6. Think about stocks. Get nieces, nephews, and godchildren stock certificates. Yes, stocks clearly are volatile, but that also means they can be inexpensive—and tracking them might pique kids’ interest in investing. Buy the stock in your account and have the stock certificate issued in the child’s name. Ask your financial-services firm to contact the transfer agent for whatever stock you choose and it will arrange to have the stock certificate sent.
7. Buy in bulk. Holiday hostess gifts — a box of truffles here, some fancy olive oil there — can put a dent in your wallet. Plan ahead by purchasing a case (12 bottles) of an interesting wine, such as an Argentinean Malbec or a South African Sauvignon Blanc. “When buying wines
by the case, you can often save up to 20 percent,” says Anna Wallner, who with Kristina Matistic wrote
The Shopping Bags: Tips, Tricks and Inside Information to Make You a Savvy Shopper (Dutton, $20,
www.amazon.com). Ask your liquor store what discount it offers on cases; often you won’t need to buy all the same label to get the price break. Another hostess-friendly gift that can be purchased in discounted volume is coffee. Or buy a large quantity of mixed nuts and wrap small amounts in cellophane (available at your local party-goods store).
8. Make a group effort. Board games, croquet sets, hammocks — these are presents all ages can enjoy, and one big gift for a family is often less expensive than a bunch of smaller ones. Some families even agree not to exchange presents among the adults, says Jacqueline Whitmore, founder of the Protocol School of Palm Beach, Florida, and the holiday-etiquette expert for Office Depot: “People are usually OK saying, ‘Let’s just give to the children this year.’” Similarly, Peter Post, director of the Emily Post Institute, in Burlington, Vermont, advocates group gifts for the boss. When everyone chips in a few dollars, he says, “you take away competition and any ‘me-against-you’ feeling.”
9. Sock it to them. Choose quantity over quality in stuffing stockings.
Dollar stores, drugstore clearance aisles, and party-supply stores are ideal for picking up everything from crayons to little toys. Another cheap thrill: lottery tickets.
