a long way with most folks as so much of what we get given these days is obviously snapped up from the high street shelf with little care.
Of course when giving a cheap Christmas gift, it is usually helpful to know the recipient. In those cases you can usually know of something that is under ten dollars that they really would want and use, whether it be their favorite scented lotion or a box of their favorite golf balls. Giving a cheap Christmas can be the easiest task in the world and if done with caution, it can turn out just fabulously! Remember, finding a cheap Christmas gift is easy when you know how to shop, and presentation is the key here!
