With the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it can take a toll on your budget. You’ve been running around getting everything you need for the people on your list. But, you realize you can’t afford to actually give something to everyone.
Do you not give them something at all? Nope. You can actually create a very inexpensive gift yourself! With a little bit of creativity, you can make a one of a kind gift for anyone on your list. Best of all, these will keep your spending low.
Love Gifts.
When we were growing up, my Mom wanted to instill the true meaning of Christmas — giving of yourself. So, each year we had to give each family member a love gift. This was simply a note, wrapped in a box, containing a gift from the heart. My sister and I would do things such as “I will make your bed for you once a month all year long” or “I will give you a foot massage on the 10th of each month.” The one rule was it couldn’t involve money.
That means you can’t take someone out to dinner. However, you could make them their favorite meal. The idea it that the gift comes from your heart.
As we grew older, we did even more with these gifts. We included a note about how much we appreciated and loved them. It truly was a gift from the heart.
Also see: 7 Gift Ideas for Working Moms
Coupon Books.
You can also do coupon books! Create a book filled with coupons like “Get Out of Dinner Dishes” Passes or things like that. A few pieces of paper and ink and you’ll have a great gift.
Cup of Joe.
Purchase a package of Starbucks Via, 6 mugs from the Dollar Store, some chocolate chips and plastic spoons. Melt the chocolate and dip the spoons and then set them in the freezer to set. Place the coffee and spoon in the mug, tie it up with a bow and you’ll have a gift perfect for any coffee lover.
Spa at Home.
I love a good book. Even better – I love a good book in a warm bath of salts or bubbles. So, pick up an inexpensive book and then create your own Candy Cane Bath Salts Jar.
Let’s Chat Jar.
If you have ever sat at the table with your family, trying to avoid the sounds of bodily functions, fighting, or even deafening silence, you might be in love with this idea. Type up a sheet of conversation topics. Things like — The Best Thing About My Day, My Favorite Game, What I Love Most About our Family, etc. You can come up with all sorts of ideas. Add a few graphics to the note, print and snip them apart. Then, place them in a jar or even a pretty box, place a bow on it and you’ve got a great gift idea that any mother will love!
Handcrafted Gifts.
I will admit that my favorite gifts are the ones my kids make. One of my favorites was Handprint Snowmen. Visit Pinterest to get some great ideas. It is a great way to give a fun gift, plus, it shows your child truly had “a hand” in the gift!
Coloring Caddy.
Find an inexpensive basket or plastic bin Then, fill it with all sorts of coloring books, crayons, paints, papers, etc. Any child who loves to color will definitely be thrilled with this type of a gift. Best of all, you can customize it with the coloring books filled with your child’s favorite characters.
These are a few ideas. Just think about the person on your list and their favorite things and figure out what you can create for them.