Budget-Friendly Options for Any Gift-Giving Occasion

You can show your love to friends and family without breaking your bank account. Here’s how.

Holidays and stress seem to go together like a hand in glove. One common cause of stress comes in picking out the perfect present for their loved ones. But that can also create a difference source of stress—spending too much on gifts and going deep into debt.

As a result, many people feel pulled in two directions at once. But you can give thoughtful gifts and keep your spending under control. Consider these budget-friends gifting options:

Give with a personal touch. Photos are a great way to be thoughtful during gift-giving season, but you have options beyond picture frames and prints. These days, you can put a digital photo on just about any object, which makes your gift personal and practical. Consider screening a favorite photo on everyday items such as coffee mugs or coasters.

Make an event out of it. Even while you’re practicing social distancing with family and friends, you can look ahead for getting back together in the future with tickets or coupons for social activities. Local events are great for for planning an outing with friends or family members, or creating a reason for a “date night” with a partner or spouse. Plus, you don’t have to break the bank with pricey concert or theater tickets. You may find some great deals right now on movies, theater, concerts and musical performances from arts organizations looking stay connected with their communities.

Do it yourself. Maybe you don’t have a creative bone in your body and a DIY gift isn’t your style. You can still think outside the box to craft thoughtful gifts that don’t come from a store and won’t cost you a lot of money. Edible gifts are almost always welcome, whether you bake something from scratch or assemble a basket of favorite foods.