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17 Easy Ways to Save Money on Gifts All Year Long

Bydarbiedear

There comes a time during every year when we need to buy someone a gift.

There are holiday seasons, anniversaries, and loved ones birthdays that we anticipate and we try to budget for. There are also those last minute birthday presents, Christmas, Hanukkah, baby shower gift, or a “just because gift” that can throw your budget for a bit of a loop.

I’ve compiled this list of 13 money saving hacks to help you save a little or a lot of money the next time you- or I- need to give a gift.

Never fear, the gift recipient will have no clue that you didn’t pay full price for their gift- but your bank account will totally thank you.

How Much Money Should I Spend on Gifts?

How much to spend on a gift can be a tricky thing to navigate. According to Mint the social rules are that it is acceptable to “spend $50 and $100 on family members”, for friend spend “between $20 and $50”, and then for a coworker or boss anywhere “between $20 and $50”.

Let’s be honest, our budget really dictates how much is “acceptable” to spend on a gift. If you must, give yourself permission to throw away “social rules” and give a great gift that fits YOUR budget. That might mean digging a little deeper into the creative catacombs of our brains- or Pinterest- but you can absolutely put together a good and thoughtful gift on a budget.

How Can I Save Money on Gifts?

Some of my favorite ways to save money on gifts are easy to do and your gift recipient will have no clue that you saved money on their great gift.

1. Shop Early

Keep your eyes open throughout the year and pick up the future birthday, anniversary, or holiday gift when they go on sale. 

My Grandma is the queen of this- she has a special gift closet devoted to keeping her finds safe until it’s time to gift them.

2. Make a Gift

There are many DIY and creative gifts that will wow your gift recipient- gift that include baking, recipe baskets, eco-friendly gifts, Sangria package, and the creative list goes on and on.

3. Group Gift

Instead of paying for the entire gift yourself have someone -or a group of people- go in on the gift with you.

This is a great way to cut down on the cost of an expensive gift.

Great for bosses, parents, in-laws, grandparent, and children’s gift. We’ve done this with cell phones, tech, and an American Girl Doll.

4. Rewards

If your bank card- or workplace- has a rewards feature where you accrue points towards certain stores, look into cashing those in. They tend to partner with many well know brands.

One year we paid for half of Christmas this way!

5. Re-Gift

Any unused gift cards have the potential to be a great re-gifted item.

This next part can be a little tricky- did you receive a gift that wasn’t quit you or you didn’t use it? It may make a great gift for someone else- just be careful that you don’t accidentally regift it to the person that gave it to you.

6. DIY and Creative Handmade Gift Ideas

DIY gifts can be a great way to keep your gift giving on a budget.

Handmade gifts are also a great way to give your gift recipient a creative gift that shows you really know them.

My little sister gives the best DIY gifts. I’m a total Francophil- so one year- for my birthday- she put together a basket filled with all kinds of french treats, foods, soaps and such. It was so thoughtful and I enjoyed everything she put in the basket.

Here are some great links to some very cool DIY and handmade gifts that are creative and budget friendly.

Here is something unique you can hand make- or assemble- for every gift giving occasion.

Hot money saving tip:

The Dollar Tree -or some other dollar store-can be a good place to get some of your DIY gift supplies. They have baskets, canvas, jars, name brand foods is small sizes, all kinds of this that will save you a little cash while you make your amazing handmade gift.

How to Save More Money on Gift Giving

However, sometimes we don’t have the time or budget to shop early. I totally get it.

Whether you decide to purchase your next gift or you need to purchase items for your creative DIY present -or homemade editable gift- I have a way to help you save some cash on all those purchases.

I’ve come up with a list companies that help put cash back in your pocket while you do your gift and gift supply shopping and offer great promo prices and coupons.

1. Use Store App

Download the stores mobile app. Many stores have special money saving “in app” coupons and offers that can save you a few dollars or may help you earn gift cards with purchases.

The Target app not only offers coupons and offers, but you accrue points with every purchase you make. That translates into dollars that you can use to take money off of your next purchase.

Some store apps also include special discounts off of certain items when you do curbside pick up.

Check out your favorite stores app and see what perks you can find.

2. Ratuken

Available as a Mobile app and browser extension- Sooooo easy to use.

Ratuken– formerly Ebates- is known for its cash back on purchases online or instore.

But they don’t stop at just giving you cash back on your purchases; they also hook you up with coupons for the store or website you are shopping- so you get coupons AND cash back. I love that!

Ratuken offers a list of over 3000+ stores to shop from, so you are bound to find a store with the perfect gift and get cash back.

Whenever I need to shop for anything- kids’ clothes, house stuff, hotels, flowers- you name it- I head to Ratuken first.

You can save even more cash when you use Ratuken by signing up and by referring your friends!

Site Navigation:

Not overwhelming, easy to navigate

Cash Back?

Big ol’ yes!

3. Honey

Available as Mobile app and browser extension

Honey is mostly an advanced coupon discount sight with potential to earn money back.

Their site is easy to navigate and understand and their homepage features the day’s biggest deals.

Honey has an amazing array of companies that they have coupon and discount codes for, about 30,000, including Apple, Nike, and Udemy!

Honey is Unique in Two Ways:

1. You add the browser extension and can shop as usual, then when you check out it will give you coupon and discount codes to use.

2. They have a drop feature. Looking for something, but don’t want to buy until the price drops- then the drop feature is your friend. It even works with Amazon!

You can also shop through their site as, you would Ratuken, and find your discount codes and sale items that way.

Site Navigation:

Easy to navigate and understand.

Cash Back?

They have a loyalty program called Honey Gold.

When you make purchases from their preferred partnered stores- about 4,500- they will reward you with points that turn into gift cards, cash, or shopping points.

4. dealnews

Available as Mobile app and website.

If you are hoping to get the lowest price on a gift or item- dealnews is the place to look.

Dealnews front page shows the days hottest deals and stores.

They offer an amazing number of categories including freebies, gift cards, and airfare.

Dealnews  promises to “list products that are the lowest price available from reputable companies”. In business for 22 years, they must be doing something right.

Site Navigation:

A lot to see

Cash Back?

  No

5. Slickdeals               

Available as mobile app, website, or browser extension.

Slickdeals is a coupon and deal site known for having a strong community that submits and reviews the deals and coupons posted.

Slickdeals prides itself for having only the best deals on reputable brands and stores and robust community involvement.

They have a large number of categories from which you can find the deals you are looking for-even home improvement and credit cards.

On their homepage they feature deals of the day. They have a large amount.

Slickdeals Unique Feature:

You can set a deal alert for an item you are looking for or are interested in and they will let you know when they find a match.

Site Navigation:

Slickdeals home page is a little visually overwhelming at first, lots of deals.

Takes a moment to get acclimated.

After that it is fairly easy to navigate.

Cash Back?

Rewards or PayPal credits to be used at “your favorite retailer”.

6. Fetch Rewards

Available in Mobile app

Fetch Rewards is a receipt scanning app which includes e-receipts for shopping online.

Shop as you normally would-including alcohol- scan receipt and you will receive points that you can redeem for gift cards to big name stores like- Ulta, Amazon, Target, Home depot, even travel, massages and more.

Double the Savings

If you already use Ibotta you can still you Fetch Rewards. You’ll just scan the receipt separately into each app.

Site Navigation:

App use only.

Very easy to understand.

Cash Back?

No, earn points from purchases which can be turned into gift cards.

7. Ibotta

Available as Mobile app and browser extension

Ibotta can be used two ways:

  • shop through the browser extension or app and ibotta will do the cash back work for you.
  • Scan receipts from your shopping trips with the app, get cash back.

What is Unique about Ibotta:

You can receive cash back for gift cards, food delivery, and grocery pick up in addition to cash back from many grocery stores, retailers, travel sites, and so much more.

Double the Savings:

If you already use Fetch Rewards you can still use ibotta.

You’ll just scan the receipt separately to each app.

ibotta Bonus:

Currently, when you sign up with ibotta, and spend $30, you will earn $10.

Site Navigation:

Both the app and browser extension are easy to navigate and understand.

Cash Back?

 Yes

8. TopCashback

 Available as Mobile app, browser extension, or website.

TopCashback is a cash back site that boasts a higher percentage back than other sights.

They offer a wide array of categories to purchase from -including cash back on airplane parking and hotels.

TopCashback is unique in that instead of receiving your cash back you have the option to have it donated to charity.

TopCashBack Bonus:

Currently when you refer a friend you will receive $10

Site Navigation:

Easy to navigate

Cash Back?

 Yes

9. Dealspotr

Available through website.

Dealspotr bills itself as “being like the Wikipedia of deals with Google search capabilities”.

On Dealspotr you will find coupons, discount codes, promos, and sales. 

They have an extensive number of categories to search from:

  • Apparel
  • Beauty
  • Electronics
  • Health
  • Home
  • Money
  • Places & Travel
  • Software
  • Floral
  • Software

Whatever you are doing or buying, they’ve probably got a coupon or discount code for that.

Site Navigation

Their site is easy to navigate and not overwhelming.

Cash Back?

 No

10. DontPayFull

Available through website

DontPayFull is a “multinational coupon business” that also provides promo codes for shoppers in the United States as well as Canada, Australia, and United Kingdom.

The objective of DontPayFull is to help you save money on purchases that you make via the web- and they have some of the most sought after brands like Amazon, Nike, Temu, to name just a few.

Their blog is also a wealth of money saving info.

What is Unique about DontPayFull:

DontPayFull is unique in that they have a section that lists stores with Senior Discounts and tips for Seniors to receive more discounts at retailers.

Site Navigation:

Easy to navigate, can search by store or product.

Cash Back?

No

11. RetailMeNot

Available with Browser extension and mobile app

RetailMeNot has been around since 2006.

RetailMenot boasts over 70,000 brands and 200,000 offers of which 19,000 are instore coupons- this where your mobile app comes in handy.

RetailMeNot offer discounts, coupons, and cash back for variety of big box stores, clothing, Amazon, and hardware stores, but also coupons and cashback on travel, hotel, wireless carriers, and discounts on food, including Instacart and UberEats.

I also personally like their uncluttered layouts and ease of use.

Cash Back?

Maybe.

Save Cash Giving Gifts

I love saving money. I hope these money saving tip come in handy for your next gift giving occasion.

Do you have any tips or tricks that you use to save money on the gifts you give?

Do you like to make gifts for others?

I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

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