Holiday Gift Shopping: Making the Most Out of Your Budget
by Heather Greenwell
Ah, yes. It’s that time of year again when shopping for family and friends becomes an ultra-marathon. From making Christmas lists and saving year-round to scoping out season sales, for many of us, holiday planning is a must. It’s challenging to find invaluable gifts that your family will love without going over budget, especially for those who come from big families. Here are a few creative and affordable gift ideas that will provide meaning for those you love: Homemade Gift Sets Presentation is everything! Fill a movie theater popcorn box with a family-friendly DVD, popcorn, candy, and sodas to gift to a family. Or, if you know a couple who’d enjoy a romantic night, arrange a date night box filled with items like candles, a restaurant gift card, or even a bottle of wine. None of these themes fit? Curate your own! The different gift set themes are endless. Local Food & Sweets If your loved one is a foodie, buying homemade sourdough bread, baked goods, local honey, mead, and chocolates is a tasty way to celebrate the season! This is a great way to support local businesses and discover a local treasure you and your loved one could visit together. Some of our favorites include B.D. Provisions , Bread & Butter Kitchen , and Sweet Hearts Patisserie .
Day Experiences Consider gifting an experience for the entire family! Instead of individual gifts, purchase tickets for an amusement park, escape room, mini golf, or the zoo. It may be a more feasible and time-friendly option everyone will love. Want to stay local? Buy tickets for DodgeArrows (family-friendly experience merging the fun of archery, dodgeball, and paintball) or The William Paca House and Garden (Blue Star Museum and historical landmark). Subscriptions In this day and age, many of us use multiple streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Max, Disney+, Spotify, and Amazon Prime for our entertainment. The cost of subscriptions can get kind of pricey. Purchasing an annual subscription can save the recipient anywhere from $100 to $200 a year. While having a functional budget is key, don’t let it consume your holiday season. Use gift-giving as an opportunity to gather and foster quality time amongst friends and family. By doing so, you may just find it a bit easier to stay within budget.
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