Irette Patterson

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Do you want to give a gift that everyone loves and is withinyour budget? It can be done. Follow these five steps to keepyour sanity and keep to your budget during the holiday season.

1. Making a List and Checking it Twice

First, make a list of everyone you want to buy a gift for. Thereshould be two lists – Essential and Would-Be-Nice. The Essentiallist would include people like family members and close friends.Some examples of those who would fall on the Would-Be-Nice listare co-workers and service providers.

2. It’s About the Money, Honey

Create a gift-giving budget. This is an estimate of how much youwant to spend per person. Don’t worry exactly how this will workout. For now, set a budget for your essentials and decide tostick to it.

3. Profiler

Take out your Essential list. Now, what are you going to buythem? People will tell you what they want or what they’reinterested in if you listen. Does someone on your list loveroses? A gift certificate to a reputable mail order nurserywould be appreciated. Do you need to buy a gift for a bookworm?Give them a discount card from a nationwide bookstore. They’lllove it. You can find more ideas athttp://www.lovingatlanta.com/inexpensive-gift-ideas.html. Thepoint is that everyone has a dream or favorite hobby. Give themsomething related to their passion and it’s sure to be a winner.

4. If You’ve Got it, Flaunt It

When it comes to actually purchasing the gifts, use everythingyou have including skills. Think of what people compliment youon. Do folks love your pound cake? Give a gift certificate goodfor one. Does your credit card earn you points somewhere? Ifnot, dump it and get one that does. Are you a member of a sitesuch as http://www.mypoints.com where you can earn points toredeem for items? If not, go over there and sign up. I hadenough points from mypoints.com to take care of two people on myEssential list. That left me with more money for the rest.

When you actually buy a present for someone, get the best pricepossible. Using the Internet you can do this easily. Start bygoing to www.half.com for the best deals.

5. Everybody is Somebody

Most of the time, the Would-Be-Nice people are easy to take careof. Everyone likes to eat. Most everyone likes sweets. Mostingredients for baked goods go on sale around holiday time. Bakethem cookies.

If you don’t know any good recipes, go tohttp://www.allrecipes.com. There you can find recipes that arerated by real people on taste and how easy they are to prepare.You can’t go wrong making a highly rated recipe from the site.Once you’ve baked, get some colored saran wrap and wrap up thecookies for individuals. Take a plate in for the workplace.

You could make this into a social occasion. Consider gettingsome friends together for an afternoon baking and making candy.You get to split the costs and the work. If you seriously doubtyour culinary ability, maybe you can come up with a deal – yousupply the ingredients (and maybe a lunch) and they supply thebaked goods.

If you can not bake at all, you can still subsidize someone’ssweet tooth. Buy some holiday mugs and a big bag of jelly beans.Place a scoop of jelly beans in the middle of a square ofplastic wrap. Secure with ribbon. Place inside mug. Instant gift!

So enjoy your holiday shopping in a sensible way. With all themoney you have saved, you can buy yourself something special.