Storage Containers and Gift Packaging for FREE

HAPPY SEPTEMBER!!!
Geesh, can you believe it?  It is time to get our homes and pantries in order and our goods stored for longevity.  It is also time to get together some ideas for those Christmas gifts that we may be putting together.

I think this year, more than others, homemade gifts will be popular.  Money may be an issue for many.  No need to run out and buy fancy boxes and packaging - look around your house!!!  I bet you are like me and have all kinds of fun things you could use.  Now I admit, you have to get a bit creative and literally think outside the BOX!!!!

So whether you are sorting and organizing your own pantry - or thinking ahead to the holidays - let me give you a few ideas that won't cost you anything or very little (thrift and dollar stores).

This was just looking around my house for about 15 minutes!

 Jars, jars, jars!  Left to right - I get instant coffee at Kroger (cheap kind) simply for flavoring my morning drink to taste like mocha.  Left is an empty jar (like full one next to it).  That jar holds approximately 1 quart.  Great for homemade soup mixes or brownie, cookie mixes.  Next is a clamp jar that can be purchased at many craft and home goods stores for little money - they work great for mixes or candy.  There is a glass jar from nacho cheese spread and one from ??.  The on with beans in it is an instant coffee jar from Aldi (I like the shape).  I have given those filled with colored M & M's and some filled with Skittles!  Always a hit!!!!!   I keep glass jars, as there are so many uses!!!!!
In front - discount little storage containers (I paid $1 on clearance at Kroger) or you can get multiple containers for $1 at Dollar Tree.  Those are great for spice mixes!

 Here is a variety of containers you can use when empty.  Spice containers, peanut jars, pickle jar or olive jars, gravy jars. and even the plastic bottles that drinks and mixes come in (remove labels).  There is just no limit to what you can use nor what you can put in them!

 Tins - I love them.  They are so fun to keep dry goods in for the pantry and they pretty things up.  Put a little label on the outside so you know what you have have!  Great for candy and cookie at the holidays as well.  The little loaf pan was purchased many years ago on sale at Christmas Tree Shoppe for .69 each.  Make mini loaves of sweet breads and then wrap in the pan and gift both!  Mugs are great for candies, tea or coffee or hot chocolate mixes, indiv. soups packets, etc.  The blue container is from produce department - keep and clean and you have a great container for homemade candies.  The container under the blue one is a container from sliced luncheon meat purchased in the meat department.

 Fancy glasses, big mugs and insulated drinking containers are great.  Wine glasses new or what you have - fill with chocolate candies, add a bottle of sparkling fruit juice and nice scented candle.  Big soup cup - add soup mixes.  Could also fill with homemade granola mix!  Insulated glass - gift with instant Gatorade packets or packets of individual drink flavorings.  Great for the outdoorsy person or hiker.

Cups and mugs of all sorts.  Coffee mixes, tea bags or mixes, candy, individual cake mixes.  Maybe add a packet of hot chocolate and a nice candle or warm pair of socks.

Just looking around here - I found hot chocolate mixes, flavored tea bags, flavored coffee, Gatorade mix, hot cider mix.........  The flavored coffee was on clearance - it will be divided into smaller containers or baggies and added to mugs with directions for brewing.  Tea bags can be given a few with a mug, same with cider mixes.

Plates of any kind can be used for gifting cookies, candy, muffins, breads.  Odd ball plates - ones you don't use or need.  Something you don't want back.  You can also purchase plates at thrift stores for next to nothing or get at dollar tree.  They are sturdy, pretty and the receiver can fill and re-gift themselves!  The gift that keeps giving.

Just a few ideas to get you thinking as you clear out cabinets and get organized.  Use some of these ideas for your own pantry and kitchen shelves or use them when gifting. 
It just makes the homemade gift a little nicer and special - not a paper plate or generic container.
Nice ideas to use to help fill baskets of goodies or something small for the teacher, baby sitter, neighbor or office mate.

I will be posting homemade 'jar' recipes as days go on.  I know many do not garden or can and do not have those types of items to gift.  Doesn't mean you can't still give homemade.

HOMEMADE is fun and saves the wallet and uses what you have.
Now that is frugal!