Spend little but give more.

Giving does not have to hurt. Know some of the gifting alternatives that are equally worthwhile but inexpensive.

So what do you have to do when you don’t have a lot to spend on Christmas gifts? Expand your imagination and stretch your budget. Do some planning before going to shop. A gift that is meaningful does not have to come with a high price tag. If you put your personal touches to a rather plain, simple, and everyday stuff, then you can create a valuable gift that your loved one will always cherish and remember.

Where to shop is an important decision to make. If you would look at your mailed weekly circulars, you will see that all stores have items for sale deliberately selected for the Christmas season. Take advantage of these bargains. Look for and clip the coupons they have. And don’t rely on what you see on the ads, stores set up a rack or a whole aisle for Christmas items. You may be surprised on what you find. As a suggestion, here are the stores where you will find the best deals: Walgreens, Big Lots, Michael’s, Target, and chiefly all grocery stores.

If you are planning to give a gift to everyone of your friends or to every member of a group that you belong to, then here are some inexpensive gifting suggestions.

Candles. Candles are universal and they are everywhere. You can buy votive candles for as low as six a dollar. And votive candle holders are available at 99 cents. You can give then tie a ribbon and put tags with your most thoughtful and heartfelt holiday greeting.

Framed pictures. You can frame a picture of the person you are giving to. Pictures are very personal and would surely be hit. The frame should match the taste of the person you are giving the frame to but it should not be expensive. You can print up a picture on your own printer or have it printed elsewhere. Either way, it’s cheap.

Christmas tree ornaments. You can give out Christmas tree ornaments like snowflakes, angels, or Santa. Buy them in bulk for discounts. Create a special bag out of gift wrapping papers. Seal it with ribbon and attach a tag.

Baked goodies. You can bake a favorite dessert (like Brownies) and place them in a tin or porcelain plates. You can find food containers that are Christmas-themed and are as low as 99 cents. Wrap them up with a plastic wrapper, tie a ribbon and put tags, again, with a thoughtful or funny note or a personal holiday wish for the person.

Chocolates. If you don’t bake, replace the baked goodies with candies. Chocolates are very much in season now and you can buy the special variety or the popular brands that are packaged in yuletide designs. Put about half a dozen in each container and finish with all your personal trimmings.

Looking for ideas for your food gifts? Go to Holiday Food Gift ideas.