Gift Buying

1. Do it yourself. For an old- fashioned, inexpensive homemade present, consider assembling a mulled-cider kit. When prices drop on 64-ounce jars of apple juice or cider, “grab as many as you can,” says Teri Gault, CEO and founder of the online-grocery site TheGroceryGame.com. Then wrap three sticks of cinnamon and about a tablespoon of whole cloves or allspice in cheesecloth, and tie the packet to the bottle with a bow. Include instructions (“Add the cheesecloth package to the juice and heat until bubbles begin to form”). “It costs maybe $1.50, and it’s a really sweet gift,” Gault says.

2. Check company perks. Your company may have retail partners that offer special deals to employees, like a percentage discount at various retailers, movie chains, or museums. But check company policy before you go crazy. Some discounts are for employees’ use only and can’t be applied toward gifts.

3. Surf the Web for the best prices. Comparison-shopping sites search for the best deals online. A standout: NexTag.com, whose price-history feature charts the highest, median, and lowest prices of products, so you know when you’re getting a steal. Its Price Alert feature will e-mail you when the price drops to the level you choose. Another resource is Google’s shopping tool, Froogle. Enter the item you’re looking for (be as specific as you can), then sort by price, low to high, in the grid view.

4. Calculate the extras. When you’re figuring your gift costs, don’t forget to include taxes, gift wrapping, and shipping charges in the amount you’ve set aside. Less than 21 percent of consumers include those expenses when planning their holiday shopping, according to Visa USA research. Adding $15, plus state and local tax, to the cost of each item will help you stay within your budget.

5. Redeem your reward points. Most airline frequent-flier programs allow you to convert miles into magazine subscriptions, dining certificates, or electronics. Credit-card rewards programs also offer gift-worthy loot.