The Thought Counts, and Can Even Save Money
What does everybody say about gifts? “It’s the thought that counts.” Certainly, this is true—however, that’s not the whole story. Yes, the thought counts; but it needs to be the right thought. After all, people can have good thoughts about others, bad thoughts about others, and totally erroneous thoughts. They can also be quite clever.
If you think about it carefully, you’ll be able to figure out what the best possible gift for that special person, or persons, in your life is. Following we’ll explore several ideas to help, at minimum, stimulate your imagination.
- Not All Gifts Must Be Physical
A gift can be time, it can be a massage, it can be a vacation, it can be a date. Maybe you and your young wife are broke as church mice, but have a movie or show you both love very deeply. Perhaps you design a “gift night” where you both devote some real time to this piece of entertainment you are so attached to.
Or maybe you go on a trip to a fine vacation locale and stay in a cheap motel rather than a luxury resort. The point is hiking or biking or swimming or sightseeing anyway, right? So remember: if you’re on a budget, some gifts are memorial, rather than physical, and involve actually doing something with someone you love.
- Gifts Designed For Utility
In contrast, many gifts are designed to help people get things done. Say you’ve got a nephew or cousin who just bought a house. You know what they’d like more than a video game or a film?
A pick-axe and shovel to help dig out that spare lot so they can have a real driveway on their property. That’s a specific example, but you get the idea: some gifts of the utilitarian variety are quite valuable, and gifts of this kind do tend to be more affordable.
3. Candy and Flowers
Have you ever tried Mexican chili-powder candy? Basically, there will be something like a fruit-based mango taffy rolled in a salt-and-chili-powder mix. It’s a spicy, tasty, strange, exotic treat; and it’s not too expensive. There are candies like this from all over the country and the world, and their exotic nature makes them a great gift.
Beyond candies, there are always flowers, and you may be surprised at how affordable bouquets can be; provided, of course, that you buy from the right seller.
- Shopping The Deals
This is a common tactic during the holidays: you seek out the deals. Black Friday isn’t a wise deal day, though, as things aren’t really marked down, they’re just advertised that way. There are some deals, but not always. What’s smarter is finding off-season items.
How do you get deals on Christmas decorations? You buy them after Christmas. That’s the kind of strategy to take into the shopping center when you’re chasing down deals. Also, be sure to use the internet; there are always fine gifts there.
- The “Shotgun” Approach
This is a personal favorite for many. Sometimes you don’t have money, and you don’t know what to get someone. How do you do something memorable? Instead of spending, say $100 on one big thing, spend $100 on twenty small things, and wrap them each individually.
As a shotgun has many BBs that spread out to increase the likelihood of hitting a target, you’re more likely to make someone happy if there are multiple gifts they have the opportunity to enjoy.
Authentic Gifts That Are Cherished for Years to Come
The shotgun approach, shopping the deals, candy, flowers, gifts for utility, and non-physical gifts represent some very worthwhile options to both delight those you love, and keep your budget intact. Hopefully, these suggestions help stimulate your imagination.
