Josh Elledge - Chief Executive Angel
4 Ways to Save Money on Wedding Gifts
It’s an honor to be invited to a wedding, and it can be lots of fun picking out the perfect gift for a newlywed couple, but many of the traditional wedding gifts can get expensive. You may not have a big enough budget to buy an expensive gift, especially if you’re attending multiple weddings in a short time span. Thankfully, you can save money while still getting a thoughtful gift for the happy couple.
Here are four ways to save money on wedding gifts without looking like a cheapskate:
1. Shop early. As soon as you get the wedding invitation or the save the date announcement, start searching for the perfect gift, especially if you’re planning on buying a gift from the couple’s wedding registry. Most couples register for a wide variety of items with varying price points. If you wait to buy your gift, all of the inexpensive items on the registry may be snatched up by other guests.
By shopping early, you can find a gift on the couple’s registry that fits within your budget, and you know they’ll love it because they specifically asked for it. If you’re not shopping from a registry, it can still help to start looking for a gift as soon as possible. This allows you to take advantage of sales and other promotions so you can get a fabulous gift for a fraction of its normal price.
2. Give a group gift. If you want to give an expensive gift, find other wedding guests to go in on it with you. Group gifts work best when the givers all know each other very well, so don’t choose a random wedding guest. Your good friends and close family members are the best options.
After you decide on which gift you want to buy together, divide up the cost evenly between all the givers so you know how much you each owe. One person can buy the gift, then everyone else in the group can reimburse him or her for their portion. Or, everyone can buy gift cards to the same store, and one person can use those cards to buy the gift. You can earn free gift cards with Swagbucks by taking surveys, watching videos, and searching the web. Use your gift card rewards to pitch in to the group gift.
3. Use the registry as inspiration. If there's nothing on the registry that fits in your price range, you just have to get a little creative. Use the registry as inspiration, then buy an item not on the registry at all. The registry gives an idea of the colors and styles the couple likes, as well as what things they need.
If they register for lots of kitchen items, think of a kitchen item that they might not have registered for. Most of the requested items may follow the same color scheme, so look for something using those same colors. If you’re worried about them not liking the item you choose, include a gift receipt so they can return it.
4. Give homemade or personalized items. Couples often appreciate homemade or personalized items even more than gifts they registered for. If you’re particularly skilled at crafting, you can make something for the couple that they will use and cherish for years, such as a quilt or a Christmas ornament.
However, if you’re not very artistic, you still have options. Purchase an inexpensive but nice quality object, such as a picture frame, and have it personalized by someone else. Some great personalization options include the names of the bride and groom and the date of the wedding. Etching and painting are both great options. This turns the gift into a meaningful keepsake, in addition to it being useful.
