Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/219723
45 maltatoday, CHRISTMAS SUNDAY, 1 DECEMBER 2013 Wise budgeting for the season of gifts WITH Christmas time round the corner and presents expected to dig a deep hole in one's pocket, here are some tips to avoid starting off the New Year complaining of skint pockets: 1. Start Saving Up now – A typical family is expected to rack up hefty expenses during the festive period, with presents and food amongst others expected to reap up good money for the eager businesses. Consequently, it is highly recommended for anyone to set aside a few extra change and start saving up. 2. Choose wisely – In buying any Christmas presents make sure that you won't be regretting footing the bill and pondering how you will make it till the end of the month. Instead, calculate your budget, choose wisely and buy the best possible gifts within that budget. 3. Expand your market – While buying presents from one establishment is quick and hassle free it also disables you from exploring the hidden offers and cut price deals at various shops. Rather than setting camp in one shop or one area, explore the wide range on offer and the wide array of local shops. 4. Buy online and capitalise on hidden Internet gift discounts – Buying gifts online makes sense for various reasons unrelated to price – convenience and comparison shopping amongst them. However, online shopping is the most cost-effective and one can take advantage of the numerous discounted products on offer on various online shops. However, take some time to explore and capitalise the offers at hand. 5. Don't fill up the cupboards – It all reminiscent of throwing out food and eating Christmas stuff for weeks on end. Instead, buy wisely and enough; remember that you can always go shopping again on the 27th. 6. Buy gifts for fewer people Resist the urge to dismiss this tip as unkind as it is anything but. The reason to buy gifts for fewer people is not Scroogelike stinginess, but sheer practicality. Face it – most of us, looking back on everyone we've bought gifts for in the last five years, can probably Get the pooch a gift! Gift ideas for dogs... YOUR search for Christmas gifts for dogs and dog owners ends here! These holiday gift ideas for pet owners who love their dogs will help you find the perfect Christmas gift. One of the best Christmas gifts for both dogs and dog owners is food: doggy biscuits, dog cookies, and puppy treats. A more creative and holiday gift idea is a Christmas tree sweater for dogs. Collar and leash light An illuminated dog collar is perfect for walking the dog on dark mornings and evenings — especially if the dog isn't white, yellow, or neon green. And, a leash with an attached flashlight saves dog owners from carrying a flashlight. This doesn't just keep dogs and dog owners safe; it helps owners take care of number two! Dog biscuits, treats, and chews Evidently, rawhide bones aren't the best treats for dogs — apparently, they're a choking hazard. There are many other types of dog biscuits that are popular and delicious, such as Amazon's bestselling Greenies Dental Chews for Dogs. This is a terrific Christmas gift for dogs, because it saves dog owners from having to brush their dogs' teeth! Treat balls and dog toys Some dogs love to spend the day 'at work'! Some dog toys make it easy to occupy a puppy or dog for hours: you just stuff a Tricky Treat Ball or a Kong Dog Toy with sausage bits, dog treats, or peanut butter. Homemade dog biscuits If you're strapped for cash and don't mind cooking dog food, why not whip up a batch of homemade dog biscuits? There are tons of homemade dog biscuit recipes on the internet. This Christmas gift for dogs will really appreciate your time and effort. Fun, interesting books about dogs One of the most creative Christmas gifts for dog owners is the book Dogology: What Your Relationship with Your Dog Reveals about You. Then there's also a book called Dogs – it's a book of pictures of all types of dogs, including the wild dog on the front cover! Here's what Amazon says: "From show dogs to shelter dogs lovingly rescued by volunteers, from the grace and agility of racing greyhounds to adored domestic companions, from Afghan hounds to Hungarian komondors to Chinese crested, the images in Dogs is one of the most appealing, popular, and exciting photographic tributes to dogs ever published." Donation to the SPCA If the dog owner in your life truly has everything, give a donation in his or her name to a local animal rescue organisation. Those people do so much to take care of orphaned and sick dogs, and they need all the support they can get! name several people that could have been harmlessly skipped over. The extra cash you save from not buying pointless gifts could make a real difference come the New Year. 7. Substitute expensive gifts for thoughtful inexpensive ones – While, giving inexpensive and thoughtful gifts might strike up a broader smile, they are better than expensive brand-name ones both cost less and mean more to those receiving them. You need not forgo brand name gifts completely, but substituting even a few of them can go a long way toward keeping money in your pocket after Christmas.