If you’re ready to save some serious money on your holiday gifts then the way to go is to DIY your gifts.  Sometimes time constraints can dictate your ability to DIY, but your skill level should never hold you back.  There are projects our there for every skill level, many of which you can find on DIY Adulation.  The important thing to keep in mind is to choose projects suited to your skill level.  Don’t try to learn extensive new skills in such a pressure-filled and deadline sensitive time of year.

 

[bctt tweet=”DIY your gifts and make this your most frugal holiday season ever! #write31days #diyholidaychallenge”]

 

How to Save on Gifts

Use What You Have

Using the materials and supplies you already have is the best way to save money on holiday gifts.  It costs you nothing out of pocket, obviously, but it also helps you plan your gifts.  Knowing what you already have allows you to plan projects that you can complete with little to no spending.  If you are missing one or two items needed, that’s okay.  I’ll share some tips later on for how to save on supplies.

Batch Gifts

These gifts are a great way to save as well because you can buy the supplies in bulk.  Batch gifts also cut down on the time required to make your gifts.  Mason jar gifts and decorated journals are great examples of batch gifts that you can make quickly and easily.

Recycled Crafts

A third fantastic way to save on DIY gifts is to make recycled crafts.  These are great because they use discarded “trash” you already have on hand.  Don’t let recycled gifts make you think of cardboard bird feeders slathered in peanut butter.  These projects can be classy and elegant, like this Stash Frame (which only cost 30¢ to make), which means they will be a gift you are proud for the recipient to open.

 

How to Save on Supplies

Utilize Clearance Deals

Clearance deals are how I get most of my supplies.  A way for you to save, even if your existing supplies are limited, is to tailor your DIY gift ideas to the clearance supplies you are able to find.

Use Coupons

Some staple items, like Mod Podge and E6000, almost never go on sale.  To save on basics like these, pick them up when you have a 40 or 50% off coupon.  Craft store release coupons like these on a weekly basis.

Thrift Store

We’ve already covered how to thrift your holiday gifts, but did you know that you can get craft supplies at thrift stores, too?  Most thrift stores have sewing patterns, yarn, paper crafting supplies, fabric, and more.  In addition to traditional craft supplies, they also have items that can be used in your projects such as baskets, florals, books, and seasonal décor.  If you need it, you can probably find it at a thrift store.

Dollar Store

You don’t want to discount the dollar store when it comes to getting supplies.  You can get everything from floral foam to Mod Podge there.  If you think outside the box you can save even more.  For example, I once needed wire for a project I was working on but floral wire was too flimsy.  A stroll through the tools and I found some heavy gauge steal wire that was perfect!  (If you want to learn more about how to save on all of your purchases check out How to Save on Anything.)

 

Now that you know your options when it comes to your holiday gifts, it is time to move on to making a plan for them (no matter which option or combination thereof you choose).  If you are looking for gift tutorials (plus a ton of free printables) sign up for the 31 Days of Saving on Holiday Gifts newsletter.  You will get freebies and tutorials delivered right to your inbox!  Subscribe and make this your most frugal holiday yet! **Update** All freebies from this 31 Days List have been moved to the VIP Library for subscribers. Sign up for free here!

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Missed the introduction to this series?                 Find out more about #write31day

Click 31 Days of Saving on Holiday Gifts.

Do you look at things and see not what they are but what they can become? Do you get a thrill out of digging through a box of junk to find that one treasure? Or, do you just love that little thrill that comes from saving tons of money? I love all of these things and I am always ready and willing to go through each and every aisle, box, and bin. But what if you don’t enjoy that? Do you just lose out on all of the amazing savings? Absolutely not! There are alternative options to consider outside of the “traditional thrift store” that will allow you to peruse neatly shelved items that are easy to find for thrifting gifts.

[bctt tweet=”Stretch your holiday budget by thrifting your gifts (it’s not just dusty old stores, anymore).”]

 

Why You Should Thrift Your Holiday

New Items

If you are on the fence about shopping at thrift stores to obtain your holiday gifts let me tell you some reasons why you should consider thrifting. First and foremost, it saves you money and a lot of it. You can save over 90% off of the retail price of items and you never know what you might find. Just because it is at a thrift store doesn’t mean it isn’t a newer product.

 

Helping Those in Need

Another reason to thrift your holiday gifts is because when you buy from places like Goodwill and the Habitat for Humanity Restore, you are helping those in need.  Thrifting is a great way to be charitable when you don’t have the money to donate cash.  You can also teach your kids the importance of giving back simply by sharing your reason for thrifting with them.  Teach them that you can be charitable even when it doesn’t seem like you have much to spare.

Bonus: Take it one step further and have everyone in your home fill a box with unwanted or unused items and done those before you shop.  This not only helps the foundation but also helps you clear some clutter out before the holidays.

Good for the Earth

Thrifting also means you are producing less waste.  Instead of going out and buying new items you are giving a home to items that are no longer of use to someone else.  This saves extra packaging from landing in your trash and subsequently, a landfill.  With all of these awesome benefits, why wouldn’t you want to thrift?

Tip:

I speak from personal experience when I say make sure it is a thrift shop you are walking into.  My mom and I once stopped by this awesome little thrift shop we had found the previous year while shopping in the surrounding area.  As we are walking around looking at items (and searching for prices) a man comes up and asks us if we need any help.  We tell him we are just looking but were wondering where the prices were.  As it turns out, the building was no longer a thrift store!  It had become the private property of an online auction house and we were just walking around picking up their items like, no big deal.  Thankfully, the man was very nice (as he discreetly ushered us towards the door) but we were of course mortified.  Moral of the story is that these things can totally happen and if you’re not sure, don’t assume anything.

 

Where to Thrift

Chains

When deciding where to thrift, don’t limit yourself to traditional stores.  There are also used stores that offer quality items at fantastic prices.  Two of my (nationwide) favorites are Half Price Books and GameStop.

• Half Price Books – In addition to amazing deals on books, they also carry stationary, gift sets, video games, vinyl albums… the list goes on and on.  This is a great place to check out to know a lot of gifts off you list in one stop.
• GameStop – These stores also sell video games and consoles, however, they sell other items too.  You can find collector items, storage solutions, and sometimes even tablets.  My favorite thing is that they offer a warranty on their refurbished items which is a huge plus anytime you are buying something previously owned.

Another great perk for both of these chains is that they also sell products online.  If you are a shop-from-your-couch-in-pajamas kind of person, you can still score amazing deals buying pre-owned.

 

If you would like a list of nation-wide thrift/used stores, subscribe to our 31 Days of Saving on Holiday Gifts newsletter.  You will receive a free printable download.  Each major gift category (games, jewelry, sporting goods, etcetera) is proceeded by a list of stores that are best-suited for the item you are looking for, all in an easy-to-read table format.  You also receive access to all of the other exclusive printables and tutorials free to subscribers! **Update** All freebies from this 31 Days List have been moved to the VIP Library for subscribers. Sign up for free here!

Buy/Sell Groups

Another option when thrifting is to look at Craigslist and Facebook buy/sell groups.  While not technically thrifting, I suppose, you can still find great deals on the items you’re looking for.  When choosing these avenues, keep the following tips in mind:

• You can use the term “ISO” (In Search Of) in your posts to let people know specific items you are looking for.
• Always be safe when meeting up with people you don’t know.  Choose a public place during the day and try to bring a friend or family member along with you.
• Never pay for an item before you have seen it in person.  Also, use cash to protect your banking information.  Anytime you hand over a personal check to anyone, it is important to remember that you are essentially handing them all of the information needed for some to make purchases from your account in this digital age.  Don’t give a personal check to anyone you wouldn’t want to give your home address, bank routing number, and account number to under normal circumstances.

 

Tips and Tricks

1. With clothing and décor especially, try to see the potential in the item.  Is there a way that some paint or sewing might make the item shine?  Thrifting items to refurbish or make them over is a great semi-handmade DIY to create unique gifts for your friends and family.
2. When buying open board games, check to be sure all of the pieces and the instructions are included.
3. Also check the discs inside of movie and music cases to ensure they match what is listed on the cover.
4. If you are purchasing any small electronic, like a DVD player or game console, check that all of the cords you need are included.  If not, do some research to see if you can find inexpensive replacements for them before you buy.
5. Never trust the store labels for sizes on apparel.  There is often so much stock that mistakes are bound to happen.  Get in the habit of always checking the actual shoe and clothing labels to verify the size.

As you can see, thrifting is a fantastic option is you need to buy most of your holiday gifts but you are on a tight budget.  In addition to all of the national thrift stores, also look for stores specific to your areas.  And don’t forget that many times when thrifting you can find brand new items still in their packaging.  Now that you know these ideas and tips, start thinking about what thrift gifts you want to find this season

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Missed the introduction to this series?                 Find out more about #write31day

Click 31 Days of Saving on Holiday Gifts.

 

 

As promised, today we are diving into one of the three basic categories for your holiday gift options.  We are going to start with the “buy” because chances are you plan on buying at least a few of your gifts and I want you to save as much as possible.  Also, it is important you get your gift buying off on the right financial foot. Here are some tips and tricks to help you save on buying your gifts!

Affiliate links may be used in this post. Ordering a product through these links may result in a commission. Read the full disclosure here.

[bctt tweet=”Learn how to #save even when you buy your gifts from retailers.”]

 

Is Buying Right for You?

How do you know when buying your gifts is the right option for your holiday style?  Some are obvious such as you love visiting the shops this time of year and enjoy the hustle and bustle.  If that’s the case you definitely want to work in at least one or two shopping trips.  However, there are other, less obvious signs you should buy.

1. You don’t enjoy crafting.

• If you hate the idea of having to sit down and make gifts, clearly buying is a better option for you.

2. You enjoy handmade gifts but simple do not have the time to make them all.

3. You love creating but don’t have much of your own supplies.

•  If you don’t already have some basic supplies, you could start overshooting your budget in a hurry trying to obtain it.

 

Be Specific

To prevent yourself from overspending, have a specific list of items for each person on your list.  (We will learn how to do this more thoroughly on Thursday but I want to share with you how this step pertains to choosing to buy your gifts.)  Once you have your list made, diligently search for deals on those items.  If there is a specific video game you are looking for or you know your parents need a new DVD player, start looking for deals on those items now.  This not only helps you stay within your budget, it also helps you know you are getting the best deal possible.  Lastly, as part of being specific, give yourself a completion date for obtaining all of your gifts.  Some examples would be:

• All gifts have to be purchased by December 14^th.
• I will finish all of my online orders by November 30^th.
• To ensure that all of my gifts are wrapped by December 20^th they have to be in my hands by no later than December 10^th.

If doesn’t matter what goal you pick so long as you set a firm completion date.  Choose a goal that fits with your lifestyle and stick to it.

Boost Your Savings

There are plenty of ways to boost you savings even if you are buying all of your gifts.

 

Clearance

Retailers don’t want to store all of their excess and overstock.  Instead they will sell it to you with huge discounts.  Always look for these deals when you are at the store.  You might be amazed at what you can find.  I got the 3 items pictured above for less than $2.00 each and these are just a small snippet into what I have gotten.

Use Coupons

Even if you don’t normally use coupons when doing your regular shopping, use them now.  You can find coupons for toys, clothes, electronics… you name it and there is probably a coupon for it.  Also, don’t just look at the picture.  Read the text.  Manufacturers and retailers will often put a picture of the most expensive version of a product on the coupon to increase the likelihood of you choosing to purchase that specific item.  In most cases, the coupon is good on other, less expensive, versions as well.  Lastly, don’t forget about percent off coupons.  These can save you tons on necessities like socks and underwear (which I have no aversion to setting under the tree each year).

 

Don’t Overlook Craft Stores

Craft stores carry a lot of products that aren’t necessarily for crafty people.  Games, books, home décor, and small appliances are just a few of the items you can mark off your gift list in these stores.  If you’re asking, “Why would I buy that stuff there when I can get it at another store just as easily?”  I have the answer for you.  Craft stores offer some of the best coupons and they offer them weekly!  I was able to get that super awesome Star Wars puzzle above for my brother-in-law for on $7.00 using a 50% off coupon at Michaels.  That’s $3 less than it is at Amazon right now.  So be sure to check the major craft stores in your area to see what they have before overpaying for items on your gift list.

As always, when deciding which holiday gift option is right for you, be realistic.  Don’t determine to order everything off of Amazon if the money to do that just isn’t in your budget this year.  Conversely, don’t vow to DIY every gift when you’ve never done a craft project in your life (high school Home Ec. excluded).  Both of those mistakes will cost you hundreds later when your budget is blown.

If you missed the introduction to this series, check it out at 31 Days of Saving on Holiday Gifts.

Find out more about #write31day