Tip on Paying the LEAST @ Gift Giving Time

[lynclarke]

Lenae- I also buy year round for great gifts. I keep a list of everyone's likes and dislikes, so when i see a great deal I know who would like it.
Funnyvalentine- get depressed- life is knowing how much you can spend.

[baking23]

Originally Posted by anae428

2. DON'T compare prices by going store to store. Go online and look for the weekly ads link.

So true, I spent yesterday xmas shopping on the computer. I hate shopping so it was nice to sit at home and do it. Plus compairing prices of new items including S&H from Amazon, my mom doesn't want second hand stuff, I still saved $10 bucks off the store price.

[Oliver21]

Save your loose change. Putting aside fifty cents a day over the course of a year will allow you to save nearly 40% of a $500 emergency fund.
Keep track of your spending. At least once a month, use credit card, checking, and other records to review what you've purchased. Then, ask yourself if it makes sense to reallocate some of this spending to an emergency savings account.
Never purchase expensive items on impulse. Think over each expensive purchase for at least 24 hours. Acting on this principle will mean you have far fewer regrets about impulse purchases, and far more money for emergency savings.
Pay with a debit card rather than a credit card. You cannot use a debit card (unless it has an overdraft feature) to spend money you do not have. Using a debit card may also prevent you from annually incurring hundreds of dollars in credit card interest charges. Both would mean more money available for emergency savings.

[cicy33]

while I am usually one to quickly state that gifts are not something one should "cheap" out of, I think that this thread is great. It is more about how to get the best deal while still getting something good. My stepkids are always getting invited to parties at the last minute and I think it would be smart to pick up stuff on clearance so I am not stressing having to run to the store at the last minute and I mean like the party is that day!!! And I am a schedule person. This thread is giving me some great ideas to still be able to give good gifts but to be able to afford it. I love the goody bag idea. I am going to try to do some of these ideas personally.

[lynclarke]

cicy33- did you see the skateboard on Amazon for $4.99? Go to mycoupons.com for specifics. lynclarke

[cicy33]

thanks! I will. I love that site anyways!

[miclason]

I buy "bulk" for Ale's parties...buckets of "legos" or puzzles, cars and handbags...I keep them in my closet and that way, even if the party is "tomorrow" I don't have to run around looking for something...plus, since I buy the stuff "bulk" (if I buy 6 of any item I get an additional discount), things are much cheaper (but nicer!) than what I could find in a "last minute expedition"...
For other gifts (teachers, family, etc) I keep my eyes open year-round...and, no, it's not about finding the cheapest gift, it's about finding a gift you know they'll love at the cheapest possible price...so far, my greatest "hit" has been Winnie-the-pooh character slippers....sis got Tigger, Ale got Piglet, my best friend got Winnie and, another good friend got Eyeore....I paid $10 for the 4!....individually, they'd still would have been only $3.25 each, but, they meant a lot because each of the people they went to has a special affinity for the character they got...sis thinks Tigger is "the only one worth something in that bunch"...Ale loves Piglet because "he's small like me", my best friend just thinkgs Winnie is "the most adorable thing ever!"and, my other friend loves Eyeore because her husband "is just like him"!...

[KarenSue]

Originally Posted by funnyvalentine

This whole thread is making me depressed. I honestly don't believe that the spirit of giving is all in finding the cheapest possible way to gift someone; if that's all it is, maybe we should question why we give gifts to begin with. While I try not to spend the most money possible, it's a real joy to shop with a specific person in mind, thinking about what they'd love to have. It the giftee isn't worth that effort, why give at all?

I'm so used to looking for bargains that it's second nature by now. The end of April was my sister's birthday, then my mom's, then Mother's Day, then dad's birthday , then Father's Day, then my MIL's birthday, then my husband's birthday was the end of June.

First of all, this is a money saving financial forum. The whole point is to share ideas that work for us on how to economise in order to meet financial goals. Taking the time to shop sales or to find gifts months in advance DOES take effort - actually more effort than the way most people typically shop. Who's to say that just because the items I buy are inexpensive, I'm not shopping with a specific person in mind and thinking about what they'd love to have?

I bought my sister, mom, and MIL clothes from a specialty retailer that they loved and enjoy wearing. Each got two or three outfits. Does buying them on sale mean that I love them any less? Of course not - I'm trying to make financial choices that make sense for me and my family.

I saved points on MyPoints to go towards a nice-sized gift card for my husband's birthday gift. That way he was able to unwrap the exact grill, cover, and accessories he wanted and I didn't go over our 'birthday budget'.

Usually when someone's birthday or Christmas is just around the corner, we have no worries about last-minute shopping. That makes both of us happy and we're able to just relax and enjoy ourselves. That is one intangible reward of thinking ahead and hitting the sales.

I love the dollar store.....You can sometimes find some great items. You just need to kinda shop all year round so that you have a box of stuff so if something is sprung on you at the last minute you have something.

[leggzz66]

My fave is the dollar tree. My son, whos gonna be 23 in nov, doesnt stock up. So i stock him up at Christmas. I buy him a new laundry basket, and go to the dollar tree and fill it with goodies as the day is long. I spend about 100 dollars on that stuff, and know my son dont have to shop for a while. Knife set, kleenex, food n drinks of all kings, progresso soups, noodles, new wine glasses, soaps,shampoos,tp,laundry goodies,air fresheners, cause his potty needs em,lol, new table linens, that also save on throw away stuff, new calander, cheap n cheerfull videos, pasta cookbook and lots more, new pens and they had those ones they showed on the news that cant alter checks with, 2 pack for 1 dollar. Thats what i like giving, care packages, they are something full of needed things and things that keep on giving all the year thru. I go to freds too, and throw in stuff that he likes to take to work for lunches, like those lil cans of stew, and cans of juice. those items are usually 2 for a dollar as well. I also went to the pawn shop and bought him a nike basketball gold coin for his chain and it was only 30 dollars. they cleaned it and boxed it and when he was younger and budget was even tighter, i asked him str8 out, would you like one or two brand new things that you want on your list, or all of your list used but still nice and what u wanted, he always chose the used option, and he always got his wish list fufilled. Only thing i love about upgrades in game units, is that walmart quits carring games of the last unit out, such as genisis, when they quit carring that, they sold out all games for 5 dollars each and that was my sons birthday right there, he wanted video games, when i visited in michigan, i bought and kept secret a genisis for 15 dollars, and bought him several games for just 5 bucks each that were brand new.

[leggzz66]

oh btw, the place i shopped at in michigan to save on game units was funcoland. they have stores in other states too, like ky, but the one i shop at is located across str8 from lakeside mall in sterling heights.

[fam5d07]

I do a bit of both I shop ahead for example I picked up three wonderful bracelets from an online store that had put them on closeout, I paid 15.00 each and they are gold and diamond accent with a small charm hanging from them 2 have hearts one a cross.

My two moms and grandma will love these for christmas. I normally spend more on them all but retail the gifts where 60 bucks so i got a great deal now I can cross them off my list and not feel I just settled for a gift.