Giving a gift to a group of people is a great way to cut down on cost, especially if you have a large family! Consolidating your gift list can save you time and money…and it can also look tacky. Below are some tips for making the holidays special while keeping the price tag small.
Consider family gifts. When my brother remarried I got three new nephews. Typically I aim to spend $20 each on my nieces and nephews, but the extra $60 was something I wasn’t really prepared for. Thinking fast I bought a family movie that I knew my brother and his new wife would enjoy watching with the kids (Pixar is greatfor including jokes that adults can appreciate without corrupting the youngsters). I bought an old wicker basket from a local thrift store and filled it with individually wrapped bags of popcorn. I customized it by finding out what every one’s favorite movie candy was and including it in the basket, along with my own popcorn toppers. To make it even better the movie came with a game right on the DVD. They still play it from time to time.
Have some class. A great gift idea for the women in your life is to attend a class that teaches you how to make something. Not only do you get to keep what you made, but you can make it again if you want! It’s also fun, because you’re doing the class with friends and/or family. Guys don’t be shy about this one. Learning how to make a necklace or bracelet might save you a little cash in the future. If you plan to take lots of people about group rates. You can find these classes at your local crafting stores, but my local library offers them as well. Those tend to be cheaper, and they’re just as instructional.
Outings anyone? If you’re strapped for cash you may want to consider giving everyone an outing. Every year our zoo puts up millions of Christmas lights. Tickets to events like these are typically $10 per person or less. Again, group rates may bring the cost down even more, so ask before you buy.
I hope these ideas have helped. Just keep in mind that these people are friends and family. They’re not going to shun you if your gift is a flop. Hope you all have a Merry, Frugal, Christmas!
