6 Rules For Gift-Giving This Christmas

Christmas gift shopping can be laborious and stressful if you don’t prepare for it well. Save yourself the trouble this year by following these six simple tips…

- Andy Webb

We’re nudging closer and closer to Christmas. You may be looking forward to getting all festive with friends and family. Or you might be full of dread at how much it’s going to cost—and it’s easy to see why.

The biggest expense for most is buying presents. Last year the consultancy firm Deloitte estimated that UK adults would spend £284 each just on Christmas gifts. To me that seems low. I know many people who will spend that just on their kids or partner. When you throw in grandchildren, friends and colleagues you can expect that total to be a lot higher. So how do you still get great gifts without breaking the bank? Here are a few tried and true rules to follow.

1 It’s OK to regift

I’ll start with a potentially controversial one. How often have you received a gift from a beaming friend who’s confident it’s perfect for you? But it’s not. At best you simply don’t need it. At worst, you hate it.

So it sits unopened and unloved at the back of the wardrobe (if you didn’t take it to the tip or charity shop). It’s a complete waste, so it’s better to pass it on this Christmas to someone who will appreciate it.