Here are our tips on how to save on Christmas gifts including toys, homemade items and baked goods.
Save on Kid’s Toys
Toys can be a major budget buster. I recommend that you set a limit on how many toys your children can own at any given time. If a new toy comes in, an old toy must go out. Otherwise, you will be bursting at the seams with toys before you know it.
Buy ahead. Start thinking about next Christmas on December 26th. Pick a well concealed place in your house to store Christmas gifts for next year. Throughout the year pick up items when you find them on sale or clearance.
Shop clearance sales. You can save a ton of money if you keep an eye out for clearance sales. Target has 2 toy sales a year, one in January and one in July, where they will mark toys up to 90% off.
Purchase from Amazon. You can find amazing toy deals on Amazon. Before you purchase a toy anywhere else, price it on Amazon. It might just end up being cheaper.
Buy close to Christmas. Don’t buy an item without a deal. Wait for the sales to start closer to Christmas. I’ve seen amazing deals on toys a week before Christmas Day. The exception to this rule is if your child wants a hot ticket item that might sell out.
Buy at consignment sales, thrift stores, Facebook resell groups, and yard sales. Grab a used toy and clean it up before giving it to your child. They won’t know that you didn’t just remove it from the package.
Use a coupon. You can find coupons for toys! Keep an eye out, especially closer to the holidays.
Choose quality over quantity. Read the reviews of toys that your children are interested in. This will keep you from blowing $40 on a toy that is just going to break as soon as you open the package. Amazon is the best source for reviews.
Make Homemade Gifts/Cards
I love homemade gifts. I find them to be so thoughtful and sentimental. Don’t discount the idea of making things for others. There are SO MANY things you can make that people you know will love. If you already are crafty, think of things you are capable of making to give as gifts.
Marisa shared how she is making items from the Dollar Tree.
Kristen B shared how she makes her own Christmas cards.
Kristen D shared how she reuses Christmas cards she receives.
There are a number of bloggers and YouTubers who post inexpensive gifts that you can create. Spend some time hunting for ones that you could do.
Give Cookies/Christmas Treats
You can never go wrong with giving homemade treats as gifts. Here is a recipe for giant M&M cookies. And when you are making multiple batches of baking goods, here is how to quickly cool your pan.
You can also freeze half of your batter. I make the whole batch of dough and only bake half of it and freeze the other half for another time. That way we eat less cookies in one sitting and I don’t need to buy more chips, flour, sugar, etc. to make more cookies the following week or whenever I want to bake again. I just pull out the frozen dough and bake the other half of the batch. We know there are less cookies baked and we work to make them last longer, so we eat less in one sitting (less calories) and I don’t have to buy more ingredients later when I feel the desire to bake.
Save on Gift Cards
Save on gift cards for places you were planning on shopping.
More Tips
Find out how you can save at your local retail stores.
My best tips on how to save when shopping online.
Find out all the ways to save with our helpful Savings Bingo!