Save Money with These Creative and Frugal Christmas Shopping Ideas!

Christmas shopping is in full swing and if you're like us, you don't want to spend your savings. One way to be green as a family is not to spend on unnecessary items. But you don't want to sacrifice the quality of your giving as well.  Below, are a few tips to saving money while adding genuine heart to your holiday giving. 

Be the Gift: Depending on your skill set, you can offer coupons for your services.  And if you feel that's too slight, offer a menu for them to choose from - or even consecutive services, like housecleaning, massage or hair cuts. You'll get to give a gift without spending any cash, your receiver gets to save money and you've not only given a service, but also your time, which is far more valuable.  It’s a win-win for both.  Another idea is to give a child in your life a gift certificate to spend the day together.  You can then spend that time going to a park, bike riding, or numerous other things that are light on the pocketbook but full of great memories.

Get Organized: Be organized about your Christmas shopping; write down who you need to buy for, and how much you’ll spend on each person.  Then, stick to that number.  Make a commitment to yourself that you won’t go over budget.  If you start shopping early, hunt for the deals, and incorporate creative giving, you’ll be able to get a lot more for that budget number too. 

Be a Deal Hunter: Does your family always go out to eat for Christmas?  Maybe you or someone else in your family could host a potluck instead.  Have to travel to see family?  How about driving or taking the bus instead of flying?  Or maybe you could fly out to see family after the holidays and get a cheaper ticket price.  Knowing the best tips for getting the cheapest flights can save you hundreds of dollars. 

Invest in Health: Without our health, we are nothing!  Invest in a the health of a loved one! Buy them a wholesale membership for a nutritional supplement or essential oils company - allowing them wholesale access to the therapeutic products the love and enjoy! 

Give Clean: Green families do well to pass on the gift of clean!  Create your own cleaning supplies for your loved ones, made of natural, organic ingredients, or buy direct from Bayes. The toxic ingredients in conventional household cleaners are wreaking havoc on our health, and it's time we take more control of our health (and the health of the environment) with organic cleaning supplies. Easy to make and more affordable to buy than you may think.

Christmas shopping doesn’t have to put a dent in your savings, and it doesn’t have to be a stressful event.  With a little planning and preparation, it can even be fun. 

From all of us at Bayes, happy holiday shopping!