Today’s quick tips will help you save money on items such as shower gifts, baby gifts, random gifts, holiday gifts and more!
Do you like shopping?
I’m sure many of you enjoy going mall shopping, picking out cute baby clothes for a shower, maybe a few kids books and other fun items. Or maybe you don’t… like me, and absolutely hate it!
It’s a chore I don’t want to deal with to be honest. Not to mention, you find yourself steaming mad when you’re in a rush to grab a quick gift and end up paying $20 for an 8 page, baby board book. A book filled with a few silly cartoons you probably could have drawn yourself on a bad day.
Here’s where a bit of planning and a hint of knowledge will help you avoid these situations, save the day, and acquire gifts both cheaply and easily in the future.
Dollar Stores
The first quick tip is Dollar Stores like Dollarama, Dollar Tree, Dollar General, Dollar Mania (I might have made that one up)… Dollar Whatever. While the selection can be random and vary from store to store – I’ve found some amazing deals on books in a wide range of genres and styles for various age groups.
Full colour coffee table books like National Geographic photo journals can be found for $3-$4, an incredible deal. Normally these types of books will run you $30-$40 at a bookstore or on Amazon. They make great reading material and are lovely coffee table books, a perfect housewarming gift. Or perhaps the missing accent piece for your side table as they bring presence, with their substantial quality and heavy stature.
More Books!
I’ve also found heaps of beautifully illustrated children’s books, full page, full colour, as well as board books and hardcovers for under $4 dollars! Many of the same books that I’ve come across in bookstores or online book retailers for five times the price! That’s a huge savings, and if you aren’t looking for a particular title, you can find such high quality hardcovers at a much lower cost.
It makes sense to go and browse the dollar store book selection from time to time. I like to pick up anything I believe is a really spectacular deal or that I think my friends or relatives might enjoy. If it fits their interests and is wonderful quality, it can make a great gift for later (or just surprise them sometime)!
It never hurts to plan ahead. It saves you scrambling when it’s time to buy gifts and at the same time it will save your wallet!
Gift Wrapping, Bags & Cards
Gift Wrapping, Bags & CardsDollar stores also stock lots of cheap gift bags and wrapping paper, so this can be a great opportunity to load up for when you need them. Just be careful that you’re getting value, as some of the rolls seem cheap but don’t actually hold as much paper as you might think! Check the sizes and lengths.
Over time I’ve also noticed that our family has collected a massive amount of gift bags. We usually end up taking them home with us, folded and flattened – then store them neatly and pack them away. Most times they’re still in perfect condition.
Reuse them! I’ve purposely grabbed them after being opened, before the kids can shred them, to preserve our gift bags in the best possible shape for this reason. Store them and sort them at home into a few categories such as Boy / Girl / Holiday / Birthday / Baby etc… Boom! No more spending money on gift bags! (Just be careful to remember who gave them to you in the first place so you don’t re-gift to their original owner!)
Another item to pick up on the cheap at Dollar Stores are greeting cards. They don’t always have the greatest selection or the thickest, fanciest cards…. but how many people really even look at cards for more than a few seconds anyway? Yes, some people are very sentimental with their cards, but I have a feeling most cards find their way to the garbage or recycling bin within a week.
So unless you think it’s an extra special occasion like a wedding, a milestone birthday or you know your recipient actually appreciates and keeps them – skip the expensive cards. It will likely end up in the trash. Your handwritten message inside the card is more meaningful anyway.
Amazon Deals
Last but not least, the king of deals – Amazon! Why not stock up on great finds from the company with likely the largest purchasing power in the world. Take advantage of those lightning deals, Prime Day and whatever other promotions they roll out.
I’m sure many parents have had the lovely experience of forgetting their child’s friend or second cousin has a birthday party two days from now. You then realize you forgot or left it until the last minute to get a gift. When this happens, you’re stuck paying full sticker for whatever ridiculous toy you can find.
Life sometimes gets in the way and other things take priority, so it’s understandable this happens. This is where the beauty of a gift closet comes in handy...
Initiate Gift Stash!
If you have some extra storage space in your house (you don’t need a ton) my parents always used to keep some very generic and popular items in a “gift closet”. It was super handy in those last minute, ‘I forgot to buy a gift’ situations you likely have experienced. Forgot to buy a gift for you kids’ friend whose name you can’t even remember? Well, now you’ve got a closet for that!
The best part of the gift closet is you will have snagged these items ahead of time at half the cost. Toys like Play-doh, Lego, My Little Ponies and Hot Wheels are all great candidates here. These items all go on sale regularly (just never a week before the party when you need them)! Also, these types of toys have been popular for decades, so you know at some point some kid is going to want or ask for them. Definitely add some of these classic toys to you gift stash when they’re on sale and cut down your gift budget!
Even shopping for your own family, this can work out well. At times I’ll buy gifts months in advance and score great deals like 70% off. You can maximize your value and be a hero to your kids without breaking the bank. Just be sure they’ll still want that toy in half a year!
Real World Examples
Some other real-world examples… we recently snagged a $129 Thomas the Train set for only $39.99. Yes, it’s probably not even worth that, and I know a lot of people would never spend $130 on a kids birthday gift, but at $39 you’ll be saving on a big ticket gift item for your kid or can possibly split it with another family member and give it to a cousin as a joint present. Another favourite (mentioned above) are hot wheels cars, tracks and accessories. Recent price-watching online landed me another great deal on additional track and cars that normally retailed for $90, purchased for only $27.99.
Little habits like price watching can save you a ton in the long run and don’t take a lot of time. I mean, why buy 3 cars and 10 feet of track when you can get 50 cars and 70 feet of track for the same price, right? The value seems crazy in comparison, but you can get some awesome deals when you search carefully, monitor prices and plan ahead.
So find some extra space in your laundry cupboard or one of those unused closet shelves and stock up on some great toys, books and gift wrap items. You’ll thank yourself later.
