4-Week Holiday Savings Plan

Three Weeks to Go: Get Creative With Gifts

Regift with a twist: You could cash in unwanted gift cards to buy presents for others, but what to do if your gift card is from Victoria’s Secret and your recipient is named Jeff? Exchange it for another at swapagift.com. For a $4 fee, trade yours in for one from another retailer, then use the new card to buy a gift for your recipient. You can also sell gift cards on the site for cash.
 
See The Five Stages of Regifting.
 
Buy one big family gift: Instead of spending a bundle on lots of small gifts, save your money for a trip later in the year. Put a map or a travel brochure in your kids’ stockings, plus give an inexpensive gift they can use once they get there―new bathing suit or flip-flops for the beach, for example―to build excitement. And let them help plan the vacation itinerary so they feel involved.
 
Give a first-class gift: You don’t have the frequent-flier miles to send your parents or best friend on a first-class trip, but you might have enough to bump up the class level on a leg or two of a journey they plan to take in the next few months. A one-way upgrade typically requires 15,000 miles, so at about a penny per frequent-flier mile, you’ve given a gift worth $150 that you didn’t spend money to buy.
 
Consider a group gift: Buying presents for your brother’s family can be difficult, not to mention pricey. Gift memberships to a local museum or zoo can cost the same as two or three individual gifts. For example, the San Diego Museum of Art offers an annual “Household” membership for $65, which includes four guest passes and a 10 percent store discount. That beats the onetime regular cost of $12 per adult and $4.50 per child. The Bronx Zoo costs a family of five $63 for one visit. But for $120, the zoo offers an annual membership that includes 16 passes to special attractions and a 10 percent store and restaurant discount. Bonus: Part of that price may be tax-deductible. To find a zoo or a museum near your gift recipient, consult museumspot.com.