Longtime Wichita on the Cheap readers are experts at saving money and giving the best gifts to friends and family without breaking the bank. Here I’ve listed a few of my best ideas, but I know you have some too! What are your best tips for saving on gift-giving this time of year? Leave a comment below to let us know!
- Buy gift cards at Dillons before December 6, 2014. You’ll get 4 times the fuel points for up to $1 off per gallon of gas, up to 35 gallons. (Right now that would make your gas, what? $1.63 per gallon? It’s like the 1980s!)
- Purchase gift cards with bonuses. <— I have a big list of them there.
- Buy Entertainment Books while they’re on sale. The books are 40% off right now, and may continue to be discounted over the Black Friday/Cyber Monday weekend.
- Buy memberships to the zoo, museums, or other Wichita attractions. These gifts will be fun for a whole year.
- Purchase everyday items and use them as stocking stuffers. (Example: Philips Sonicare battery operated toothbrushes are really good, and only about $10 at Walmart.com right now. Pay nothing for shipping when you pick them up at the store.)
- Give the gift of an Amazon Prime membership. These are GREAT. Prime members get free two-day shipping on many (most?) items, thousands of free TV shows and movies, free Cloud photo storage, and more. $99 Prime membership lasts a whole year, which is only $8.25 per month. Much cheaper than cable.
- Or get yourself a FREE 30-day trial of Amazon Prime and spend less on shipping gifts to friends and family. Amazon is already running its Black Friday deals and will continue offering big discounts on Cyber Monday and through the end of the year. (Remember – free two-day shipping. It’s great for procrastinators like me.) Before your 30 days is up you can cancel your membership if you like and pay nothing.
- Make homemade gifts people really love. A couple years ago I splurged on the good stuff – bought plastic containers and the ingredients for this really good granola recipe. It was a little more expensive than chocolate chip cookies, but everyone loved it. But there are a million other possibilities, I know. What are some of your favorite homemade gift recipes?