Every year, it seems our holiday shopping lists grow. Our families are constantly expanding with new kids, cousins and in-laws to welcome into our lives. Then, there are our co-workers, who (hopefully) make it a pleasure to go to the office every day. And who can forget all the peripheral, yet essential, people around us who make our lives better: our hard-working mail carriers, our reliable dog walkers and the kids who rake our leaves and shovel our sidewalks.
While it’s wonderful to have so many people in our lives to celebrate, it can also be a stressful, financially speaking. Buying gifts fine enough to show all of those people how much you really appreciate them can add up. In fact, last winter, Americans spent $602 billion dollars on holiday shopping and could spend up to $616 billion this year, according to the National Retail Federation.
I know that every dollar you spend is important to you, so below is a list of gifts that have one thing in common: They seem more expensive than they really are. Consider them as you shop for your loved ones, and you’ll be able to make them feel most loved without making you feel most broke.
For him:
Think anything handcrafted. It instantly gives the gift a more personal touch than something (no matter how useful) made of plastic, and it doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll be more expensive. First option: You can rarely go wrong with small-batch booze. It usually comes in a beautiful bottle, and since many distilleries are still fighting for name recognition, they keep their prices low.
Some good options: Tito’s Handmade Vodka, made in Austin, Texas, will set you back about $20; it’s more well-known competitors typically run at least $30. Greenhook Ginsmith’s Dry Gin, made in Brooklyn, New York, costs about $32 a bottle, compared to around $46 for the competition. If booze isn’t where you want to go, consider a handcrafted leather wallet. Options under $30 abound on Etsy.com, where you can save money by buying directly from the artisans themselves.
For her:
If she’s a trendsetter, you can’t miss with a swanky accessory from a high-end designer. Think luxe without the bucks. For example, Marc Jacobs sells jackets and handbags for thousands of dollars, but he also has a great line of Marc by Marc Jacobs jewelry that carries cachet without requiring a huge cash outlay from you. For instance, he’s designed a chic gold button ring, stamped with his signature inside, for $15; a two-toned ID bracelet for $16; and a delicate beaded chain necklace for $18. Other high-end designers have branched out into beauty accessories. You can pick up a Michael Kors nail lacquer for $18, or a Chloé mini travel gift set of perfume for $15.
For wee ones:
Wooden toys always bring a certain purity to play. They also require a high level of craftsmanship so many makers charge exorbitant prices for them. One such maker of admittedly beautiful hand-painted hardwood toys sells a 5-inch-tall wooden dragon for $25. Another has a figure-eight train set that will set you back $30.
Here’s one of my best-kept secrets: Shop for wooden toys at Ikea. Their figure-eight wooden train set costs $9.99. So does a set of 24 colorful wooden building blocks that come in a wooden wagon. They also carry wooden toy cars, stacking rings and hammering blocks. You don’t have to tell the recipient’s parents they’re from Ikea. Just say, “These wooden toys were made in Sweden.”
For co-workers:
I’m always more touched by a little gift that’s homemade than one that I know was just chosen randomly because it was on sale by the register. Freshly baked cookies nestled in a fancy gift box with tissue paper and ribbon are one of my favorite gifts to give my colleagues. My favorite recipe is the “Chewy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies” from AllRecipes (allrecipes.com). It’s a tasty alternative to the typical Tollhouse. You can make three and a half dozen for about $6 and an hour of your time. Compare that to a box of one dozen cookies from a high-end baker ($20 and up plus shipping) and you’re way, way ahead of the game.
For everyone else:
Research shows that when you spend your money on experiences, rather than things, you feel happier. That’s why rather than giving stuff to the support people in your life whom you don’t always know well, movie passes are just the ticket. They’re a small token of your appreciation, and you can buy them at discounted prices.
Tickets at the AMC Theatre can run up to $15 a pop, but if you buy the AMC Gold Experience Movie Tickets in bulk in advance at Costco, you can get 10 for $85, nearly half price. Costco also sells a 10-pack to Cinemark ($80) and a four-pack to Regal theaters ($33). If you’re an AAA member, you can score similar deep discounts through the association’s website. I’ve yet to meet someone who doesn’t appreciate two free tickets for a night out on the town.
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Top Tips for Savvy Holiday Shopping originally appeared on usnews.com
