Christmas Gifts For The Budget Conscious

Reining in the purse strings over Christmas without looking tighter than Kylies hotpants

takes finesse, because lets face it, there are cheap gifts, and then there are cheap gifts. The thing is, in the quest to save money the line can blur, and while singing underpants may seem like a great buy in your bargain-hunting frenzy, your pals will know theyve been stiffed.

If there are any friends youd like to keep come January, stick to the following list:

Homemade gifts

Contrary to popular belief, homemade gifts are not consigned to the creative minds of children and tree-hugging adults. In fact, there are a whole host of pretty cool things you can make with little skill or embarrassment. Anything from soaps and candles to jewellery and luxury sugar-loaded cakes are a sure-fire win. Just dont get too industrious no-ones going to be impressed with a model made out of clothes pegs.

Use your skills

Got skills? Now is the time to put them to good use. Painting, drawing, sculpting and carving are all artistic clout you can mould into a Christmas gift without spending a penny. Hairdressers, beauticians and masseuses can all hop on board too. Average Joes, forget it and move on.

Bargain buckets

If battling tooth and nail for your Christmas gifts with the rest of the nation is still your thing, it is possible to take part in a spot of traditional Christmas shopping and stick to your budget at the same time. In this case, salvation comes in the form of gift offers. 3-for-2s, under 10 and under 5 you name it, in the run up to Christmas every shop worthy of its chocolate Santas has one.

Accessorize to the hilt

Every friendship or family group has at least one gadget-obsessed soul, and while their iPod-playing, iPhone-ringing, laptop-using nature may drive you crazy for most of the year, at Christmas it opens up a load of budget Christmas gift options. Ladies and gents, enter the wonderful world of gadget accessories!

Get thrifty

Old book stores and charity shops are a treasure trove of unclaimed gems just waiting to be discovered, from antique books and jewellery to iconic toys and games from yesteryear for the kids. No-ones saying that you dont have to rummage through a whole world of junk to dig up a winner, but if Del and Rodney can do it, so can we all, right?

Affordable art

God bless reprints and their ability to give everyone a bogus sense of style and intellect. Now you can impress your mates with any one of thousands of famous artists and photographers for next to nothing. And the best bit? You get them to frame it. A dismal gift choice for any legitimate art collectors but a real winner for rest of us flunkies.

Beware false economy

You know who you are. Come January this type spend their time hunting in the sales not for themselves, but for next years Christmas presents. The problem is, finding the perfect Christmas gift is tough enough without having to pair someone up with a Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer tie you picked up for 99p. That may never happen.

by: Phil Ward

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