Creative Christmas Gifts on a Budget

I don't know about you, but the larger my family gets, the worse the economy gets, and the harder it is to budget Christmas. I have never been too extravagant, but now I have to be even more creative to compensate my shrinking holiday budget. All of these ideas can be done for $0 to$10

First of all, what doesn't cost a thing? Your time and talents. In a card, offer your services as your gift. If you like to clean, give a free house cleaning to someone who doesn't like to clean. If you love children, offer to take the kids overnight, or even a weekend so a loved one can have time for themselves. Offer to shop for or take a senior shopping or running errands. If you like to cook, especially if you have a specialty, make enough dinner for one extra person and take it to the senior next door. If your profession, is a masseuse, tax man, landscaper, painter, etc. offer your services. I'm not saying become an indentured servant to someone, just a one time gesture of your talent, would be greatly appreciated by most.

You can buy so much at the dollar store, that will help you put together fun, themed baskets and gifts. A picture says a thousand words. find a favorite picture of your giftees children or parents, have it enlarged and frame it in a dollar store frame. You can even buy the small albums and fill it with pictures of their kids, or a holiday past. If your loved one likes to barbeque, put together a basket with grilling utensils, a towel, some barbeque sauce and spices, a grill lighter etc. If someone loves their baths, a basket with bubble bath, lotion, body spray ( all the same scent ) a loofah sponge and a candle is great. Put together a package of matching dish towels, placemats, oven mitt and pot holders, for someone with a themed kitchen. Teens and kids love crafts, and the dollar store has a variety of things you can put together for them, from things to paint, beading and scrapbooking materials. Books, coloring books, crayons, washable markers are great for the little ones, along with doll clothes and a variety of safe toys.

If you love to bake, keep your house smelling like the holidays by baking cookies, and pies. Start way ahead of time, there are many that can be frozen. If the gift is for someone who like to bake, put the measured dry ingredients for cookies in a large clean jar, tie a tag to it with instructions on what wet ingredients to use, and the baking time, and top it with a bow. You can use the same idea for beans and soups.

Write a poem from your heart to your loved one and frame it. You can also take a plain light colored plate, write your poem on it and get a plate stand or hanger from the dollar store for them to display it.

Don't be caught up in buying baskets for all these things. The idea is to stay on a budget, so make you own containers. Buy the large white lunchbags, decorate with a cut out from an old Christmas cards and markers. Punch holes in the top, and use hole reinforcements and tie ribbon though the holes to make handles. For cookies, save your old margarine tubs. On a nice day take them outside and spray paint the the outsides of the tubs and lids with a non-toxic paint. You can use markers or decals to decorate them. If your giving to a single person, use smaller margarine containers, salad containers or even your decorated bags.

Everyone feels good when they are able to give. Now you can give from the heart, feel good about what you have done, and stay in your budget. Happy Holidays!