Thanksgiving has passed which now means IT’S THE HOLIDAY SEASON!!! This is my absolute favorite time of year. There is so much happiness in the air and being around family and loved ones is so heart warming. It awakens the child inside of all of us and the season is magical all over again.

But along with the holidays comes gift giving. Which I love, don’t get me wrong. But when you factor in all of the gifts you have to give your parents, your grandparents, your siblings, your best friends, your cousins, your aunts and uncles, your daddy’s cousins, your aunt’s husband’s stepdaughter’s dog…. things can start to get expensive.

So here are my top tips on how to save those coins during the holidays! *cha ching*

Get Crafty

Try a homemade gift. These are always more heartfelt anyways because it shows that you care, even if it didn’t really take that much effort. Some good ideas are a custom t-shirt, a scented wax candle in one of their favorite scents, you could knit or crochet something if you know how, or you could even decorate some picture frames for them. Don’t be afraid to get creative!

Focus on Experiences

Meaningful gifts don’t have to be extravagant and costly. Consider an experience gift – whether that means buying a nice spa getaway or concert tickets to their favorite artist. Some of the most remembered gifts are the ones that took thought, not more money.

Secret Santa

With extended families, getting presents for everyone can add up pretty quickly. Rather than spending $50 on each person, each person can pick ONE name out of a hat and have a set price range of $100 to $150. This cuts your costs in half (at least) and each person gets a nice bigger gift rather than a whole bunch of smaller gifts.

Find Out Their Interests

Everyone has a hobby they like to indulge in. Buy something to help them out – whether they like to garden, knit, interior decorate, they would always appreciate some supplies! You could even offer to help them out after you buy them supplies. If they like to garden, buy some seeds for the season and you could both plant them together!

Keep an Eye Out For Sales

Black Friday, Cyber Monday, the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale… need I say more? Take advantage of these huge money saving opportunities!

Budget Throughout the Year

Decide in January how much you want to spend on each person for the holidays and birthdays for the upcoming year. Take the total, divide it by 12, and put that amount into a special savings account every month. By putting away a small amount each month, you won’t be met with panic when the holiday season is upon you.

I hope these tips gave you some ideas on how to keep your pockets full this year! Leave a comment if you have any other ideas to share!

xoxo, Arielle