How to Cut Your Budget for Christmas Gifts Without Dampening the Holiday Spirit (Part 2)

In the 1st part of my blog article, I have cited several reasons to cut back on Christmas gifts. 

And yet, I also listed several ways to rein on your purse without being all stingy and Scrooge-like. 

Here's the continuation of my list of ways to cut down on your budget for Christmas gifts without dampening the holiday season: 

(**DISCLAIMER: This post contains affiliate links. Every time you click on those links and make a purchase, I'll get a commission.)

(7.) Give paper products of value.

Giving away cash in the past may have made you cautious. Instead, try the the following alternatives:   

Gift certificates 

Blue Magic
gift certificates
from 4y2_s7yb2v

4y2_s7yb2v

Gift certificates are budget-friendly Christmas presents to give to children. Just ask them about their favorite stores or shops. 

CEBUSUPERSELLER2023's
USABLE Starbucks Philippines
Line Friends Card

Reloadable cards/reward cards 

How about those friends or loved ones who enjoy frequenting cafes, coffee shops, or certain stores? 

A reloadable or reward card from that coffee shop or store can be a present that would be much appreciated.  

E-Gift cards

While technically not a paper product, you can place an order online for electronic gift cards of different denominations.

Happy Birthday E-Gift card from Sephora

Coupons

You may have a close friend or are married to, or dating someone whose love languages are acts of service or quality time. 

Relationship coupons
by bosmuda99zh.ph

Why not give them these coupons filled with ideas of how you'll spend time with them, or specific deeds you'd like to do for them? 

(8.) Support small businesses. 

Small businesses usually thrive on bulk orders from customers during special occasions. Christmas is a particular time for small businesses to accept customized orders.

(9.) Why buy when you can DIY?

If you're confident about your skills and creativity, you can DIY a bunch of Christmas presents. 

Depending on the interests or preferences of the people on your list, you can make and give anything from string art, to a dream catcher, to knitted or crocheted items, to DIY snow globes.

(10.) Have a Secret Santa during Christmas parties.

You've probably been invited to several Christmas parties already -- the one at work, your church, the place you volunteer, or your neighborhood block party. Or you may be planning to host one yourself. 

Image by gpointstudio

To cut back on costs for food, why not propose a potluck to your guests and a Secret Santa for gifts? 

A Secret Santa is ideal because each guest must adhere to a price range for the gifts. Also, everyone will be ensured that they won't leave the party empty-handed.  

(11.) Come up with creative ways to replace wrapping paper.

You may not think much about spending for a sheet (or a roll) or 2 of wrapping paper. But what if you have half a dozen (or more) Christmas gifts to wrap? 

Forego the wrapping paper and you
can cut back further on your budget.
Image from freepik

Add ribbons and gift tags to the mix, and you may end up shelling out an amount that could have afforded you another gift or 2. 

So why not replace wrapping paper with something like butcher or brown kraft paper, manila paper or crepe paper?

You can reuse shopping bags and gift bags, or wrap your Christmas presents with old comic books, glossy pages from old magazines, Japanese newspapers, old calendars or catalogues. 

Colorful paper twine or yarn can take the place of ribbons. And you can add gift tags recycled from greeting cards.