Christmas is a wonderful, joyous time of year. However, times are really hard to say the least. A lot of people have found themselves pinching pennies, making the holidays one of the most dreadful times of the year.

Everyone wishes that they could shower their loved ones in generous, heart felt gifts. And there is no blame there, as who can resist giving the perfect gift to a loved one? Money may be tight for many this holiday season, however there are still several ways you can make Christmas special for those around you.

5. Look for sales EVERYWHERE

Let me clarify, that by everywhere, I mean every single store that you walk into. It does not matter if you walk into a Walgreen's or CVS, a Winn Dixie or Fresh Market, a bookstore or a coffee shop. If you see something in a store that makes you think of a loved one and you can afford it, get it. There is no minimum amount when it comes to a gift truly given by the heart.

In all honesty, there are some really great gifts in the weirdest of places. At your local CVS, you can get an adorable salt lamp for around $20, as well as a cute little zen fountain for around $10. You can even get a pack-your-own-portion of gourmet candy from the Fresh Market, priced according to weight, which makes for amazing and delicious stocking stuffers. Every week, Target has sales where if you spend a specific amount of money in a specified department, you can earn a $5 Target gift card, which you can use towards even more gifts (primarily stocking stuffers).

4. Gather those Coupons

Every week in the Sunday paper there are a massive amount of coupons. Most people however just toss these little money savers away without thinking. As many reality shows will teach you however, these little gems are truly amazing.

-Ulta Beauty usually sends out either a "$3.50 off of a $15 or more purchase" or a "20% off coupon" in their weekly circular;

-Bath and Body Works sends out "$10 off $30 purchase" coupons almost monthly;

-There are coupons for a ton of cute photo gifts every week at Walgreen's;

-Michael's, Joann's and Hobby Lobby also send out "40% off a single regular priced item" in their weekly circulars as well. These coupons are also available on line, so you can go every day for a week and get a different item by just scanning the coupon's bar code from your phone.

Image Courtesy of Natural Thrifty

3. Make gift baskets

Gift baskets are always a lovely gift to receive. Gift boxes are also really great as well.
The beauty of this gift is that you can make it using just about anything. Are there delicious apples and oranges at your local farmers' market at a great price? Grab a couple dozen, get some baskets and cellophane from your local Dollar Tree, and you've made yourself some fruit baskets! (Yes, people still do get excited about receiving these).

There are no limits to gift baskets. For instance if you only have the money to pick up a few stocking stuffers, grab some cellophane wrap and a suitable small, but cute container, and you have an adorable, heartfelt, and keyword affordable gift.

Image courtesy of Giant Eagle

2. Baked goods are always a lovely gift

Everyone loves receiving Christmas treats. Whether they are your neighbors or coworkers, people are always delighted when they receive a gift that they know was made especially for them.

This however does not need to be a strenuous task. Thankfully, we are blessed to have wonderful retailers such as Aldi and Trader Joe's, which offer quality foods that are perfect for all your ingredient needs. The best part is the prices that you can get these ingredients at (I mean if you've never been to Aldi, I highly recommend stopping in and getting at least the base ingredients such as flour and sugar).

Chocolate covered strawberries, chocolate dipped pretzels, sugar cookies, gingerbread cookies, and cinnamon raisin break are all super easy recipes that make quite incredible gifts. And the best part: these recipes are all super easy on your wallet as well.

1. Secret Santa

Secret Santa may seem like a cheesy tradition, but it is honestly one of the most heart felt ways to give someone a special gift. Unfortunately, there are a lot of families who cannot afford to give their loved ones a generous Christmas. Secret Santa is also primarily used among workplaces rather than family members for gift giving. However, for a family or even a group of friends who are all tight on money, Secret Santa can really make the holidays all the more special. Since each person would only have to focus on one person to buy a gift for, the purchased item will be a highly personalized gift that makes the receiver feel all the more special. The giver of the gift will also feel quite accomplished, knowing that their loved one received something that will make them truly happy.

The holidays can be strenuous on everyone's wallets, however there are many ways to give quality gifts without breaking the bank.