Tips to Celebrate Diwali on a Fixed Budget and 11 Amazing Diwali Gifts Under Rs.2000

Diwali means a lot of fun and frolic, but along with it there is the burden of a lot of added expenses. The home needs to be upgraded, everyone buys new clothes, and then there are gifts. Stores provide a lot of offers and discounts during the festival season to maximize their sales and draw in more customers. While these offers may look attractive at first glance, they are often a clever marketing campaign to make the consumers spend more.

We are not saying that you shouldn’t take advantage of the various Diwali offers provided by top sellers, but maybe you should be wiser about it. Read the fine print before you make a purchase. Sometimes the discount is only available if you spend a certain amount of money, and to avail it people often end up spending much more than they had planned in the first place. Always be aware of the difference in the printed price and the actual price of the product. GST or Goods and Services Tax is something that we should all be aware of. It’s usually added at the time of billing, even if the product is at a discounted price. To make the most of discounts visit multiple stores, and compare offers.

If you are weak in maths, then do a little calculating beforehand. Sometimes added offers like a 20% plus 30% maybe less beneficial than an offer of a 45% discount. Shopping in bulk is not always economical, especially when it comes to items like clothes which may go out of fashion or not fit in a few years. Buy what you need and stick to your shopping list.

The stress of buying gifts for everyone can be avoided considerably if you opt for gift cards instead. Gift cards are quietly gaining popularity as the go-to gift option for all occasions, from birthdays to weddings. It’s the perfect gift for people who are picky and hard to please. Gift cards are available at stores, e-commerce websites and even banks. Try to buy cards that will be accepted at a various outlets or get purchase Amazon or Flipkart gift cards. These online stores have a wide range of products, so there will be something for everyone.

Gift cards are usually non-refundable, so if you are not sure about what the person likes, then don’t buy gift cards from stores which sells specific kinds of products. They are also usable only once, so try to get cards in smaller denominations. That way the entire card balance can be utilized if the person decides to make smaller purchases over a period of time. Check the validity period of the gift card as well; it’s better to go for cards which are valid for at least a year from the date of purchase.

Deciding on gifts that everyone will like is perhaps the most time consuming task. Try to avoid gifts which have the high possibility to be re-gifted. You know what your family and close friends likes or wants. But buying gifts for office colleagues or distant relatives are a bit more difficult. Buy utility products which can be used daily, or stick to traditional Diwali gifts like decorative clay lamps, sweet and dry fruit boxes. Buy things like key rings and pen drives in bulk. These can be great gifts for your student relatives or co-workers. Scented candles, diffuser sets and tea lights also make great inexpensive Diwali gifts.

Traditional sweets like laddoos and mithais are delicious, but high on fats and sugars. They also have a shorter shelf life. On the other hand dry fruits and chocolates can be stored for a longer period and are more popular among the younger generation. Mithai boxes are often quite expensive as well; a box of Kaju Katli comes for around Rs.500, whereas you can get a box of chocolates for as less as Rs.150. Dry fruit boxes are almost as expensive as mithais but are better gifts as they can be enjoyed by health conscious people or people with dietary restrictions as well.

Spending smart is the key to surviving the Diwali season. Control the urge to buy everything on credit and instead use your debit card or e-wallet to make purchases. Using your credit card for Diwali shopping will lead to unnecessary purchases which you will regret later when the bill arrives. In the festive spirit it is easy to get carried away but before making impulse purchases ask yourself whether you really need that appliance or extra dress or if it will sit on a shelf unused till next Diwali.

Making a Diwali shopping list is the smartest and easiest way to make sure that you do not miss out on anything and that you stay within your budget. Make a list of all the people that you have to get presents for and set a budget for each one. Check your total budget and make sure that you don’t overspend. Always stick to the list and stay within the budget that you have set. Try to get products on discount. The money you save will only benefit you in the future.

After you have decided on the gifts, compare prices to make sure that you are getting the best deal possible. Visit multiple stores both online and offline and check what they are offering. You can buy things like chocolates, dry fruits etc. in bulk from supermarkets. For bigger gifts try looking online to get the best prices.

If you are looking for a great gift which is unique and at the same time below Rs.2000 then this Chumbak analog wall clock would be the perfect choice. This vividly colorful piece is not only a useful home accessory but also a pretty artsy piece which will brighten up the walls of any home. Buy it for Rs.1,495 from giveter.com.

Want to impress that young music loving nephew with your gift choice? Then get him the EViO Groovesound PS62 Bluetooth speaker with FM. This ultra-portable wireless Bluetooth speaker generates great sound and works with all smartphones, laptops and music players. The go-selfie function lets you take photos without interrupting music playback. The built-in li-ion rechargeable battery and built-in microphone for hands-free speaker phone calling makes it a very versatile device. Buy it for Rs.1,599 on amazon.in.

Looking for an appropriate Diwali gift for someone who is a bit of an academic? Get her or him the Cross Roller Ball pen from amazon.in. This pen comes with polished chrome body and has a smooth flowing gel in technology and click mechanism, obliterating the need of pen caps which often gets misplaced. It will cost you Rs.1,265.

Diwali is the festival of lights, so gifting candles is fitting for the occasion. LED candles are smoke less, child friendly and there is no hassle of cleaning up melted wax. Buy Satyam Kraft LED Tea Light Candles (Box Of 12) from amazon.in for Rs.359.

If you think that gifting luggage will be expensive then you are completely wrong. Give the BagsRUs Matte Black Polyester 36L Cabin Luggage Overnight Travel Trolley Bag to your travel loving family member or frequent flyer husband. It’s made of water resistant polyester with sturdy wheels for easy maneuverability. It’s the perfect carry all bag for people who live out of their suitcase. Buy it for Rs.1,499 from amazon.in.

Card games on Diwali are a fun tradition. So gift that ace poker player you know the Kartique Playing Card Box. This beautifully hand crafted wooden box contains a full deck of golden playing cards embossed with American dollar style engravings on the back. It will make a unique gift for someone you love this Diwali. Buy it for Rs.490 from amazon.in.

We all have that one relative who loves to drink and is the life of the party. So this Diwali gift him or her complete bar tools set from igp.com. This set comes in a beautiful wooden box and contains every bar essential like corkscrew, bottle stopper, drink stirrer cum thermometer and aerator. Buy it for Rs.895.

Photo frames are always a nice gift as they can be customised by the recipient. The quirky Goa Coconut Tree Family Wall Hanging Photo Frame will add a bit of artistic whimsy to any home. This cute handmade photo frame is made of textured wood and is priced at Rs 1,170. Buy it from indiamart.com.

The Lovato Silver Bowl, Spoon and Serving Tray Set is the perfect gift for any homemaker and will add a touch of elegance to any dinner table. Made of matte finish stainless steel, this set of two bowls and spoons on a serving tray is reasonably priced at Rs.578. You can buy it from snapdeal.com.

A beautiful lamp is a Diwali gift appropriate for almost anyone. Buy the Kavi Buddha bottle night lamp from Amazon.in from Rs.739.These are made of actual recycled bottles and has a wooden base fitted with a holder for the light bulb with 2.5 yards long wire. This lamp with a motif of Lord Buddha on it will add a touch of serenity to any corner of the home.

Gift hampers are quickly gaining popularity due to their uniqueness and easy accessibility. There are ready made gift hampers available on various websites or you can create your own DIY hampers with the help of websites like Pinterest. Some popular choices are exotic tea, cookie hampers, healthy snacks basket, flavored nuts and gourmet food baskets. The good thing is most of these websites have gifts for every budget.