A great Christmas gift doesn t have to cost a lot of money. It s easy to get swept up in buying craze of the season and feel pressured to fork over a lot of money for video games, fancy candy, hefty gift baskets, or the latest techie gadget, but for just a few dollars and with a bit of time you can make meaningful gifts that are sure to bring smiles. Try one or more of these ten ideas to accomplish your holiday gift giving frugally and thoughtfully.
1. Baking mix in a jar. Grab your favorite cookie, muffin, or quick bread recipe and get to work. Layer the dry ingredients in a glass jar and seal tightly. Tie a copy of the recipe to the jar. Voila! Baking mix in a jar: pretty, tasty, and made especially for someone you care about.
2. Knitted and crocheted winter gear. With Jack Frost nipping at our noses this time of year, no one can resist donning a hat or scarf, especially one handmade just for them. If you ve got the skill, put it to work on a pair of mittens for a loved one or scarves for all your friends.
3. Homemade candies. Boxes of little candies like buckeyes, truffles, and fudge are irresistible. Especially when you put your homemade treats into cute, festive boxes and tie them up with ribbons.
4. Framed poetry. If you ve got good handwriting you could try your hand at a bit of calligraphy for this project copy a favorite poem onto some high-quality paper, dry, and frame. If your handwriting isn t the best, you can get a similar effect by choosing a favorite font and printing the poem out instead.
5. Bath salts, fizzes, and bubbles. Don t drop a ton of cash on fancy bath soaps, scented bubble bath, and bath bombs shaped like Christmas trees when you can make your own. For just a few dollars you can pick up a few items like Epsom salts, essential oils, castile soap, and plastic containers that you can easily turn into many homemade bath gifts.
6. Canned goods. Did you can tomato sauce in the summer? Apple butter in the fall? How about make some pickles? If you can your own foods this gift couldn t be easier. Head to the pantry and pick out a few jars of your best stuff. Add fun labels to the jars and wrap them up. Your foodie friends will thank you.
7. Coupon booklets. If you haven t got any cash, you can always give the gift of time. With some paper and markers, you can easily print up your own coupons that can be redeemed for your services like washing the dishes, proofreading documents, making dinner, or any skill you possess.
8. Photos. Whether you frame them, put them in a scrapbook, or make a collage, you can t go wrong with a sweet photo gift. Tell someone you love them, miss them, or simply that you have fun with them by reminding them of a special memory.
9. Jewelry. Hit up a craft store for a basic jewelry making book and supplies. If this is already your hobby, great! If it s something you ve always wanted to do, now might be the time to try it. Simple necklaces and bracelets are the easiest to make, but earrings aren t much harder for the more ambitious crafter.
10. Candles. Whether its gel candles in a wine glass or hand dipped wax candles you fancy, these are surprisingly easy to make. Look for instructions online or buy a candle making kit. You can even make pretty candles out of the ends of candles you have around the house (just be careful about mixing scents).
Bonus tip: Wrap your gifts in homemade wrapping paper. The easiest homemade wrapping paper is old newspaper, but you can get much more creative than that if you like. Just grab some brown grocery bags or a cheap roll of packing paper and some markers, crayons, or paint and decorate to your heart s delight!
