Counting Pennies

We’ve all been there: you receive a last-minute invitation to your friend/sister/co-worker’s birthday and you have nothing to give, so you spend a small fortune at the local mall because it’s the only thing open after work.

One good way to prevent that from ever happening again is to stock up on gifts throughout the year. Just get a large box or Tupperware container and set up a space for it inside a closet. Then, as you find something that may make a good gift at a great price, simply buy it and store it.

Here are some tips on making the process even more successful:

• Buy wrapping paper and gift bags during after-Christmas sales. Everything red and gold is usually greatly reduced in price.
• Stock up on basic supplies at the Dollar store. Greeting cards, wrapping paper, Scotch tape and other small things are usually cheaper here than anywhere else.
• Buy general things that you can gift to most people: candles, photo frames, a nice notebook (nothing with dates on it, so it’s never obsolete), a bath/perfume/lotion set, decorative boxes, a collectible DVD or CD (choose traditional movies, Holiday music, etc.).
• Take advantage of sales at well-known stores such as Bath & Beyond, Victoria’s Secret or The Gap to buy small items. Even if the gift itself is not that expensive, the brand name is enough to cause a good impression.
• Shop at garage sales for items that are still new and in the box. Serving plates, small appliances and knick knacks are often resold at yard sales or thrift stores after the Holidays.
• Make your own sets. Buy discounted coffee, $1 mugs and some cute spoons and put everything together for a coffee-lover basket. Concentrate on items that don’t require refrigeration or have an expiration date.

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