Great Gifts on a Budget

Americans often overspend at Christmas especially - many bemoan the holiday expenses and the cost of high dollar gifts. Set an amount and stick to it - and with some creativity you can easily cut expenses drasticly, have no Christmas debt and still give great Christmas gifts!

Give a serious look to your talents and USE THEM. Can you build things from wood? Can you weave or make quilts or do you preserve things from the garden? Did you take some awesome photographs this summer or perhaps you are mechanically inclined? Perhaps you don't have these talents but are a businessperson who wants to give more personal gifts. There are ways to save a LOT of money. There are ways to give gifts that the recipient can truly appreciate because it's tailored to THEM with just a little thought and preparation. So you're highlighted your talents (and resources) on a piece of paper.

Now write down who you plan to buy gifts for. Family members, secretaries, co-workers - whomever you need to get gifts for. Think of each individually? What are their interests...what have they mentioned doing or wanting to try or picking up a need. Play salesman...uncover the need only instead of selling something you're giving something to fill the need. Divide your list somewhat by age - under 10, 10-15, 15-18 and adult. Save the majority of the bought gift budget for the kids. Remember even with making things you'll need to buy supplies...it's what you do with the supplies that makes a difference. For example - you might buy $10 of wood but with it can make something that would have cost you $50 or more to buy it! With that you have saved $40. Has someone on the list recently moved into a new home? Has someone made mention of struggling with the food budget? Has someone mentioned wishing they could get a task done but they're unable to do it?

Don't overlook or undervalue the gifts of time, creativity and of yourself. In the long haul these are priceless! Making gifts takes time - some more than others. For example, if you had a bumper crop and are making jellies or jams it is worth the cost of jars to put up that extra half dozen jars - don't throw it out! There's 3-6 small gifts! Some take more time but are almost nothing in cost. And children can get in on this - teaching them the true meaning of giving at Christmas goes beyond just shopping at sales.

One of the easiest, least expensive and most priceless to many young adults is a special journal - filled! Use pages to tell them stories from when they were little, treasured recipes, household tips, etc. This is also something "seniors" can do for adult children - and costs less than $5 for the journal. You can even use a notebook - and decorate it!

If you live on a farm or in a rural area consider what is in front of you - in a different way! Does someone on your list burn wood for heating but has to buy wood? Maybe that's something you have on your property. Dried flowers in potpourri, photographs (enlarged and matted or framed), fruit baskets, canned goods are but a few things that can be produced even on small places. An avid gardener may welcome a load of compost - as odd as that might seem to you! If you raise your own food - a home grown ham can be a big boost to a family who is struggling to make ends meet.

If you can sew or do other crafts there's a vast number of things you can make. If you can't - perhaps there is something you *can* do that you can barter with someone else. If you're good with cars perhaps you can give 'certificates' for oil changes (and be sure to fulfill them!) for someone who perhaps lets it go due to finances. Even in urban homes treats like homemade chocolate mix, bean mixes and other gifts from the kitchen can be made. There's an infinite number of ideas. Write Now offers several ideas inexpensively and has other ideas on their site (below).

By making many gifts for adults and older teens you free up money for younger ones to get one special toy or gift. In this way you can make maximum use of your money. Barter - in almost everything if you're good at what you do there's someone who can probably use your talents for an equal exchange.

Don't overlook using your computer in creativity. Use a small binder to put together a recipe/household book - or make calendars (you can get programs for about $10-15). If you have a business card program this could be something welcome. My dad has a small nursery and a gift one year was business cards printed on magnetic paper - cut into business card size it's a handy reminder to clients of his number. T-shirt transfers can be made and printed on shirts (sometimes you can find them 5/$10 at some stores - there's five gifts!)

If you go to yard sales, thrift stores and such sometimes you can find special deals. I know someone who once found brand name "Cruel Girl" jeans for $1.