We all have those groups we like to give gifts to that we don't have to spend a fortune on. Office coworkers, neighbors, the mailman, teachers, or just little things to have on hand IN CASE!
We all know the common denominator with all humans is eating!!!! We need to - we like to - we want to....
I am a huge contributor of food to many. Whether it is the goodie basket/bags or just fixing sweets and goodies on a plate. I like to make jar recipes as well. Most any baking recipe can be turned into a jar or baggie recipe. Place all dry ingredients in jar or bag - give instructions on what wet ingredients recipient will need and how to bake. Easy peasy!!
So homemade sweet or savory breads are wonderful, cookies, muffins, candies, brownies, trail mix, you name it. All tasty and fun.
You can get foil pans at the dollar store or you can use thrifted plates for cookies, etc. The recipient can keep it. Wrap a bread in plastic wrap - then wrap a dish towel around it with a ribbon. Many neat ways to present.
A great way to present cookies. Clean and wrap old Pringle cans. Cookies can't be huge, but this makes a nice gift idea. I have seen people gift cookies in a tall straight glass as well. You get cookies and a milk glass all in one!
How cute? I love this. Just a sweet token gift for the cook. Something they can use in the kitchen and something yummy to snack on.
Anything in a jar is a hit! You can decorate the jars in any way you want. Or just add a bit of ribbon or jute twine and some greenery and you have a sweet gift. Instead of you don't want to give away your canning jars - you can buy jars at the dollar tree for $1 ea. Think M & M's, hard candies, pretzels, chocolates, anything. You can also make jar mixes. Cut a pretty circle out of fabric or holiday paper t fit over the flat on top then add the band.
Plain old lunch bags make great wrapping for all kinds of things. Goodness, you can get 50 or 100 for little money. You can leave them plain and simply add a ribbon, yarn, or twine to the top. You can decorate any way you like. You can use for all kinds of gifts - bags with mixes, wrapped candies, baggies of cookies, a simple Dollar Tree pretty ornament (they do have some pretty ones) - whatever you want to add. You can make up several and have them on hand for those 'drop by' guests!
TP tubes! I have done this many times for all kinds of small gifts. To keep things simple and inexpensive - fill with some kind of wrapped candies and then wrap like above (looks like an old fashioned taffy)/ I have used for jewelry and I even used for wrapping a pocket knife.
YEP - toilet paper. How cute and what a funny (yet useful) gift. In this past year or so - everyone can appreciate the thought of TP. Wrap in plastic - draw a snowman face, or any decoration. You can make a saying to attach (for the person who has everything!) or draw some decor on paper and tape or glue to the front. It sure is something everyone can use, they will laugh, and it doesn't cost a fortune.
How cute is this? $2 from the dollar store! I did something very similar a couple years ago - got an oven mitt, added a spatula and a bag of cookie mix - cost $3 from Dollar Tree. You can add your own jar or bag of cookie, muffin, brownie mix to an oven mitt as well.
A bag of soup mix and a ladle, pancake mix and a turner, get creative and come up with your own ideas.
For a couple dollars you have a useful gift.
How about a mug and some flavored tea bags or hot chocolate mix? A mug, warm footies and a small tube of lotion or lip balm. A pretty candle holder and some votives (dollar store). A homemade cheeseball and a box of crackers. Small box of Velveeta & can of chili (to make easy dip) and pretzels or chips. Hand warmers for the mailman (dollar store). No end to the ideas.
Gifts don't have to be complicated nor do they have to cost a lot. There are so many fun ideas that can be given.
More will be coming up in the coming days.
Look around your home and get that thinking cap on - have fun with this. Isn't that what it should be all about?
I like the whisk idea - may copy that one
ReplyDeleteYou go for it. That is what I did when I gave the oven mitt.
DeleteOh, these are so cute, Cheryl. And so affordable. I’m definitely going to use some of these ideas.
ReplyDeleteThanks - glad you can find something fun to give. Affordable is the key this year!
DeleteI love these kinds of gifts. When I was teaching, we used to make the cookie jars with ingredients for m&m cookies and chocolate chip cookies with the students for parent gifts. I give gifts like this to my children so they can enjoy a Christmas treat whenever they want.
ReplyDeleteYou should have received them as a teacher! How sweet of you to help the students.
DeleteI give lots of these kinds of things and everyone loves them.
Heck we all love goodies!
I chuckled at the suggestion the recipient can keep the container. Not because it isn't a good idea. I've been baking cookies and cake for friends for many years. The first year, K returned to the tin to me and said "J says the tin is defective". I asked why, and she said "because it is empty". I've been using the same tin every year since and every year I get it back....though this year it wasn't until October.
ReplyDeleteFunny. That reminds me of my late father in law. He would do the same thing. I gave the same tin over and over (with rum balls).
DeleteThey obviously loved your gift!!!!!
Great ideas! I am keeping those in mind. Thanks
ReplyDeleteThanks. Just nice little token gifts
DeleteFully agree... these are wonderful ideas! Thanks, Cheryl!
ReplyDeleteWe were at Walmart last night to pick up a few things, including a big bag of semi sweet chocolate chips for $2. The cashier said, "You'd better hurry with that baking. I'm off at 10:00. But I'll be working tomorrow, too!" If we go for our boosters today, I might have to bring a small tin of cookies with me. ;-)
--Elise
Thanks. Food is always a hit with me too!
DeleteHow sweet that would be for her to get a tin of cookies!
Have a nice day
What wonderful ideas! Definitely will be using and making notes so I can use throughout the year! One negative thing... don't mean to be a Debbie Downer....but, recently went you Dollar Tree and when total rang up, it was much higher than expected. Almost everything there is now $1.25. Which isn't lots but I bought like 18 items and the total shocked me. So, I will need to rethink each item in case they may be cheaper elsewhere. No matter what,these ideas sure make thoughtful and clever gifts! Thanks much, Cheryl!!
ReplyDeleteLinda, if there's a Rite Aid near you, they have a (small) dollar section still at a dollar for things like the Velveta cheese pouches, etc. --Elise
DeleteThanks, EM. But, no we don't. I will be looking around..maybe in another nearby place.
DeleteMy Dollar Tree still hasn't raised any prices yet. I guess we are lucky. It isn't much but it does add up. Still cheaper than going to a general type store for things.
DeleteGlad you like the ideas.
Family Dollar and Dollar Tree have gone together here at some Family Dollar stores. About half regular price stuff and about half is $1.
DeleteThe merging of both is interesting. There is a Family Dollar in the neighboring town...I'll check that out. Twenty five cents isn't that much and many things are still a great bargain. But I watched a lady in front of me..she had several canned veggies and boxed pasta. You can almost always get those from the local grocery for less than $1.25. I am thrilled to have our Dollar Tree...clean, neat and some great bargains. However, I just wanted others to be aware that some items are not as big a bargain now. And those cents do add up over time.
DeleteI do believe I heard that Fam. Dollar is who bought out Dollar Tree a while back.
DeleteYes, there are many things I see at the grocery that are cheaper and larger for less money.
Thanks for the tip we are always looking for ways to save.
Great ideas. I enjoy making food gifts. Hobby Lobby is also an excellent place to pick up inexpensive items like jars, tins, etc.
ReplyDeleteYes it is. Pretty little tins full of goodies is such a nice gift. I have bought many a tin at thrift stores in past for like .25 or .50 each. Shows you how long since I have been in one probably! LOL
DeleteEnjoy!
I would love to receive any of these gifts. They are thoughtful, bring joy and love. I must say that the gifts are a reflection of you. Sharing joy and love to the world with every post. You truly make a difference for so many. I thank you for being a bright spot in my day.
ReplyDeleteYou are just too kind. Thank you so much for your caring words.
DeleteYou and all the other 'friends' here is what keeps me going from day to day. I love having you all in my world.
I would like these items as gifts as well!
Great, fun ideas ;). Hopefully this will post. Ever since my Mac updated, I haven’t been able to post ;-/
ReplyDeleteMary
Mary - you are here!!!!! YAY!
DeleteThanks.
My grandkids always want a snack box from us, whether a birthday or Christmas. If nothing else, they want their very own snack box. It's easy, it's fun and they save the container and give it back to be filled again.
ReplyDeleteI have a gr niece and nephew that are they same way. Mom & Dad always got a family one and a few years back the kids asked if they were old enough to get their own! LOVED IT
DeleteLove that kids like the simple things.
Great ideas! I often prepare a package of quick breads or a tin of home made cookies (or a combination). For the "littles" (and even not so littles), I often give a holiday coffee mug filled with hot chocolate packets and a saran wrapped bundle of mini marshmallows, along with several chocolate dipped plastic spoons (I prefer the silver ones, or clear in a pinch) topped with holiday sprinkles, bundled in clear wrap, as well.
ReplyDeleteI love those chocolate dipped spoons. They are always hit - for young or older.
DeleteI just love that kids are happy with these kinds of things. It shows they were raised right.
SO fun and great ideas! I was just finishing up a can of pringles, shhh don't tell hubs and I thought what a cute way to store cookies, might just send some to Sluggy like that! Also could put in caremals and candies.
ReplyDeleteThose cans can hold all kinds of goodies! Keep it for sure.
DeleteYour secret is safe with us!!!!!! LOL
Love the whisk idea and I think I will use that as a hostess gift for my Sister in law who is hosting the Christmas get together this year.
ReplyDeleteLove simple easy gift ideas.
God bless.
Oh what a neat idea!!!! I never thought about hostess gifts. I just love little, easy and simple things.
DeleteThanks!!!!
Such cute ideas! I especially like the whisk. Have you thought about doing some YouTube videos?
ReplyDeleteThanks. I thought about it for about 30 seconds! LOL
DeleteI don't think I would want to deal with all the that.
Love this post!
ReplyDeleteSuch cute gift ideas. I think the TP one is super. I need to make some of these. lol. I love small thoughtful fun gifts. Great ideas!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for posting these ideas! So many of them I would like to try this year.
ReplyDelete