You all know my favorites - home canned goods (jams, jellies, salsa, pizza sauce, spaghetti sauce, etc.), homemade candy, cookies, muffins, breads and yummies. All kinds of homemade goodies can be made and placed in thrift store baskets or reusable grocery bags (maybe homemade).
You can simply wrap the outside of a box with gift wrap, contact paper, fabric, whatever. Leave the top open like a basket - use what you have.
- Have a 2nd hand Christmas. Check with other family members and agree to do this (many families draw names at Thanksgiving). Make sure your gift is from a thrift store, yard sale, an heirloom, or something from your home that someone likes. Decide if you want useful and serious gifts or fun and frivolous gifts SET A LOW $$$$$ LIMIT.
- MAKE jars of soup mixes, or coffee or hot chocolate mixes, cookie mixes, etc. Use ingredients from your kitchen and if necessary buy those ingredients ONLY when on sale
- Keep a basket of mixes or small jars of jams and jellies by the door for that unexpected company
- Buy a box of different flavored tea bags each time at the store. Mix them up and gift (4 or 5 per gift) with a thrifted mug and a used book, or pair of warm socks
- Watch for those FREE coupons for product like from Bed, Bath and Body Works. Get the FREE items. Many stores have coupons that gives you FREE products. $10 off coupons if you spend $10 (Kohls and Pennies do this often). Check on-line for coupons.
- Bankcards gather points that can be turned into gifts or gift cards. Check with your card and see how many you have. You can go online and see what you can get for points
- I know there are many sites that offer points for GC's - I see many of you blog about them. I don't do any of them - so if you do PLEASE ADVISE us.
- Get on sample sites - there are lots of them and they will send you FREE samples of a variety of products. Samples are great for gift baskets.
- Have a swap party with friends before the holidays - everyone brings items they don't need and you simply swap goods. You can get a lot a really neat items for FREE and gift them to family
- Think DOLLAR TREE - so many stocking stuffers. Calendars, books, puzzles, hair accessories, bins and baskets, nail polish, candles, candies, ornaments...…….
- Yard sales and thrift stores - GREAT places to look. I always see brand new items at yard sales for pennies on the dollar.
- Think about putting together a RECIPE book of favorite family recipes for everyone. Ask all the family for their favorite and include it for all. Maybe add some pictures of grandma or mom or auntie - whoever the recipe came from. Make soft copies on your own printer at home. This could be a fun project.
- Make homemade CALENDARS - you can download the basic date part of the calendar and print. For the picture use old or new family pictures. It can be the kids, recent family pictures (weddings, holidays, showers, etc.) or they can be older vintage photos. Have fun with this.
- Frame the kids artwork in yard sale frames. You can even use your own artwork. Frames can be painted or left as is.
- Frame the front of a beautiful Christmas card (that you kept from previous year). They make great Christmas pictures to hang during the holiday.
- Remember that you can use recycled gift wrap, pretty boxes, bags, etc. I love to use the comics for wrapping kids gifts. Wrap baked goods in a pretty kitchen towel ($Tree), or colored plastic wrap.
- Provide coupons for a monthly homecooked dinner
- Give coupons for shopping trips, doctor visits, or just a fun excursion for a shut-in
There are a ton of ways to spend little or NO money for the holidays. Yes, many require you to keep your eyes open and scour around for coupons and freebie ideas. Be looking online for sample sites and start getting samples (usually takes about 6-8 weeks).
Take time to make fun gifts - you can make anything. Sewing, crafting, crochet, knitting, quilting, paper craft, painting, baking, canned goods -------- there is no limit.
I know many don't want to think Christmas yet - but it is a lot closer than you care to believe!
Get started now and have FUN WITH IT!
BE THE ONE TO START A NEW TRADITION OR TREND
I want to offer mom point of view on this subject. I love Dollar tree, I shop at the Dollar tree, and you can find some really great stuff at the Dollar tree or dollar stores. However,I do want to point out, my dad would you spend $20 on really low quality Dollar tree toys for my kids, which is great, however, as a parent I would have appreciated one quality item for that same $20 then 20 low-quality gifts that I had to throw away in a month. Sounding selfish or unappreciative is not my goal or point, I'm just saying that while the kids loved it, it did feel like a waste of money.
ReplyDeleteI understand what you are saying. I love the fact that you can get soooooo many stocking stuffer type items there for pennies. That was more my point than any. They do have some really nice books and crayons and art supplies are great.
DeleteGirls love the little feminine items in their stockings.
I imagine your Dad felt like he was giving 'more' than just a single gift to open and HE probably really enjoyed that.
Glad you kids enjoyed them too!
You can also do individual hot chocolate packets in the mugs instead of tea for people who don't drink tea. I get gift cards for points from Swagbucks, MyPoints, and Checkpoints. Several companies are giving free stickers now, which make good stocking stuffers. Just Google "Free Stickers." I've already started as we want to have a frugal Christmas this year. :)
ReplyDeleteYes, hot chocolate mixes are great - there is even spice cider packets you can get, for warm cider.
DeleteTHANK YOU - those were the places I was thinking of for points!!!! I didn't remember the names, since I do not utilize them. I know nothing about them.
Ooooooh FREE stickers? May check that out for the art basket.
Thanks and good for you guys!
I have been picking up things all year for the girls and son in laws. One has a birthday in Oct. and one in November so this makes Christmas harder for me.
ReplyDeleteAt least their birthdays aren't December! I know someone who has a birthday on Dec. 24 - bummer!!!!
DeleteI pick up gifts throughout the year, almost always on sale or better still clearance. Thus, while it may seem like I'm spending a fair amount, I'm truly not. Almost everything I buy is practical and in some ways I'm fortunate as my list is fairly short. We don't do stockings so that saves a few dollars too.
ReplyDeleteThat is a wise plan. Makes it seem like not spending so much. Practical is always great. Me - I love food!
DeleteYes I totally agree with being creative with your gift giving! This year I am creating sock cupcakes for the older girls ...with $1 store fuzzy socks, nail polish and a scrunchy at the bottom. They are so cute and so easy...I have a ton of fleece fabric got at garage sales for cheap and am making scarves and hats for the older boys and younger kids. Snowman soups for all too...gift baskets themed for each couple for other family members with stuff picked up on clearance. I saw a really cute printable that says in case of emergency break glass...in the middle you can put a Hershey bar or a $5 Starbucks gift card depending on the person ...thank you Cheryl for the great ideas !!!
ReplyDeleteAren't you creative. Love your ideas and very original. It is fun for everyone to pass on their ideas.
DeleteThank you so much for passing on those ideas.
Back to Dollar Tree...I, too, would prefer to receive one quality item than $20 worth of junk. But if you take the time to walk the aisles and look--really look--you can find some great stocking stuffers. A lot of DT stuff is junky, but there is plenty of wheat among the chaff if you take the time to look.
ReplyDeleteWhat you didn't mention is that someone with even the most basic of sewing skills can make some really good gifts. In the past two years, I've made pot holders, a shower wrap made from a bath towel, several pairs of pajamas (buy a matching T-shirt at JoAnn's or Michael's for the top), a pillow with a sequined Mickey Mouse applique (from a worn-out sweater), a simple kimono, an apron made out of one leg of a pair of jeans, cloth napkins, and probably some stuff I've forgotten. I also make food gifts--generally jam--and one lucky person this year is getting a quart of pickled asparagus. I am not artsy-craftsy and only have basic cooking and sewing skills.
That is very true about DT. You have to look - but you can find some nice things. As with all stores - there is junk too.
DeleteYou are very creative as well. My goodness, all those ideas sound so cute.
Love the idea of making a pillow from an old sweater. It sounds as if you are more creative and crafty than you give yourself credit for.
These are all really great ideas. This year I'm going to gift my parents things that they can use. Like toilet paper, paper towels,dish detergent, laundry detergent, things like that. Then I'm also going to buy some family packs of meats and repackage smaller for their freezer. At this point in their lives if they want or need something they go out and get it. They truley need nothing. So buying consumables will give them even more opportunity to travel and do the things they want to do and not have to worry about the staples.
ReplyDeleteHope this gives someone some ideas.
LOVE IT!!!!!!! You are so right - you get to that age that if you can't afford it, neither can someone else. Most of us get to that point that we really need nothing. I LOVE the idea of consumables.
DeleteThat is why I do the goody baskets each year. I like adding a thing or two that they wouldn't normally buy for themselves.
I am sure your parents will love the gift and appreciate that they can spend their funds else where.
Thanks for the idea
Love all these ideas! Consumable gifts are great and I love Barbara's idea above. Also, love the tea, chocolate, cider mug idea.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I love consumable gifts as well. Yep Barbara is a smart Cooky!
DeleteI make most of the gifts that I give. We do give Kurt and Kris money for Christmas, but as we say we can't take it with us.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Jackie, I do give some money as well. There are some that are at that transition place in life - not kids, not adults - and so hard to buy for.
DeleteI like giving and receiving homemade.
You are so right, we can't take it with us!
Oh hey Cheryl ! I gleaned white concord grapes from my mom's neighbors and came up with a unique idea ( we thought it was anyway lol) the juice is a little green in color so we ADDED MORE green food coloring to it and made "Grinch's grape jelly" LOL something fun and delicious for gift baskets !! We printed labels on card stock featuring the Grinch , attached it to the ribbon tied around the lid to carry out the theme... Just thought I would share that idea ...love Gaila
ReplyDeleteGaila that is just too cute. Love that idea, how original.
DeleteYour recipients will surely love it as well.
Thanks for yet another fun idea.
Love your ideas, and I know your goody baskets are a hit!!
ReplyDeleteI've been having a hard time thinking of any ideas for presents this year so your suggestions will help. Thanks!!
Thanks. Hope they help - more to come as we move forward!
DeleteI do several of these. I got marked down coffee this week that doesn't expire until 2021 that will be going in my food baskets. Filling our stockings are usually free from items I get free over the year. All of the dogs in our lives get home made treats and pull toys. I make food items for some of our friends and family. I also make snacks for Hubby to take to work. I get gift cards when they go on sale or offer a bonus card. I know people that get huge credit card bills in January. Not in my house. If we can't pay for it then we don't get it.
ReplyDeleteYou go girl. That is the way to be. I remember have charge card debt in January many years ago. No more for me. Homemade and freebies are the way to go. Love that you make pup treats - that is a fun project others could do as well.
DeleteYou are doing it all the right way.
I use swagbucks. I get a lot of gift cards from them. You can also redeem for paypal cash. Whenever I'm on the computer, I have it running in the background. If anyone is interested, here is my referral code: https://www.swagbucks.com/lp-savings-button?cmp=695&cxid=swagbuttonref&rb=2056929&extRefCmp=1&extRb=2056929
ReplyDeleteThank you.