Affordable gift giving ideas

Affordable gift giving ideas to save money when mailing and wrapping gifts throughout the year.

Gift giving is an important part of showing love to our family and friends. Gifts should be from the heart and a joy to choose, wrap and deliver. Unfortunately the cost of wrapping and mailing the gift can be more expensive that the gift itself!

FRUGAL SHIPPING OPTIONS

Shipping costs are difficult to control but there are a few tips that can help you save money. The easiest way to save on delivery would be to plan ahead and give relatives and friends their special occasion gifts when you are visiting them earlier in the year. For example, give them their Christmas gifts when you see them at the family Thanksgiving gathering. Indicate on the package when the should be opened and make sure it is clearly marked who it is for.

If you are ordering gifts over the internet or from mail order catalogs, have gifts delivered directly to your intended loved one instead of paying for shipping to you, wrapping it and then paying for more shipping to forward it on. Many companies will offer gift wrapping services and will even include a personalized card if you ask them to.

As a general rule, if you are mailing something under 3 pounds the most inexpensive way is through the post office sent Priority Mail. Is it also the fastest way usually taking 2-3 days for delivery. The post office will supply you with not only the box but label and tape free of charge when you ship this method.

If you are mailing over 3 pounds do some calling around and check with not only United Parcel Service, but other public transportation available in your area.

CENTSIBLE GIFT WRAP

If you would rather put your money into the gift instead of buying fancy wrapping paper make sure you buy gift wrap at the most affordable time of the year. Generally stores have clearance sales right after Christmas and other holidays. Buying at these times could save you 50-75% off the retail price!

Be creative and use untraditional gift wrap. Kid's birthday gifts are always cute wrapped in the newspaper comics or use the business or sports section of the paper for men's gifts. You could also use children's finger painted pictures for their grandparent's presents.

Several times a year, home decorating stores will discontinue wall paper books and will throw them out. These designs are very heavy duty and make beautiful gift wrap!

Be on the lookout for fancy gift bags to go on sale and buy a few to keep on hand. Look for designs and styles that can work for more than one occasion. For example, instead of buying a gift bag that says "Happy Mothers Day", look for a decorative bag with flowers or garden scene depicted. Then you can use the same bag for Mothers Day, Women's Birthdays or even a Bridal Shower! Encourage your extended family to use bags instead of paper as well and you will find yourself trading the same decorative gift bags back and forth through occasions the whole year.

I find that if I don't know what wrapping paper or ribbon I have on hand I will buy on an impulse and pay more for an item I may not really need. You can avoid this problem by having a special gift wrap center where you have everything you need to wrap with. Include tape, scissors, ribbon labels and fun little toy items or candy to tie into your bows. If you have elementary age children it also saves money to keep 2-3 birthday gifts on hand for unexpected parties.

CARDS

When you have an occasion to buy flowers ask for a few extra of the small cards and envelopes. They will often give you a couple of extra ones for free and are the perfect size to hole punch and add to a package with curling ribbon. These are a great alternative to spending several dollars on a full size card.