Gifts that Won't Break Your Budget

When it comes to Christmas shopping it can be very hard to stick to a budget, no matter what I say every year I always go over, and not by a little I usually go way overboard. I finish shopping for my family then I think of someone else I need to buy for such as a neighbor or the postman, it just keeps going on and on .So this year I am going to stick to a better plan, here are my suggestions for gifts for the extras on your Christmas list such as the mail man or your hair dresser, neighbors, co workers and anyone else you want to buy for. These gifts won't break your budget and will allow you to not forget anyone.

1.Gifts in a jar, there are hundreds of different recipes for gifts in a jar; they can contain anything from soup mix to potpourri. They are very easy to make, and can be done in a big batch saving you some time. Here is an example of one of the many recipes you can find when making gifts in a jar, this one is for Peanut blossom cookies.

PEANUT BLOSSOM COOKIE MIX IN A JAR
2/3 cup sugar
2/3 cup lightly packed brown sugar
2 cups flour mixed with:
1-1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
30-40 Hershey Kisses ( wrapped and put in A sandwich bag)
Layer ingredients in order given in a 1 qt. "wide mouth" canning
jar. Press each layer firmly in place.
Add flour mixture in several additions, pressing firmly after each one .
Place wrapped kisses in zip lock bag. Press bag firmly into jar.
Decorate jar and attach recipe with these instructions:

PEANUT BLOSSOMS COOKIES
1. Remove bag of candy from jar. Set aside.
2. Empty jar ingredients into a large mixing bowl. Blend thoroughly
with a whisk.
3. Add:
1 stick (8 TBSP) very soft butter or margarine (NOT diet or tub),
1/2 cup peanut butter (Not reduced fat)
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
4.Mix with an electric mixer until crumbly. Finish mixing with hand
until smooth dough is formed.
5. Shape dough into 1-1/4" balls. Place balls 2" apart on sprayed
baking sheets.
6.Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Unwrap candy while cookies are in
oven.
7. Remove cookies after 10 minutes. Quickly press one candy into
center of each cookie. Return to oven for 2-3 more minutes.
8. Cool 5 minutes on baking sheet-then remove to wire racks.
Just do some searching on the Internet and you will come up with a variety of gift in jar recipes.

2.Homemade cookies and treats, nothing says the holidays better then a plate of homemade baked cookies and treats. This can make a great gift, some people are to busy during the holiday season to bake or maybe they live by their selves now and don't want to go to a lot of trouble just for one person. You can make up an assortment of Christmas goodies and then make trays and wrap them in the festive plastic wrap and tie a ribbon around it. This would make a nice gift for any of the extras on your list. You could even place the cookies in a nice tin, this way anytime they use the tin they will remember your kindness.

3.How about some nice holiday mugs filled with some homemade hot cocoa mix, you can get the mugs at the dollar store and the cocoa mix is not expensive to make at all. Here is a recipe for Homemade Hot chocolate
3 and1/4 cups powdered milk
1/2 (5 ounce) package non-instant chocolate pudding mix
1/2 cup powdered chocolate drink mix such as Nestles Quik
1/4 cup powdered non-dairy creamer
1/4-cup confectioners' sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
In a large bowl, combine powdered milk, chocolate pudding mix, chocolate drink mix powder, creamer, confectioners' sugar, and cocoa. You can add some marshmallows if desired. Put 1/3 cup of the mix in a zip lock baggie and place in a mug. Attach a tag with the following instructions: Hot Cocoa: Dissolve 1/3 cup cocoa mix in 1 cup boiling water.
Add a candy cane and you have a wonderful gift .The mix can be kept in dry form for up to three months.

4.Gift cards, these can be bought ahead from your local coffee shop or bookstore, movie theater, etc, and then if you need a gift in a hurry you will be prepared. There is sure to be a friend or relative that will bring unexpected company .You could do up some mugs with cocoa or coffee and stick the gift card inside this would make a great gift without blowing you budget.

5. If you need a gift for a man you could buy a plastic bucket, the type you use to wash cars, and fill it with car products, an ice scraper, tire gauge, car wash, wax, etc. Most of these can be found at your local dollar or discount store so it won't go over your budget.

6.When buying gifts for a big family why not make a theme gift the whole family could enjoy instead of buying each a separate present, this will make sticking to your budget a lot easier You could get them a board game and a big box of microwave popcorn, throw in some hot cocoa mix and they will be all set for a great family night. This could also be done with a DVD, popcorn, some candy, and cocoa mix,or movie rental coupons and popcorn be creative.
Whatever you choose remember Christmas gifts don't have to break your budget, it's the thought that means the most.