Personally,
I love buying gifts for people. Graduation, birthday, baby 
showers,
weddings, Christmas - you name it. Giving is such a wonderful act
and it actually effects you physically. Research has shown that
volunteer work is like medicine to your body. When we do things
for other people - it is a good thing - spiritually, physically
and mentally.
There
are, though, too many people who hate giving gifts. They hate the
shopping, the hate spending the money - they just don't care for
it.
It is stressful for many people, whether they are financially wealthy
or not. So, how can we make giving to others a joy in our lives?
Is there a way to buy gifts without becoming stressed out or resenting
the person you 'have' to buy a gift for? Yes there is. There is
always a solution - but they will only work if you put them to work.
You will have to make changes in your thinking when it comes to
gift giving if you want to make it a better, healthier experience.
Below
you find some advice on easy gift giving that you can personalize
for yourself. Take the ideas and mold them into your life and strive
to make it fun. Once you begin giving and enjoying it at the same
time, you will notice how wonderful it is and how rewarding it can
be.
1.
The best way not to over spend is to create a budget for your gift
giving.
Whether it be for birthdays or Christmas, if you have a limit, it
won't be so easy to just keep spending. There are a few exceptions
to creating budgets though. If your father wants a certain guitar
for Christmas and you are going to buy it for him, then you'll have
to pay what they're asking for it. A budget won't help that. A budget
is good for those who tend to over spend or those who don't know
when to stop.
2.
If you find it too easy to purchase items using a credit card with
a nice, high limit - don't use them. Plain and simple. Shop using
checks or even a checking card where the money comes right out of
your checking account. There are some who feel that shopping with
cash isn't always the best way to go. When you use checks you'll
have the cancelled check as proof of purchase or your credit card
or bank statement. With cash, if you lose the receipt, not much
can be done about it.
3.
Get to know what people like. Listen to their conversations to catch
their
interests, hobbies, likes and dislikes. For example, if your listening
to your sister and she mentions a couples times how much she would
like to get a manicure, but can't afford it - then a trip to the
salon would be a great gift.
4.
Save your money and avoid trips to the store to return gifts by
asking around. Check with other friends and family to see what they
are getting that particular person, so there won't be duplicates.
5.
If you know someone who insist that they don't want gifts - it's
easier to respect their wishes. Give them a nice card, even write
a little 
note
telling them how much you appreciate them. If you go ahead and by
them a gift, they may feel awkward or obligated to buy you something.
Save your money, respect their wishes and send along your thoughts
in a card.
6.
Put money away throughout the year for a 'Gift Fund'. It helps so
you don't have a large gap in your finances when you're out Christmas
shopping or buying birthday presents all the time.
7.
Don't ever buy something just to have a gift to give. When you do
this, 95% of the time it will be a bad choice and waste of money.
8.
Buy quality products. They last longer and are worth the extra money
spent.
9.
Shop throughout the year when you find items that would make good
gifts. End of season sales are great to stock up.
10.
Be creative. Give them something that is of interest to them. Don't
give them something that will end up at the garage sell next summer
or in the thrift store box in 3 months.
11.
Pool money together with other family and friends to buy a mutual
friend or family member a gift they really want - but has a higher
cost.
12.
Don't buy gifts for everyone you know. Many people, under the feeling
of obligation, will buy gifts for all their co-workers, friends
and family. It can be overwhelming and cost more than you have.
Give your co-workers each a card and bring in some holiday treats
for everyone to share. If there are those you still want to buy
gifts for, but know that if you do then everyone expects a gift,
then give those people their gift somewhere other than work.
12.
Always shop with purpose, not uncertainty. If you don't have a goal
when you are out shopping - go another time. Don't think that you
can't window shop or go look around. That is completely different
then going to the store to buy a gift and you have no idea where
to start looking. You'll most likely buy something on impulse and
you'll question if they'll even like it or not. This is a waste
of money.
