- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- article archive
- expert q & a
- message boards
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
 |
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
'Tis the Season to Save Money
Sticking to the List Without Breaking the Bank
By Deborah Ng
The holiday shopping season is once again upon us. For many people, this means it's time to fight the throngs of hurried shoppers and endure a 90-minute wait in line to purchase a pricey, last-minute knick-knack for Great Aunt Alice. While most of us have the best intentions, it's hard to get enthusiastic about the holiday if we're stressed out about the cost of gifts.
When this happens, we end up losing sight of why we're celebrating the holiday in the first place. Instead of thinking about time spent with family and friends, we're thinking about our credit card bills. Don't let this happen to you. There are plenty of ways to give to everyone on your list without having to take out a second mortgage.
Because many of us wait until Thanksgiving is over or, even worse, the last week or two before Christmas to do our shopping, we end up paying premium prices for ill-thought-out gifts that will be returned or end up taking up residence in the recipient's closet. If you asked most folks, they'd rather receive a gift that costs less money if it had a little bit of thought put into it than a major purchase they'll never use. Most of us feel as though we have no choice and that we have to buy our loved ones an extravagant gift. In reality, that couldn't be further from the truth.
According to Gary Foreman, editor of The Dollar Stretcher, people should "listen to their hearts" when putting together shopping lists. "If you think about the person receiving the gift, you're much more likely to find something they like and to find it at an affordable price," Foreman says.
