Frugal Homemade Gift ideas

Gifting homemade items is a more personalized way to give gifts, at least in my eye.  It is also a way to save money during the holiday season.

Some homemade ideas to consider are:

Crochet or knit blankets, scarves, hats, mittens, slippers, sweaters, dish cloths, dish towels, pot holders, coasters, etc.

If you sew, make quilts, clothing items, bags, etc.

For those that can bake or enjoy making things in the kitchen, consider: Muffins, cookies, cake, bread, jams, applesauce, granola, etc.

If you enjoy making things but are short on time you may want to consider making nut clusters, sea foam, peanut brittle, cocoa mix, mug cake mixes, trail mix, mason jar mixes, etc

If you draw or paint:  Personally made cards, or a framed piece of artwork you have created.

Think about your skills and hobbies, the odds are pretty good there is something that you could utilize toward gift giving.

You could create a small cookbook for the budding cook in the family.  Pass on family favorite recipes this way.  There are so many ways you could do this.  You could type and print it all out, use a binder, notebook, index cards, photo copy your own recipes, etc.  

For the book worm in the family there is always the used bookstore.  Although this one should be done only if you know they wouldn't mind used books, and if you know what they read.

15 Christmas Gift Basket Ideas

For Christmas I usually put together gift baskets for those that I give to.  I like being able to customize the gift to the person receiving it.  Affordability is also a key component.  Doing these, I am able to give to more than just immediate family.  I also give to a few friends as well as a couple of businesses that I frequent.

There are a variety of types of gift boxes you can do.  Some themes are:

1.  Coffee lover:  Bag of coffee, creamer, mug or travel mug, cookies, snacks, etc

2.  Young Child:  Coloring books, colored pencils, markers, crayons, stickers, erasers, pencil sharpener, paint set, paint brushes, candy, etc.

3.  Play Dough Child:  Variety of play dough colors, form shapers, etc.

4.  Older Kid or Young Adult:  Coffee mug, mug cake packages, hot chocolate packets, cookies, candy, etc.

5.  Mom or Food lover:  Homemade jams, applesauce, food items, flavored oils, etc.

6.  Alcohol:  Flavored moonshine, shot glasses, snacks.

7.  Beauty #1:  Shampoo, conditioner, face wash, face mask, lotion, hair accessories, etc.

8:  Beauty #2:  Manicure set, lotion, nail polish, nail stickers, etc.

9.  Beauty #3: makeup, nail polish, makeup removing cloths, etc.

10.  Artist:  Sketchpad, pencils, eraser, markers, colored pencils, charcoal pencils, paint, paint brushes, etc.

11.  Movie Lover:  Movie, microwave popcorn, hot chocolate packets, snacks, etc.

12.  Food Lover #2:  Homemade breads, muffins, cookies, trail mix, hot cocoa packages, etc.

13.  Single Young Adult:  Coffee, hot cocoa single serve packages, single serve mug cake packages, mug or travel mug, snacks, et.

14.  Budding Baker:  Measuring cups, measuring spoons, spatulas, whisk, baking pans, cookie cutters, rolling pin, etc.

15.  Chocolate Lover:  Specialty or home made chocolate bars, chocolate nut clusters, brownies or brownie mix, homemade hot cocoa mix, chocolate covered pretzels,etc.

All of these gift basket ideas can be customizes to the person you are creating it for.  It can be as inexpensive or expensive as you want. 

If you have the time or inclination, a lot of gift basket items can be made.  this cuts down on the cost and enables you to customize the basket even easier to the person you are giving it to.

The dollar stores are a great place to look for gift basket items.  This is my go to place after I have made the gifts for the baskets.  It is a good place to round out your baskets.

Another good idea is to keep an eye out for sales throughout the year.  For those people you buy for every year, you have a good opportunity to find something at a steal of a deal. 

Frugal Christmas Gift Baskets

Since Christmas is less than a month away I figured I would share one of my favorite frugal gifts to give out.

I like assembling gift baskets or bags that are either consumable or  usable to the person receiving it. If you keep the person in mind as you assemble this basket, it will keep the the cost low but thoughtful.

I use a box about the size I want the basket to be.  You can reuse any box you have hanging around or ask for any boxes that are going to be tossed out at a local store.  Most places will happily give you any boxes that they are going to toss out.

To this box, cut off the top flaps, leaving your box with a bottom and sides.

Now, you need wrapping paper of whatever design you want.  Measure the length around your box as well as the height.  To the length add about an inch.  To the height add about 6 inches.  Cut this piece of wrapping paper off the roll.  Tape the paper to the box so that the height is in the middle of the total height of the paper.  Pull the paper around the box so that the other end meets the edge you taped.  Tape this spot. I try to start and end in a corner to make it look as seamless and neat as possible..

Fold the bottom paper that is overhanging as if you were wrapping a present.  Tape into place.

Fold in the top overhanging paper neatly.  Tape into place.

If you are like me, you may end up with this....

Add several pieces of tissue paper to the inside so that it over hangs the outside of the box in at least two places.  You have now created a frugal gift basket.

To spruce it up I wrap ribbon around the box, tie it and curl the ends.  Add a bow to the knot.  I also create tags out of card stock or colored paper.  Poke a hole in one corner.  Place a 3 to 4 inch piece of ribbon through this hole.  Tie in a knot.  Tape this loop just inside the box so the tag hangs in the front.  Make sure it is behind the tissue paper.  Another option or add on is to attach a dollar store ornament with the tag.