Gift! This word itself brought a smile to your face, didn’t it? We all have fond memories of getting gifts because we all have given or received special gifts sometime in our lives. A gift can be anything- from chocolates, flowers, cards, books to even a bungalow!
However, we always need to keep one thing in mind that more than the price of the gift, the thought one puts behind a gift matters to the other person. Especially girls appreciate the little things and thoughtful gifts rather than expensive gifts and extravagant gestures.
So, if you want to buy gifts for her on a budget, stop stressing out because you`re at the right place. Just scroll down until the end and follow these eight simple steps to buy the perfect gift for the perfect buck!
- Plan in Advance and Start Saving for That Every Month
Although the cost of gift-giving tends to vary by person and occasion, you can estimate how much money you will need to spend on gifts each year.
If you spent around $3,000 on gifts last year, for example, you can use this figure to calculate your annual gift-giving budget for the coming year. Set a monthly savings goal for your gift-giving account of $3,000 divided by 12 [$250].
You might find it easier to divide it into weekly payments, depending on your payment cycle. Simply remember to do it every time you get your salary.
You must have the self-control to only spend that money on gifts for the holidays or other special occasions. Again, this is why keeping your gift’s savings account separate is a good idea.
- Start a Second Job or Business
Many people begin a side hustle to save money for a specific purpose. Whether you decide to start writing a blog, freelancing, get a second job, or do anything else as a side hustle; any extra money you make can go directly into your gift-savings account.
This is a particularly good way to save to give her a nice gift on Christmas because you can keep your side-hustle earnings in your account until the beginning of December each year. This way, you can save up on your credit card bills and monthly spending.
- Avoid Giving Gift Cards as Gift to Her
While gift cards are a convenient way to give a gift, they are also somewhat limited. When you purchase a gift card for Amazon or another online shop, you will not be able to take full advantage of the special offers or limited-time discounts while shopping. Gift cards, on the other hand, are not particularly heartfelt either.
They are frequently perceived as last-minute gifts and she’s probably going to think you couldn’t think of anything else to get her! Spending time searching for the ideal gift demonstrates far more thought than simply ordering a gift card from a random store.
Furthermore, if you purchase a more traditional gift, you will be able to take full advantage of the sales and discounts, which could prove beneficial to your gift budget.
- You Can Shop at Second Hand Stores
Is it possible to buy a gift for her from a second-hand store? You most certainly can! While you may want to avoid clothing, thrift shops and secondhand stores have a plethora of interesting gift ideas. And as I said in the beginning, girls like the thought behind a gift, not the brand or the price.
Moreover, shelves of thrift shops are usually brimming with trinkets and interesting objects, and a variety of other intriguing gadgets. Don’t forget that you can shop for her while sitting at home in second-hand stores online by logging into eBay or browsing the classified ads and search results on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist.
- You Can Give DIY Gifts To Her
Consider making gifts for her if you’re a creative genius. Because not just women, people generally adore handmade gifts, and they are more often treasured far more than gifts bought from retail or gift shops. Even if you aren’t particularly creative, you can put together a one-of-a-kind and fascinating gift for your loved one. Make a festive hamper filled with her favorite foods and beverages, for example.
Likewise, you could make a personalized photo album that reflects on the special times you and your beloved shared over the years. If you don’t like the idea of making gifts for her, at least consider making your cards for her! This can be a lot of fun while also saving you a ton of money. All you need to do is go out and buy some blank cards and envelopes, then get creative.
- Consider Using Cashback And Coupon Apps When Buying Gifts for Her
Consider using cashback apps when you purchase gifts for her. Most of these apps can be added as a browser extension, which means you won’t have to think about it when making an online purchase.
If you’re unfamiliar with cashback apps, they work by receiving a commission from stores in exchange for directing customers their way. These apps then distribute a portion of the commission as cash back to you.
When you sign up, they frequently offer free money and bonuses, so it’s worth it even if you only intend to use the service a couple of times. When shopping for gifts online, I also recommend you check out the coupon apps which are available online.
When you sign up for one of these apps as a user, you will automatically receive coupons, promo codes, and other exciting deals not available to regular customers. While not every offer will pique your interest, you will almost certainly find something useful when shopping for a gift.
- Open a Separate Savings Account in a Different Bank
You can have an unlimited number of bank accounts. That’s why I would suggest you open up a savings account at a bank other than the one you normally use just for gift savings. One of my favorite money-saving hacks is isolating your savings account. You wonder why?
Because it makes it less convenient to withdraw funds from a savings account if you have to wait a few days for the funds to be transferred to your regular, everyday bank. As it’s less convenient, you will be less keen to dip into your savings on an impulsive basis, ensuring that the money is available when you need it to buy gifts for her.
Even if you can only put $100 per month into a gift-giving savings account, you will have saved $1200 over a year. I don’t know about you, but that feels a lot better than desperately trying every year to find the money to buy gifts.
- Stick To Your Budget No Matter What!
A budget is only useful if it is followed. What’s the point of putting it together in the first place if it’s not going to work?
In other words, if you’ve decided to limit birthday gifts to $100 on her birthday because that’s all you can afford, make sure you spend exactly that amount. If she cares for you and knows your condition she’ll understand why you couldn’t do something more expensive for her in the first place. And avoid being swayed by the marketing campaigns that encourage you to pay huge amounts of money for a gift that will be reduced to a fraction of the price in the normal time of a year.
Some people go above and beyond when it comes to gift budgeting, purchasing gifts throughout the year. This is a great way to take advantage of seasonal discounts and offers without having to pay top dollar during peak seasons.
There’s nothing wrong with picking up the occasional Valentine present in January if you find something at a great price! Seriously, doing this kind of planning makes budgeting for gifts throughout the year much easier.
In Conclusion:
Gift-giving is difficult. Especially when you’re buying something for your significant other. And if you’re not careful, it can get quite pricey.
While it may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about personal finance, budgeting for gifts will undoubtedly save you money in the long run and will assist you in staying on top of your spending throughout the year.
Hopefully, if you follow the nine simple tips in this article, you will stay on top of gift-giving and be well-prepared whenever you need to buy a gift for the love of your life! All the Best!
