The desire to save money during the holiday season can be a product of either the simple desire to stick to a budget, or financial hardship. With many families feeling financially challenged at Christmas time, gift shopping poses a real threat to our wallets – and the budget. Striking a balance between giving the perfect gift and still staying within budget can be tricky, but with a little ingenuity it’s not so hard to pull it off.
Photo: Lost Vegas
Homemade Christmas presents are a way for you to give a thoughtful gift without spending a lot of money. Giving of yourself – whether by creating a unique hand-made item, or by providing services as a gift to your loved ones – can mean so much more than anything you could pick up at the nearest super-mart.
Things Remembered
Scrapbooks or memory books for loved ones make treasured gift. Making a visual record of a specific special event, such as a wedding or the birth of a baby is a thoughtful way to please your loved ones. If you’ve been saving school-year mementos from your children’s early years, organizing them in an inexpensive album can make for lots of recovered memories and fun family discussions during the holidays. Other gift ideas might include crafting a set of homemade gift cards, or a recipe book full of family favorites.
Tech Savvy
Let’s face it: some folks are just more computer-savvy than others! If you’re one of them ,why not give the gift of your time and lend a hand with the set-up and installation of Grandma’s new PC? Or help your brother out by networking all the computers in his home… or even give a co-worker a series of lessons on how to set up their own blog site?
Green Thumb
If you’re a gardener, you may have a talent that many people envy, and the holidays are a great time for you to share your hobby with those you love! If you grow fruit or produce, consider canning some of it at the end of the summer to give as Christmas gifts. Homemade jams and jellies, specialty relishes and salsa are all good options. If you’re a flower gardener, pressed or dried flower blossoms make awesome bookmarks, dried arrangements, and wreaths. A live gift of a simple pot with bulbs that will bloom in late winter or early spring is a unique gift that will have the recipient remembering where the plan came from year after year.
Kiss the Cook
Baked goods are always a great gift during the holidays, and are easy to present in a basket, gift bag, tin or basket. Another option is a specialty food basket, complete with recipes and pre-made mixes that allow the recipient to make their own creations. Singles who work long hours, new parents, and the elderly always appreciate pre-made frozen dinners and casseroles.
Hand Crafted
Homemade gifts from a crafter who enjoys quilting, sewing, or woodworking are highly coveted in our family… and the ideas are almost endless. Wooden or hand stitched toys make great heirlooms that can be passed down from generation to generation. Wooden keepsake boxes or carved cutting boards are a nice gift for families, as are quilts, hand-made wall hangings, place mats, or pot holders.
We all have a skills or talents that present the chance to create special gift items that others will appreciate for many years to come. How are you saving money this holiday season by giving homemade gifts in order to stay within budget? Share your ideas below!
3 comments
12/01/2011 at 5:38 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment
It’s funny that people don’t place a bigger emphasis on these kinds of gifts, they are often a lot more thoughtful and often more useful than a store bought trinket.
12/01/2011 at 11:52 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment
I agree, Shaun! And so many are talented or have hobbies that could be the perfect resource for holiday gift giving.
01/16/2012 at 11:58 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
The voice of ratoainlity! Good to hear from you.