With the holiday season coming up, the gift craze is taking over. And we can all feel it. Getting Christmas presents for those you care about can cost an arm and a leg, but it doesn’t have to! While we can’t tell you how to get money for Christmas, we can surely give a few tips on how to treat your loved ones without breaking the bank. Spread the holiday cheer while staying on top of your finances!
How to save money for Christmas
Paying for all gifts at once can be difficult and often unachievable. To avoid that, start saving up as early as possible. Master the art of saving money by reading our blog on personal finance.
Try to be early in the game and take advantage of sales all year around, not only during Black Friday. Track good deals that could make a perfect present for someone you love. If it’s too late to do it now, take notes and use this tip for saving for Christmas next time.
Plan a budget for gifts
First and foremost, set a realistic budget for your holiday spending. Create a checklist for every gift you are planning to make. This way, you can avoid getting carried away by purchasing on impulse. Here’s an example:
| Name | Gift idea | Budget | Spent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paul | A spa voucher | €100 | €80 |
| Marie | A carving set | €150 | €135 |
| Leo | A wireless charger | €60 | €40 |
Save money on gifts to make even more gifts! You can use whatever you saved from the budget list to treat your loved ones even more. Make a surprise money transfer to share love and joy this holiday season.
Use Profee—a money transfer service with low commissions and the best exchange rates. Your recipient doesn’t have to be a Profee client to receive a remittance. All you need is their bank card number. Sending fast, safe, and convenient Profee transfers is a great way to make a present for your friends and family, especially if you’re away from each other. Spread love and care across countries and continents with Profee!
Use your creativity
If you’re good with your hands, make it your strength when gift-giving. Whether you’re a great knitter or painter, or have taken a ceramics course lately, use these skills to create personalised presents for friends and family.
Even if you’re not very experienced at arts and crafts, check out Christmas DIY ideas on Pinterest—there’s plenty for both beginners and expert craftsmen. Not only could such gifts have more emotional value to your loved ones, but they’re also often cheaper to make.
Start new Christmas traditions within your family and friend groups
You don’t have to only follow the traditions already established in your family, you can create ones yourself! Try these ideas that will make the holidays more fun, create warm memories, and help everyone involved with saving money for Christmas:
Secret Santa—a Christmas classic. People tend to think it’s only suitable for the workplace when in fact you can adapt it to your family celebration, too! Secret Santa can add an element of excitement and surprise to any group, be that your work team or family and friends. And last but not least, it is budget-friendly.
Mystery Bag. Ask each participant to bring a small bag of presents of their choice. You can decide on a set number of gifts for every bag. When all bags are collected, stick numbers to them. Then, put small papers with numbers in a magic hat so that everyone can pull one and get a present from the pile.
What if you say no to presents at all? Try having your Christmas dinner potluck-style. Invite guests over to a holiday gathering and throw a big potluck where everyone can share their homemade specialties. Create a cosy and beautiful gastronomic memory to cherish long after—make each other’s presence your biggest present.
Use your cooking talent
If you’re a home chef, making tasty holiday treats can be your answer to the age-old question of how to save money on Christmas gifts. Lacking inspiration? No worries! Here’s what you could make for family and friends this season:
- Home-baked Christmas-themed cookies
- Jams and preserves with seasonal fruit and veg
- Oils infused with spices and herbs
- Homemade hot chocolate sets with marshmallows and peppermint candy
- A treat box with home-cooked sweet treats of your choice. Adjust them to the taste of your loved ones.
Saving for Christmas. Tips for decorating on a budget
This year, let’s all try to be kind to our wallets and the planet by reusing old decorations and repurposing what we already have at hand. Make crafting Christmas decorations a heartwarming family tradition—spend time together with your cherished ones creating long-lasting memories.
It’s up to you whether to make simple designs or opt for something more challenging. What matters is that you will have a beautifully decorated house while staying within your budget. Check out these Christmas decor ideas for your home:
Make Christmas tree ornaments using paper, salt dough, or any other materials you have at home
Add natural elements like pine cones and branches you can collect outdoors
Create homemade wreaths using twigs and pine branches
If you’re crafty, you can embroider everyday decor elements like pillow cases to add an extra Christmassy touch to your interior
Save money at Christmas with green choices
The golden rule of green lifestyle—Reduce, Reuse, Recycle—can not only fit into a sustainable development agenda but in your personal budget plan. Some better-for-the-climate gift ideas have already been mentioned in this article but let’s not stop there. We’ve drawn up a list of eco-friendly Christmas choices you can make this holiday season:
Reuse old gift-wrapping paper
Find better alternatives to single-use wrapping such as fabrics, scarves, newspapers, etc.
Non-material presents. Gift experiences, for example, concert or theatre tickets and cooking classes.
Buy locally produced presents as they’re both more eco- and budget-friendly
Send money as a Christmas gift. While some think giving money is not thoughtful enough to be a good present, it could be the best option when you’re away from the person you’d like to make a gift for. Profee can help you make this Christmas season special. Make transfers to 60+ countries around the world and surprise your friends and family wherever they are. Sending money via Profee is both good for the environment and your budget. The company offers zero-to-no commissions and favourable exchange rates. Stay sustainable and caring with Profee!
We like to think that when it comes to Christmas presents, it’s the thought that counts. Spread the love, warmth, and positivity this holiday season. We hope our tips to save money on gifts and decor can help you spend smart and embrace the festive spirit. Merry Christmas!
