With roughly three weeks to Christmas, there will be many of you (too many!) who will juuuuuust be starting their Christmas gift shopping (but not the men, because they’ll start in the last few days before Christmas – and then they wonder why it’s such a nightmare)…

According to one incredibly addictive website, the Book of Odds, Americans intend to give an average of 18.2 gifts this Christmas (is the 0.2 gift a regifted thing?) but that’s due to the GFC – last year the average number was 21.5 gifts and in 2007 the average number was 23.1 Christmas gifts. Boy! I’m planning on giving about a dozen – and I bought four of them from the one website to cut shipping costs.

So, if your Christmas gift budget is looking leaner than Kate Moss, it’s time to trim some (gift) fat. Here’s 5 ideas to help you along:

1. If you don’t see ‘em, they don’t get a prezzie
This extends to friends, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents and others you don’t see more than twice a year. Send ‘em a card instead. It might be all you’re getting from them.

2. “I just love your [fill in the possession they crave]“
Ever had someone close to you look lustfully at an item you own that you like, but you don’t lurrrrrve?  Why not make their Christmas – and save your wallet – and give it to them with your blessings. A friend of mine once told me quite cheerfully she’d like my big red coat if I died. We are no longer friends but it had nothing to do with her comment.

3. Many hands make light work (of your wallet)
It’s a corny saying, but the best gift you can give someone really IS your time. Don’t forget there are concierge services out there offering to run around for busy people. Why not make up  a fun IOU gift voucher for washing their car, taking the kids to the park, picking up the paint chip brochures at the hardware store, constructing the Christmas tree, standing in line at the fish markets to get the fresh prawns for Christmas Day, decorating the house, going to the post office to mail gifts intrastate, interstate or overseas – and so on.

4. Have everyone bring a plate – not a gift
Cooking and catering for everyone PLUS getting them all a gift is a huge drain on your wallet. Why not say to everyone to forget the gifts but to chip in for the food? Perhaps Aunt Juliet can make her irresistible white Christmas slice, Grandpa can get everyone silly with his famous gluhwein while your brother can man the BBQ.

5. Buy those gift-with-purchase gifts in the department store
Most cosmetics giants offer an amazing array of beauty products if you spend a certain amount. In one purchase, you can have a coral nail polish for your sister, a lipstick for your mother, a purse-size eau de toilette for your best friend, a cosmetic bag for your colleague and so on.

Aside from making and baking your own Christmas gifts, how can you save money on gifts during the festive season?

1. Kris Kringle
Not everyone likes them, but if your family nominates that each person receives one present only, you could save yourself hundreds. But if you’re only going to receive ONE present, make sure you insist that the best gift-selector in your family does the choosing (armed with others’ money)!

2. Send lightweight presents
I don’t mean silly gifts, but in their actual weight. If your friends and family live dotted around the country, save money on postage (which will soon add up) by sending them some type of clothing, or costume jewellery or small techie things that weigh next to nothing. Books are notorious for weighing a ton so this is not the time to mail them War and Peace!

3. One really good hamper = 4+ gifts sorted
Instead of racking your brains and emptying your wallet buying your mum, dad, brother and sister a gift each (especially if you live intrastate, interstate or overseas), send one whole food hamper packed with chocolate, salted snacks, biscuits, pate etc. You should be able to get something for under $100 – which is cheaper than 4 or more presents.

4. One address = one sheet of wrapping paper
Wrapping paper (if you’re not buying in bulk) not only adds up in cost (usually $4.95 per sheet) but adds to the cost of your postage.  Wrap everyone’s presents in one sheet of paper with little tags to make sure Uncle Harry doesn’t think your teenaged sister’s belly ring is for him.

5. Got friends and family with kids – give ‘em a break
Make it easier for them to have a date night – give them a book of vouchers to the local cinema chain, or a restaurant gift certificate – all for about $50

6. Hunt for gifts-with-purchases
Google websites that offer goodies with your purchase. If you select wisely, that “gift” of say, a make-up bag can become a stand-by Christmas gift say, for an unexpected guest, or put away for an upcoming birthday.

7. Barter
IF you run your own business (and better yet if it’s some kind of item that could be given as a gift), you may be able to barter your goods and services for gift cards or other goods and services to the same value – it’s worth asking your suppliers!

8. Look in shops you may not normally associate with Christmas gifts
What about:
* your local office supplier for beautiful stationery for your aunt who still handwrites everything
* the food warehouse for trays of packaged chocolates that you can give as simple host/hostess gifts
* the hardware outlet may be having a sale on cute directors’ chairs, welcome mats or lattice screens for your friends who are doing up their garden
* the post office for fun little books for your young cousins
* the locksmith for fun keyrings with Disney, Pixar etc cartoons that you can give your under-10s who want to feel “grown-up”.

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