2 Weeks Until Christmas! No Money and A Long Gift List

What do you do? There is only 2 weeks until Christmas. Your bank account balance is slim, but your list of gifts to buy is long! Never fear, there is hope. It is possible to give heartfelt gifts on a limited budget, in a short amount of time.

For children, save up some toilet paper rolls, or cut wrapping paper tubes into 5 inch lengths. Place small toys, money, wrapped candies in the tube, then wrap the tube, leaving some paper overlapping the ends - gather the extra and tie with ribbons.

For small children who can not read - make picture books with pictures of family, pets and familiar places. Put pictures in $1 Store photo albums, add short words on each page, such as " Mom": "Fido" "My house"

Make individualized memory games for kids - print off duplicates of multiple pictures - cut into squares and laminate or cover with clear Contac paper. I add backs to mine - that says "Billy's Memory Game" on each piece.

Make a homemade bean bag toss game. Use leftover plywood or even a large piece of cardboard for the backdrop. Cut out various sized holes/shapes for the targets. Paint to look like a scene - favorites are : Noah's ark with windows and doors as targets, clowns with spots for targets, sky with balloons as targets, etc.

Again - use a scrap piece of plywood - hot glue on old knobs, levers, nonworking phones, etc. Lots of imaginary play as a space ship, submarine, etc.

Ring toss games - use various sized plastic lids for the rings - cut out the centers. Leave as is, paint or wrap with yarn/fabric. Use weighted soda bottles for targets, or a peg styled coat rack - paint or stain in vibrant colors.

Milk jug ball catchers - do a search online for instructions on making these. Add a soft sponge type ball, or a handmade one (crocheted, knitted, rags)

Do an online search for homemade kid recipes - things like bubbles, soap crayons, silly putty, slime and so forth.

Homemade recipes can also be found online for beauty recipes. These gifts are great for the females on your list. Look for things like bath salts, lip gloss, facial masks, etc.

Fleece scarves can be made quickly and inexpensively - these are great for all ages, and either sex. Scour the fabric stores for fleece remnants. Cut from selvage to selvage in 8" - 12" widths. Add trims as you like to the ends, cut fringes or not. . .

Soft jewelry for the girls/women - sewn from fancy fabric scraps, these can be quite nice. Young girls like to play dress up and a plastic canvas crown, bracelets, rings are quite an addition to the dress up trunk. Crocheted motifs on crocheted chains of metallic thread are very nice.

Rice/corn bags - these are easy to make, inexpensive and much appreciated by the receiver. Simply cut fabric slightly larger than you'd like the bag to be - I make mine rectangular shaped , about 8" x 10". Long, skinny rectangles are nice for neck aches, square ones are good for low backs, smaller ones work well for knees or headaches. Include instructions to heat in microwave for warm heat, or freeze in freezer for cold therapy.

Pictures make good gifts -- either family photos, or scenic photos that you've taken yourself. For variations -- make postcards, note cards, stationery, or illuminated pictures -- print picture on transparency "paper", put into a clear frame and place a tea light behind it.

For the men on your list -- how about making homemade jerky? Do an online search for recipes. . .or making flavored coffees. . . "in a mug" recipes too. Check thrift stores or the Dollar store for mugs with a male theme.

Check out the stores that sell gift baskets of food stuffs, then replicate them with homemade versions. Much less expensive, and more personalized.

Time shortages and lack of money don't have to mean a dreary Christmas. Use some ingenuity, your computer and make some fantastic presents!