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Spring Gift Guide: Saving Money on Gifts
Spring showers also bring wedding and baby showers. It’s the season to celebrate Summer weddings and new babies. With these celebrations come gift giving which means spending money. As fun as it is to shower your friends and family with gifts it can take a toll on your bank account.
It is customary to buy a gift off a gift registry that the bride or new mom created. It is no secret that these stores mark up their prices because they know the guests will be buying from their store. Even though you could find the same present cheaper somewhere else, the guest of honor has requested the present from that store so that they don’t get doubles and returns are easy.
Even though you have no choice but to overpay for a gift, there are ways you can save money. First off use a coupon! The most popular retailers all have coupons online. The site Coupon Sherpa has coupons for Macy’s, Bed Bath and Beyond, Babies R’Us, and Buy Buy Baby, some of the top places for Mom’s and brides to register. You can use a coupon online or print a coupon to take to the store. They have several examples here, where you can print off coupons that you can take to the stores with you.
Second, take advantage of the free shipping. Maybe the guest of honor lives out of town or you don’t want to lug the big gift to the shower. Most registries offer free shipping. This will save you time and gas money. It can also save you money on gift wrapping. If you send the gift straight to the registrant you can attach a note and don’t have to wrap the gift.
Third, don’t be afraid to get creative. You can buy a couple things off the registry and make a theme gift by buying items that go with it from other retailers. These extra items don’t have to cost much and make it look like you bought a lot. You can even make something special to go with the gift. These gifts are the most memorable and turn out very cute. Last, if you can’t afford anything that is left on the registry buy a gift card from the store. You can choose what amount you can afford and the guest of honor can put it towards anything they don’t get.
If you are on a tight budget, gift giving can be stressful. With these tips, it doesn’t have to be. You can follow the etiquette of a gift registry, make the bride or new Mom happy, and still save money. Next time you get a Shower invitation in the mail you can look forward to the event because you know how to save money on the gift.
