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The Holidays are here and I don't
know how to afford it. I have so many people to buy for, but I'm
unemployed. How can I manage to buy gifts and not fall further into debt?
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I get this question quite often this time of year,
and not just from jobseekers. Even those with good jobs ask how they can
save money on gifts.
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I've struggled with this, as well. When I was first divorced, I spent
several hundred dollars on my daughter's gifts.
Last year, though, I learned my lesson. Oh, I bought her a ton of stuff: a
skateboard, earrings, a watch, and a few other items.
I spent $10.50.
How? By following a few simple steps.
Bartering. This is
the oldest form of commerce and one that you've most likely used at some
point, trading a good or service for one of comparable value. If you want a
particular item, ask if you can trade. It's most effective to have an item
in mind prior to pitching it, though. Many free weekly papers have
"for trade" sections, so you can check locally. Also check www.craigslist.org
(click on your city, then look for the "for sale" section,
then click on "barter." There are even a number of websites
devoted soley to bartering, such as www.barteritonline.com, www.SwapThing.com, www.U-Exchange.com and www.trashbank.com.
Thrift stores. They
get a bad rap. I've purchased men's jeans for $2.50 that you absolutely
could not tell were used. I bought a pair of Santa
Claus slippers for $1.00 (and a pair of Bob the Builder slippers for
another $1.00). This is where I bought the skateboard for my daughter for
$1.50. Be careful and inspect the merchandise before buying, and wash/clean
the stuff before wrapping. Yard sales are also good for this, but here in
Upstate New York, the yard sale season is over.
Online. Sure, you
can shop for the lowest prices and even set up a search agent, but the
smart money is on buying in bulk. eBay, for
instance, has a "wholesale" section where you can buy lots of
items at discounted prices. If you're looking for remote control vehicles,
why not buy a lot of six, give three as gifts, then
sell the other three? I've done this and actually made money on the
endeavor. You can't do better than making money off of shopping.
Draw names. If you
have a large extended family, you probably do this already. Instead of
buying tons of gifts, you draw one person's name and only buy for that
person. Everybody gets gifts and everybody saves money.
There are a ton of other money-saving gift ideas, from making gifts to
getting in fights with everyone you know, then making up after the
Holidays. You don't have to spend a lot to get a lot, though.
IN THE CARAVAN: You
can save money during the Holidays, particularly if your funds are low.
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The Lion’s Pride: Q & A
