Between birthday parties, anniversaries, baby showers, and weddings there are constantly demands pulling at our pocket books. My husband and I have really focused on staying on our budget this year, but it seems that just as soon as we commit to spending less, more requests pop up that threaten to attack our bank account. Because I don’t want to seem stingy and I believe in celebrating life’s important events, I try to reduce the impact of gift giving on my budget using these tips.

Plan Ahead

I have a birthday book that tracks my family’s important dates. I look ahead in this book every month so I know what gift giving obligations are coming up. That way I can be thinking of the perfect gift idea and searching for the best deals.

Keep Back-Ups

To avoid last minute gift shopping I usually try to keep back up gifts in our home. These are things like candles, spa items or gift cards that will be suitable for a wide variety of people. It reduces the chance that I’ll end up spending more on a gift than I would have wanted to just because I’m in a rush.

Go Practical

Sometimes practical gifts really are the best option. If you have friends who are expecting start looking for good deals on essentials like baby wipes, diapers and other needs. They’ll appreciate the gift and you’ll appreciate the savings.

Say No If Needed

Through church and other associations we get a lot of invitations to showers and parties. Sometimes we just have to say no and we can’t be afraid that someone will be offended. If someone invites you to an event, don’t necessarily feel obligated to attend. It’s better to politely pass than to spend money you don’t have on a gift.