Christmas Gift Ideas For Those Thrifty People In Your Life

Are you more of a spender than a saver, but you love a thrifty person and you want to get them a gift they will love as much as you love them? Well, let a thrifty ninja fill you in on Christmas gifts that thrifty people will love.

Christmas Gift Ideas For Those Thrifty People In Your Life

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1. Items That Will Save Them Money

I think it should go without saying that a thrifty person loves to save money. So appeal to this thrifty nature by looking for items that could either make those money-saving habits easier or help them save even more money.

Here are some examples from my own Christmas list.

A “make saving money easier” gift: Although I am using coupon apps more and more, I still have a small number of paper coupons that currently float around in a small envelope in my purse in a disorganized mess. I would love a cute, purse-sized coupon organizer like this one, but I would never splurge on it myself.

A “save me more” gift: I love making pour-over coffee at home, but my current ceramic pour-over requires filters and I know I could save even more money over time if I splurged on a metal filterless pour-over, but getting one as a gift would be even more thrifty!

2. Items That Wear Out, But Aren’t Available Often In The Secondhand Market

I use my referral credit earned through Zulily for these types of things, but your frugal friend might not be a blogger who earns store credits for sharing thrifty finds (I love Zulily for their sales on brand names that produce quality items that last longer than knock-offs).

Here are the types of items I mean: towels, sheets, dishcloths, tea towels, pillows–basically anything in the linens department. Now remember, thrifty people are not cheap; they don’t want low-cost, low-quality items. They want things that are high quality and therefore they last longer, which means they turn out to be less expensive in the long run.

At the same time, your frugal friends don’t want you to spend a fortune on them so make sure to add another gift to your gift by using at least a cash back site like Rakuten to purchase your item and wait for a sale. Then share your frugal methods with your thrifty friend and they will love the gift even more.

3. Tools

Thrifty people love to save money by fixing items or building items themselves. This money-saving action requires that they have a collection of tools. Of course, a frugal person will try to borrow them from a friend, but to have some of your own is even better.

You might not know what tool a thrifty friend needs and if that is the case, don’t be afraid to ask. A thrifty person would rather have a vague idea of what is under the Christmas tree as a gift from you if it is something they need, than to have no idea and get something they already have. Ask them for a list of 5-10 tools that way your gift will still be somewhat of a surprise Christmas day.

4. Items That Support Their Thrifty Hobbies

Does your thrifty friend love to knit? How about upgrading her free grocery tote bag she uses to carry around her yarn to a sturdy knitting tote like this one.

Perhaps your frugal relative loves smartphone photography. If so do they have a good quality tripod for their smartphone?

Do they love to color in adult coloring books? Buy them a new set of premium colored pencils.

5. Hiking And Camping Gear

Chances are you know if your thrifty friend likes to hike or camp. Most do since it is an inexpensive way to travel, but not all. If your frugal friend is one of the ones that do, camping or hiking gear would be a great gift.

Again, this might be one of the categories where you are going to want to ask the thrifty person on your list for a few suggestions of what they need.

Here is something that your frugal hiking friend might not splurge on, but will probably love–a merino wool base layer shirt. These are great for wicking away sweat without absorbing odor as some fitness clothing does. They are a bit pricey, but from what I have heard they last forever and never get smelly. I added one to my Christmas list this year.

6. Warm Clothing

Thrifty people like to save money by keeping the furnace set a few degrees lower than most folks. This frugal habit means they usually appreciate the gift of warm socks, sweatshirts, and even thermals.

7. Gift Cards

Does the thrifty person in your life rave about a particular store? Get them a gift card for it.

Psst…Did you know you can earn gift cards doing things you already do online? Check out this list of 15 websites and apps that include many programs where you can do just that.

8. Digital Service Subscriptions

If your thrifty loved one doesn’t already splurge on Netflix or Hulu, consider gifting them a gift card to either that would cover a month or two (or more) of service.

Perhaps your frugal friend loves to learn new skills? If so, consider giving them a subscription to Skillshare as a gift. A three-month subscription is under $40 and gives them access to thousands of video-driven courses on all sorts of topics. Right now I am working my way through the iPhone photography section and am learning so much. Yep! I subscribe to Skillshare and here is my referral link. If you use it, you get two months free (and I get a month free at no cost to you).

If your thrifty relative is creative, they might love a subscription to CreativeBug.

Got a thrifty bookworm on your Christmas list? The chances are good that they will love a subscription to Kindle Unlimited.

9. Consumable Items

Pretty much every thrifty person has those few food items that they love, but won’t buy themselves because they are not essential. Those items make great gifts.

10. An Experience Gift

Many frugal and thrifty people save money on material possessions or own less of them because they prefer quality time spent with others over spending money on a large number of things. Stick a printed out Living Social deal for two in a card and then make a date to enjoy the experience together.

11. An Act Of Service Gift

What project do you see in your thrifty loved one’s home that have been left undone for quite a while now? Chances are they can’t bring themselves to spend money hiring someone to do it, but they either don’t have the time or the skills to complete it themselves. Do you have the skills to finish it? If so, surprise them by either doing it for them without their knowledge or by saying you will and then insist that it isn’t any trouble and do it for them.

12. A Homemade Gift

I know this thrifty gal loves homemade gifts and chances are the frugal people in your life do too. Here is a list of 22 gifts you can make using ingredients found in your kitchen. Do you know how to knit? How about knitting them up a pair of these fingerless gloves? Do they love chocolate? Try making up some of these simple to make no-bake Christmas treats. Have a few buttons and beads kicking around? Use this idea for making up a necklace they will love.

More Great Christmas Gift Ideas!

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