It's never too early to think of Christmas. If you think of Christmas only in December, your pocketbook might be hurting, but if you think about it in advance and budget for it all year long, you can get some great things without affecting your finances negatively. Here's some cost efficient Christmas gifts sent in from a reader- and most would make great birthday gifts as well.
Christmas is a great time to spend time with family and to appreciate the important things in life. It's easy to lose sight of the true value of holidays amid the glittering lights, Christmas carols, and beautiful Christmas figurines as decorations. And it's easier to lose track of your budget, and many try to justify this because 'tis the season, right?
Now, it's okay to treat your family from time to time, but it's more important not to go over your budget. Here's the truth—you don't need to go into debt to have a wonderful Christmas. If you're trying to be frugal, there are ways to save money during the holiday season, and one of them is in your gift-giving.
Many toys and gifts marketed online and in shops are costly. Businesses know that children will be making their wishlists, so there's a huge demand. The problem with these expensive toys is that as children grow older, they can change their minds and no longer find toy cars or dolls as fun as they used to think. Sooner or later, you might regret your decision to make that big purchase and wished you saved the money instead. Luckily, it isn't difficult to figure out what to gift children on a budget. There are all kinds of affordable gifts to be found. The trick is to time your purchases during sales and to know where to shop. This can also mean shopping long before the holiday season arrives. You can also choose to make it yourself, which can be deeply be appreciated. Whatever you choose, it must show your love without emptying your wallet!
1. A message from Santa
Remember your childhood and how magical Christmas was. Back then, you never thought of the holidays as a huge expense—it was simply magic. There was no school, you could watch Christmas cartoons, and best of all, Saint Nick was going to be reading your letters.
Imagine getting a message from Santa Claus in the mailbox on Christmas Day. Wouldn't that be the highlight of the holidays? Parents can get this done through lettersfromsanta.org.uk. For an affordable price, your children can get customized letters straight from the North Pole.
2. DIY it!
Surely, you've heard of the phrase, ‘It's the thought that counts.’ An even better sentiment that you can top this is, ‘It's the effort that counts.’ If you're crafty, making a homemade gift will be well appreciated and loved by your children.
There are all kinds of items you can make, like a knitted sweater or beaded jewelry. You can even sew them personlized stuffed animals and dolls! Simply by looking online, you can find easy instructions for all kinds of toys and easy-to-make gifts for children.
3. Printable activities and coloring books
If you look online, there are all kinds of activities and pictures that kids can color. Some are even free. All you need to do is to print them out and bind them nicely. You can even personalize the front cover with their name and picture to make it even more special.
The great thing about this is that you can choose the pictures and activities they're interested in. Put in things that they love, like their favorite cartoons and animals, to show how much you thought about them.
4. A set of art supplies
Art supplies make great gifts on their own, or you can pair them with the coloring book you printed out. Art supplies are cost-effective because they can also use it in school, and they're consumable. Plus, it helps children become more expressive and creative.
5. Homemade clay
Did you know that you don't need to go to the toy store to get your kids some clay? A lot of children love clay because of how fun it is. They can have the freedom to create whatever they want, and it's also relaxing for them.
All you need to do is mix 2 cups of salt in 2/3 cup of water in a saucepan over heat. Stir this for 4–5 minutes, then remove it from heat. Afterward, you can add 1 cup of cornstarch and 1/2 cup of cold water. Then, stir it until it's nice and smooth before putting it back over heat. When it's thick, remove it from heat and then wait for it to cool down. After that, you can separate into different chunks and add different food coloring or paint. Then put them in separate containers to make them nice and presentable and wrap them up. They would never know you made it at home!
Conclusion
Choosing cost-effective gifts for children is a brilliant idea since they grow up quickly and lose interest in the things they used to be obsessed with. Most of the time, expensive toys don't get played with all that often, and it's hard not to feel like they went to waste. So, DIY gifts and affordable choices wouldn't just make them happy—it's also going to help you avoid extra costs!