By Cathy Spaulding
Editor’s note: One in a series of stories to help readers’ save money.
You’re making your list. You’re checking it twice.
And you’re wondering how you’ll ever be able to afford to give presents for your spouse, your children, your children’s teachers, your parents, your siblings, your aunts, your uncles, your ministers. Then comes the cost and labor of making those presents look presentable.
Still, even in this most spendable time of the year, there are ways to save money on Christmas gifts without being a Scrooge.
“Always know who you’re buying for, and take a list with you,” said Arrowhead Mall Marketing Director Penny Kampf. “And set a budget on how much you’re going to spend on each person.”
And shop early, said Melanie Taylor, family and consumer educator for McIntosh County OSU Extension Service.
We know, hard words when Christmas is less than three weeks away.
Yet, Taylor said, “The more time a consumer has to shop, the better choices the consumer will make.”
This also gives you time to watch for sales and coupons.
Dillard’s Manager Jerry Blaich said his store at Arrowhead Mall offers several sales between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Often, they come unannounced, he said.
“And a lot of people don’t look at the signs by the sale items,” he said.
“The closer we get to Christmas, the lower the prices are going to be. That’s my observation,” said Heather Winn, family and consumer science educator for Cherokee County.
If you plan on celebrating Christmas after Dec. 25, you can take advantage of the post-Christmas sales that hit stores Dec. 26. If you’re a stickler for celebrating on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, well, there’s always next year.
Taylor also suggested avoiding credit cards whenever possible so you wouldn’t be hit with usage fees after Christmas.
Several budget-idea Web sites suggest giving “coupons” redeemable for chores or special favors such as back rubs or trips to the beach.
You also may want to ask yourself and other family members if everyone must give presents to everyone else.
“A lot of families are drawing names of people they’ll give to,” Kampf said.
One practice that has gained notoriety has been regifting, or giving something that another person had given you. According to the Web site freemoneyfinance.com, more than half of Americans regift.
The Web site said the regifting debate “boils down to whether or not the gift is a nice present that the recipient will like.”
The site suggested asking such questions as whether the item is in good condition and workable and to look at your intentions of regifting.
However, Kampf winced at the idea.
“I am not a fan of regifting,” she said. “It could end up hurting the person who gets the gift. Or if the person who gave you the gift ever found out, that wouldn’t be good.”
After buying the present comes the cost and labor of wrapping the present.
Blaich said Dillard’s offers gift wrapping for items bought at the store. There are different charges for gift wrapping, except for fragrances and cosmetics, which are wrapped for free, he said. The store also offers free-gift wrapping on special sales events and for police and military, he said.
Dillard’s customer service cashier Cynthia Acuff wraps many of the presents at the store.
“I’ve been doing it for 10 years with the store,” she said.
Acuff said there are several ways to make your gift look good.
“It does good to have a good pair of sharp scissors,” she said. “Also use good, sturdy wrapping paper, so it will crease easily.”
Arrange your present on the wrapping paper so that you can put the paper’s edge along the edge of the gift box.
Fold the edges in “so you don’t have any rough edges,” Acuff said.
Acuff said she also used double-stick tape, so the tape wouldn’t show on the outside.
“And I crease everything around the present,” she said.
Acuff also suggested trimming the present with ornaments or other trinkets the recipient can use later.
Reach Cathy Spaulding at 684-2928 or cspaulding@ muskogeephoenix.com.
Eight ways to save on giving, wrapping
• Do not feel pressure to give gifts to everyone you know.
• Write maximum amount you plan to spend on each person.
• Consider consignment or thrift stores.
• Recycle your gift wrap if it looks fresh and has no tears, creases, wrinkles or tape fragments.
• Reuse good gift bags and boxes in good condition.
• Buy little gifts so you don’t have to use so much gift wrap.
• If you’re sure you won’t insult the recipient, use alternate gift wraps such as the Sunday funnies, wallpaper, craft paper, children’s art work.
• If you are creative or a good cook, consider making your gifts.
Sources: doityourself.com, Dillard’s, OSU Extension Service, about.com.
