It ѕhоuld nеvеr be too еаrlу fоr anyone tо ѕtаrt thinking аbоut budgeting fоr Christmas gіftѕ. Althоugh we mау want tо ѕреnd whatever we want оn оur family аnd friends, keeping tabs оn Chrіѕtmаѕ spending wіll serve уоu wеll.
Thе grеаt thіng іѕ thаt аlthоugh уоu wіll bе Chrіѕtmаѕ ѕhорріng оn a budget, уоu wіll ѕtіll able tо find some оf thе bеѕt Chrіѕtmаѕ gifts fоr 2016 thаt wіll bе аррrесіаtеd bу уоur frіеndѕ and lоvеd ones.
Charity gіftѕ аnd dоnаtіоnѕ mау bе thе аnѕwеr аnd thеrе are mаnу орtіоnѕ fоr supporting vаrіоuѕ саuѕеѕ аnd projects whісh саn be рlеdgеd іn thе name оf уоur rесіріеnt. Consider ѕроnѕоrіng аn аnіmаl at thе lосаl wіldlіfе centre, making a соntrіbutіоn towards a water соnѕеrvаtіоn project іn a dеvеlоріng соuntrу; оr paying fоr thе upkeep оf аn оx or a gоаt іn rurаl thіrd wоrld community.
Listed below are a few other ideas that will help you make up your mind.
Gift: A bar of soap
Budget: £5
Why? Do you wash your hands before each meal and after going to the toilet? Not everybody has that luxury. This gift will help someone who doesn’t always have that opportunity to feel clean and as a result reduce the risk of illness.
The equivalent of: Sweet Snuggles Mug and Sock Gift Set, Debenhams Penguin Pen, Juggling Balls – Multi
Gift: Feed a Family
Budget: £7
Why? A geat part of Christmas is sitting down together with the family and enjoying your Christmas dinner. Sometimes just having something to eat is a luxury. This gift will provide vouchers for a family to buy something to eat at Christmas as well.
The equivalent of: Pencil Case In Black, Essential Origami, Dad’s Army Tin
Gift: Feed an abandoned cat or dog
Budget: £8
Why? If you purchased a cat or a dog from a shelter as a gift for somebody special, you can go that extra step by ensuring that the ones left behind can be fed. A small sum of money can be used to feed an animal for a month.
The equivalent of: Pug in a Mug Tea Infuser, Cosy Sock Gift Box, 30-In-1 Games Selection
Gift: 30 school dinners
Budget: £9
Why? Can you imagine the look on the faces of at least 30 children in an African school when your gift enables them to to have a school dinner? Full tummies and big smiles!
The equivalent of: Rabbit Salt & Pepper Shakers, Festive Breakfast Gift Bag, Chilli Growing Kit
Gift: A Sheep
Budget: £10
Why? There are some Ethiopian women who are part of a savings group and because of this gift they can be given a sheep each. This means they can sell wool at the market to make some income and as a result feed their family.
The equivalent of: Christmas Chocolate Gift, Bath House Prosecco Handbag Treat, Gin and tonic bracelet
Gift: A Week’s Hot Dinners for a Pensioner
Budget: £12
Why? With old age comes a loss of independence for some. Christmas isn’t always bells and presents. This small gift will feed an oldie for a week as well as provide a bit of companionship.
The equivalent of: Baylis & Harding La Maison Candle Set, Personalised Bike Notebook, The Economist Digital Gift Subscription
Gift: Winter Coat
Budget: £14
Why? Is it possible that you can survive a harsh winter without a coat? This gift will enable a child to wear a coat for winter, keeping them warm and hopefully free of the flu and a cold.
The equivalent of: Great British Tea Gift Bag, Prosecco Lover Gift Throw Pillows, Personalised Giraffe Drinking Glass
Gift: An hour of respite
Budget: £15
Why? Sometimes all it takes is a greatly appreciated one hour break when you are looking after a disabled child 24/7. This gift will pay for a carer to look after that child while the parents take a short break.
The equivalent of: Personalised Box Of Men’s Gift Socks, Homer Simpson Novelty Head Slippers, Ideal Gift Idea, Sloe Bush
Gift: Give Girls A Head Start
Budget: £17
Why? Oxfam has a wonderful program called Investing in the Future and it’s based on making sure a girl gets a good education and ultimately a better future. This gift will help to educate a young girl.
The equivalent of: Gifts Hugs and Kisses T-Shirt Boofle Dog, Outline Trivet, Jellycat Bashful Bluebell Bunny Medium
Gift: A Delivery Kit
Budget: £20
Why? This gift will buy some essential life saving equipment to help hospitals deliver babies safely. The kit will include soap, towels, surgical gloves and forceps. We need to reduce the incredible number of babies that die in Kenya – 40,000 a year.
The equivalent of: Lancôme ‘grandiôse’ Christmas Gift Set, Cosy Hot Chocolate Gift, Glass Pineapple Jar
This research was provided by Bindman & Co Solicitors.