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Whether celebrating someone’s wedding anniversary or commemorating your child’s graduation from college, you will want to give something special to show how much you appreciate them. With the rising costs of goods, even gift ideas are not spared, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make someone’s day. There are many ways you can save money on gifts without compromising quality. Here are a few unique gift ideas to check out when you’re strapped for cash.
1. Personalised items
Instead of shopping around for generic gifts, make the person feel special by looking for items you can personalise based on what they love. If you’re planning to give them a shirt, get their favourite quote or movie line printed on the front. You can also go for a custom photo album containing their best milestones.
If they’re into sports, go for a custom water bottle decorated with stickers that highlight the things they love. For older recipients who work at the office, consider giving them pens emblazoned with their names.
2. Aim for experiences
Gifts shouldn’t always take the form of items you can hold. They can also be memories and moments the person hasn’t experienced before. A staycation at a posh hotel or a trip to Tokyo can be nice, but you can still give them the time of their lives without going over budget.
Take them to the beach or have them watch a theatre production if they’re the type of person who’s into arts and culture. A museum date or a rooftop picnic at night would be more affordable alternatives. Just be sure to document the entire experience and make a personalised album out of it.
3. Shop around for artistic pieces
It would be a big plus if the person is an art collector. Shopping around for the perfect gift shouldn’t take long, but seeing that most art pieces cost hundreds of dollars, you may have to look for bargain options. Check the local antique store for beautiful paintings and sculptures they can hang on their wall.
You can also visit local art stores that sell the works of local artists. Lastly, there are on-site and online auctions you can take part in. If you’re lucky, you could snag a painting by a well-known name at a lower price.
4. Look for affordable luxury options
If the other person is an advocate of luxury brands, you may have trouble looking for designer bags and shoes that won’t drain your bank account dry. The items on the market cost thousands, but there are second-hand stores that sell high-end products. Some of these are in pristine condition and they could sell at a massive markdown.
They may still be expensive but at least they’re better than buying goods fresh from official stores. You just need to vouch for the authenticity of the gift you’re planning to give. If you’re looking for a discounted second-hand Louis Vuitton item, check this service and find out if the product is legitimate.
5. Opt for eco-friendly gifts
The biggest advantage of giving eco-friendly gifts is that they can be produced by anyone, including you. Using just recyclable materials like paper and plastic, you can create stunning trinkets and decorations the other person will truly appreciate. Other than that, you won’t have to spend a large amount just to manufacture these items.
Along the way, you will be able to reduce the amount of trash that’s piling up in your backyard and do Mother Nature a big favour by preventing soil and water pollution. Not only will you save money and show how much you value the receiver, but you also get to save the environment and show how much you value this planet!
6. Go for practical tools and items
Perhaps, the receiver expects a gift they can use for their projects or simply for everyday tasks. You can impress these people by giving simple tools such as an alarm clock, an affordable smartwatch, or a toolset.
Kitchen utensils and home decorations are the safest options, but in case they like to fidget with machines or handle home improvement projects, then you have a wide array of affordable options to choose from. If they’re car enthusiasts, a pack of microfiber cloth or dashboard decoration would be ideal.
7. Help them upgrade their wardrobe
Elevating a person’s sense of style won’t cost much. You just need a pair of keen eyes to spot wardrobe options that match your physique and personality. With that being said, consider going thrift shopping for shirts, skirts, pants, and other items that they would look good wearing. If you’re lucky, you might be able to find a pair of boots or a leather jacket at bargain prices.
To make sure you’re choosing the right style combinations, look at their photos on social media and try to look for motifs that suit them. More importantly, consider choosing fashion pieces that offer optimal comfort.
8. Create a short film
Many gifts will get damaged, stolen, or entirely forgotten, so you might want to go for something that stays in their core memory but won’t cost a lot to purchase or produce. The perfect concept for that would be a short film featuring clips and images from their best moments. Using basic editing software that is free-to-use such as Capcut or Windows Movie Maker, create a well-crafted music video highlighting every milestone in their life.
You can also go for a documentary-style film where you get to interview members of their inner circle. Apart from the time you will spend shooting and editing the final product, other costs are very minimal, so go for this idea if you have too much time on your hands and little money in your pocket.
Endnote
The value of a gift is never tied to a high price tag. You can make someone feel like they’re the most important person in the world without paying in gold. It’s only a matter of knowing a few cost-saving ideas for finding the perfect gift that demonstrates how much you value them.
