If you have champagne taste on a beer budget, you know all too well the struggle to keep your spending in check, especially around the holidays. It's tempting to go big on expensive gifts you can't really afford, either for yourself or for the loved ones on your shopping list, rationalizing that a higher price tag guarantees a better product.

However, that may not be the case for every costly item you have your eye on, no matter the reputation of the manufacturer. With determination and a little guidance from us, you can find affordable alternatives to the priciest gifts you're considering that offer similar quality for a whole lot less money.

To point you in the right direction, we asked several smart shopping experts to weigh in on a wide range of expensive gift ideas, from the latest electronics to a foodie favorite of carnivores. Here's what they had to say.

Coffee Makers

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If you need coffee to start the day, then owning your own coffee brewing machine is a convenient way to get your caffeine fix. Pop in, says host Bobbi Rebell. Prices on Nespresso coffee machines range from $150 to $600. Nepresso's coffee pods are pricey, too. A 30-pack of its dark roast pods go for $33. By comparison, a 30- pack of K-Cup dark roast coffee pods costs $20 -- nearly 40% less.