While a lot of us are excited about the holidays, this time of year can bring up stress around holiday gift giving, especially if money seems to be tight. What can you do to make holiday gift giving on a budget feel like a lot less of a bummer?

(Well, just for the record I believe in budgeting ALL the time, not just during the holidays! No matter who you are, you do need a budget, and budgets don’t have to be restrictive. But that’s just a little side note! So let’s get back to the holiday gift thing…)

Holiday spending hasn’t decreased but the average consumer debt has! So this is a friendly reminder that you are not obligated to buy anything this holiday season. Really.

But if you want to, that’s fine too! But the key is to spend responsibly. Of course, finding ways to manage holiday spending on a budget can sometimes feel like a bummer. I don’t think anyone wants to spend the holidays feeling like that when they’re supposed to be having fun.

4 ways to manage holiday spending

So what can you do to make sure that holiday budgeting doesn’t get you down? It helps to change how you think about gift-giving.

Honestly, I’ve never been good at gift giving. It’s skill I’ve had to practice. Most years in the past, I always felt like I was just spending a bunch of money on useless things no one really wanted anyway.

But in recent years I’ve learned to look at holiday gift giving in a new way. I’ve choses to spend in alignment with my values, and manage that spending so I’m able to include all members of my large family. Since I’ve shifted my thinking and my actions around holiday spending and gift-giving, it’s actually become a lot more fun!

Here are the top 4 holiday gift ideas on a budget I’ve put into place to make holiday gift giving both more budget-friendly and more fun!

1. Buy in bulk. Each year everyone in my gets basically the same gift (I have to keep it fair with siblings!) So everyone gets a gift collection that includes the same things. I usually include things like a silly Christmas accessory, a themed ornament, and Christmas popper. Then they also receive practical things they can enjoy in the moment and also use later. Buying these items in bulk helps manage the cost.

2. Share my hobbies and values. My hobbies represent my values. So with gift-giving, I usually incorporate something homemade, like my soaps or seeds from the garden. These are things I already spend money on out of my personal budget, so there’s not little additional cost. This way I not only spend less money, but I share something unique and personal. It’s a great way to share the the wealth!

3. Stick to a set budget. I make a running list in my notes on my phone for gift ideas throughout the year. Then I dedicate a certain amount of money to these gifts. When it comes time to purchase I use a designated credit card, and then transfer the amount from my savings to pay off the balance in full. This creates more conscious spending, because I have to visualize my savings decreasing. That awareness keeps me aligned with my spending intentions and actions.

4. Give experiences as gifts. This is one of my favorites, because nothing is as memorable as an experience. For example, my fiancé and I decided to cap our gift budgets at $150 this year so we can save for more travel–a future experience we can look forward to. I also like to give Groupons, or host potluck events and take lots of photos. Because what really matters to me is spending time together, and creating a memorable experience for friends and family.

So there you are! Four unique and budget-friendly ways to give memorable gifts this holiday season without breaking the bank. It’s a fun way to remember what the holidays are supposed to be all about: having fun and spending quality time with loved ones.

Which one of these steps resonates with you the most? Or, do you have your own favorite gift-giving traditions that you use to manage your budget while still enjoying the season? I’d love to hear about it!

Share your favorite holiday gift ideas on a budget below.

Until next time…

Love, light, and MONEY, Honey…

Kaylee

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