Find alternatives to traditional gifts
Sure, a new smartphone is a win-win, but sometimes the best gifts are things you make with your own hands. Or not things at all.
The creativity and manual labour we put into making gifts shows our loved ones how much we care about them. Besides, alternative gifts open up a huge scope for improvisation. For a friend, you can make a photo album of your relationship from the day you met until now, or for a sister, you can make her favourite dessert. Even your time can be a great gift if you spend it with loved ones, sipping cocoa and playing board games.
Forgo long-distance travelling
Gifts and parties are not the only things that threaten our wallet during winter holidays. Many people go on long journeys during this period to celebrate the New Year with family and friends, which also entails expenses.
If travelling doesn’t fit into your budget this year, invite everyone to your place. Of course, this will also require money, but probably much less than travelling to the other side of the country and even less than going abroad. Besides, you will be able to organise the celebration according to your own rules or show your loved ones interesting places in the city where you live.
If you can’t avoid travelling, try to choose dates with cheaper tickets. It might be before or already after the holidays. But when it comes to spending time with family, being able to spend time with the people you love is far more important than the number on the calendar. And it’s still a great way to save a little money.
