With Black Friday just around the corner, the holiday shopping season is quickly becoming unavoidable. With it comes money woes and gift giving butterflies. How can you find the perfect holiday gift without completely blowing your budget? These financial shows invited some experts in to explain just how to survive another year at the mall.
Boston.com – Featured NECN Video
Financial planner Jennifer Lane explains how to plan for holiday buying by analyzing your spending from years past while Louis Scatigna advises purchasing a few gifts per paycheck from now until the holidays to prevent your credit cards from maxing out in December.
Money Matters
Jen Groover, Entrepreneur, discusses the perks of giving sentimental gifts instead of expensive ones. She believes that e-cards or universal gifts that work for multiple people are a good way to lower your costs while proving that you still care. She also touches upon selling items lying around your house to make some extra cash for the season.
Good Money
If you have kids, this one’s for you. The clip from ABC News tackles how to keep your Dear Santa lists on a budget. From being creative with one-on-one dates with a parent as presents to making up your own gift giving customs, children will learn life skills and still get all the loot they desire.
Los Angeles Times
Although this one’s from 2009, Andrea Chang’s advice is still relevant this year. She recommends making presents at home, haggling at stores, and exploring layaway options to make your buck stretch further this holiday season.
Good Housekeeping: Budgeting and Financial Planning
Good Housekeeping interviews Stacy Genovese to make buying tech gifts for loved ones a snap. Stacy advises not buying extra features that you don’t need and analyzing what the people on your list can use before making any purchases. While extra memory on an iPod can seem like a great idea at the time, make sure the recipient will actually use it before paying the extra dough.
Now that you’re ready to make a holiday budget and shop with ease, consider these cheaper homemade alternatives for gifts. Try using Working Class Foodies’ recipe for French nougat as the ultimate present for those with a sweet tooth. Or this holiday stocking idea from Threadbanger – Decor it Yourself, which can be easily personalized for everyone on your list. For something requiring less cooking and crafting skills, Home with Lisa Quinn offers two easy gift basket ideas and Today Show brings in Jaimee Zanzinger from Real Simple to outline a wide variety of simple homemade holiday gift options.
Got some holiday money saving tips of your own? We’d love to hear them! In the meantime, happy shopping and remember to stay on budget so you can start 2011 in style!
