By America Saves

We all like to know we’ve brightened the day of someone we love and care for. Choosing to spend a little extra money on a gift for someone special may seem like it’s worth it right now, but if you have to deviate from your budget, then it might not be the best idea in the long-run.

Luckily, there’s plenty of ways to give something that’s sure to be appreciated while also staying within your budget. We’ve compiled a few ideas to help you do just that!

Give ‘em some coupons 

No, not the ones sent out with the newspaper for toilet paper, kitchen appliances, and the like. Make your own coupon booklet of things the recipient can redeem whenever. If it’s for an immediate family member or roommate, make a few coupons volunteering yourself to do the chores you know they like to do the least, such as mowing the lawn or dusting the house from top to bottom. If it’s for a friend or significant other, make one for a home-cooked meal where they pick the menu and you do the cooking. Get creative and brainstorm quality time activities and favors, write them up on some cardstock, and assemble into a flipbook.

DIY personalized cookbook

For the chef, baker, or mixologist in your life, compile recipes you think they’d like or family favorites. If they have a favorite food of all time, you could do a section specific for that – or even make the entire book just recipes with whatever their guilty pleasure is.

Give the gift of music

It could be a playlist of their favorite songs, music you think they’d like based on their tastes, or songs significant to your relationship with them. If you happen to have the gift of making music yourself, whether singing or playing an instrument, consider making a few recordings of yourself. Parents who have funded any or all of your musical endeavors might be particularly appreciative of that twist!

Gifts in a jar

The possibilities are endless with this idea. Whatever their hobby might be, whether it’s crafting or drawing or baking or something else entirely, gather up some small items that relate to it and put them in a jar. Finish it off with some decorative touches, and voilà! The Gunny Sack has some additional ideas for potential themes for your jar gift.

For the reader in your life… 

You can never go wrong with gifting them a book in an area of interest to them. However, books aren’t necessarily the cheapest purchase. A more budget-friendly idea is to compile a “Must Read” list of either your favorite books or the results of some searching for new reads you think they might like. Or, you could even coordinate a book swap of one of your favorites with one of theirs! 

A little thoughtfulness goes a long way in conveying your care for someone this holiday season–and toward keeping your budget intact!

By America Saves

As we approach the end of the year, there is no better time to evaluate the progress you have made towards your savings goals, set some new ones for the upcoming year, and see if there aren’t a few specific ways you can still save some money before the year is over.

There’s nothing like starting a new year with peace of mind and a positive financial outlook. Here are five end of year savings tips to consider:

1. Cancel any non-necessities and sock away that money.

Do you have a gym membership you’re not really using? A monthly subscription to a magazine you don’t have time to read? Do you really need those extra cable channels you’re paying for? Now is the perfect time to evaluate any services or automatic subscriptions you’re paying for but don’t really use, and instead put that money towards your savings goals.

2. Save the extras.

If you receive a bonus from work or a cash gift during the holidays, it can be tempting to go right out and spend it. Instead, take a moment to think about your long-term savings goals and how this extra, unexpected cash can help you achieve them. Better yet, if you have some debt to pay down, consider putting it towards that. By paying down high-interest debt you are also saving because you’ll spend less over the long term in interest rates and fees.

3. Use, don’t lose your vacation.

Remember that time is money, so if it’s possible, schedule some time off if you are in danger of losing your vacation time. Some employers may also allow you to cash out your overage vacation so that you don’t forfeit it, so check with your human resource department or supervisor to ask about their policy. Read the 10 things you can do to protect your money before traveling.

4. Contribute more to your workplace retirement plan and reduce your taxable income.

You have until December 31 to contribute up to the maximum of $18,000 for 2017 to your 401(k) or similar workplace retirement plan. If you’re age 50 or older, you can contribute an extra $6,000, for a maximum of $24,000. For IRA contributions, you can contribute up to $5,500 if you are under age 50, and $6,500 if you are 50 or older. 

5. Make your charitable giving donations before the end of the year.

If you’re planning to purge some clothes or other household items and donate them to charity, or make a cash contribution to a charitable organization, be sure to do so before the end of the year so that you can deduct these from your 2017 taxes. Keep in mind that you can only deduct charitable donations if you itemize them on Tax Form 1040, Schedule A. This is common among homeowners, but less common among renters.