Skip to Content

Exchange Christmas Gifts on a Low Budget

Posted In:  entertainment  other


If your family has found itself in a bind due to the failing economy (or just a tight budget), you're probably wondering how you're going to participate in any kind of gift exchange this year. Yet there are still ways to exchange gifts on Christmas, even when funds are low. You can still enjoy the fun of giving, whether or not your family has cash on hand for the holiday Season.

 
1. Draw names....
Write the name of each member of the family on a slip of paper. Mix them all up in a jar or hat and have everyone draw a name. Have each family member purchase gifts for one or two people. This is beneficial for larger families with many children or people to buy for. Family members won't feel compelled to buy for every single person in the family.
2.  Set a Budget
 Allow the family to only spend anywhere from $5 to $10 per person. This will curtail anyone's urge to buy unnecessarily large and expensive gifts.
 
3.  Have a recipe-and-treat exchange
Tell each member of the family to cook one of her favorite Christmas desserts or dishes, then write down the recipe on a recipe card, or even a Christmas card. Give the recipes to everyone as gifts, so they can try to make them themselves.
Need more tips on saving money for the holiday gift giving season? Click here...
 

 

Related Tips

How to Plan a Family Christmas Party on a Budget- tips also great for other parties too! Spending time with your family during the holiday is one of the best ways to celebrate...
Save money on Christmas gifts It's officially the holiday season! Sure, the spirit of giving is still in the air, but citizens from coast to coast are on a noticeably smaller budget this year, and may have to scale back on everything from holiday meals and entertainment to gifts and decor...
4 ways to save on Christmas Gift Wrapping While wrapping Christmas gifts this morning, it dawned on me just how much money I saved by keeping my gift-wrapping simple this year...
How To Keep Child-Rearing Costs Down Raising children is a wonderful adventure, but also an expensive one...
Give mom a great mother's day - without breaking the bank. Giving mom a day to remember doesn't need to wipe out your bank account...

 

New Money Saving Tips

Envelope Power - Get Your Finances in Order Now If you want to meet your financial goals, making a budget and sticking to it is a necessity. Even though you know you need a budget, knowing how to get started can be overwhelming...
Search Tips for Better Deals When shopping on Amazon or just Googling a product, there are unexpected ways to find better deals. Let's start with the basics and move on to some tips and tweaks to your product searches to help you find the best deal every time...
6 Tax Credits Small Business Owners Often Miss High tax bills are a common lament of small business owners. Yet, there are a number of tax credits that can help off-set that obligation that many small business owners never claim...
Can Shopping Online Lower Your Grocery Bill? With the increasing availability of products on the Internet, many money-savvy consumers are turning to buying their household’s groceries online instead of using a supermarket...