Spring has sprung, and so have the wedding invitations. They’ll be joyous events, but finding the perfect gift to bring along can be stressful during tough economic times.
Here are a few ways to cope if a crystal sugar bowl or a setting of designer china just isn’t in your budget.
• Get focused: You are giving a couple a gift to celebrate their marriage — not attaching a price tag to your relationship with them. So buy what you can afford with their taste in mind. Also, it’s perfectly acceptable to give something that’s not on the registry.
• Get crafty: If you can sew, cook, work with wood or have other talent, consider making something. Most couples will cherish a wedding quilt made by a friend.
• Get personal: Find a way to incorporate the couple’s tastes and hobbies into a gift. For people who enjoy art, consider a museum membership.
• Get resourceful: If you want to avoid shelling out cash and you participate in a credit-card rewards program, use points for a gift. Such programs offer things such as espresso makers, jewelry and gift cards
