How to Save Money with Great Homemade Christmas Gift Baskets

Did you know that homemade Christmas Gift Baskets are one of the hot Christmas gifts of 2008? Homemade gift baskets make hot Christmas gifts because they are a break from traditional, generic Christmas gifts. They can be made to fit the tastes and interests of the recipient and are a great way to show how much you care this Christmas. When making a homemade Christmas gift basket, its hard to go wrong as long as you keep the recipient in mind. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

For the Movie Lover

Homemade Christmas gift baskets are one of the hot Christmas gifts for 2008 because they are so personal. They make great gifts for people with hobbies and interests, like movie lovers. Movies make great homemade Christmas gift basket stuffers because, if you keep an eye on sales, you can get several quality classics for as little as $1 at sites like Amazon, Barnes and Noble and E-bay.

For a great homemade Christmas basket, line the bottom with a warm blanket or throw for snuggling up in front of the television. On top of the blanket, stand several movies along one edge of the basket and fan them out so that they overlap. Next, fill the basket forward with several bags of popcorn, movie snacks (like Twizzlers and Whoppers) and a couple of passes to the local movie theatre. Make sure to pack the items snuggly so that nothing falls out! Finish it up with a festive bow, or tie it up with ribbon.

Goodie Baskets

If your Christmas gift recipient doesn't have a hobby, that doesn't mean that they can't get a homemade Christmas gift basket. If you're having trouble figuring out what they like, think about things that you are good at and would like to share with them. Baking has always been my hobby, so I always fill a few homemade Christmas gift baskets with homemade goodies. These goody baskets make great accompaniments to traditional gifts and they're enjoyable by themselves.

Why not fill a basket with some of your favorite homemade treats? Line the bottom of the basket with a cute apron that they can wear around the kitchen. Top it with two or three tins full of different goodies that you made on Christmas Eve. My grandmother used to include tins of our favorite sweet potato cookies, and containers of the mixture so we could make them ourselves later on. To fill out your basket, include the recipe and some of the hard to get ingredients so that they can make the treats on their own.

For Kids

I have the most fun making homemade Christmas gifts for kids. Gifts for children are often inexpensive, so you can fill a large basket with all sorts of toys and knickknacks without breaking the bank.

My nieces and nephews have to travel a long way by car on their way to come see us every Christmas, so I like to make them travel-themed Christmas baskets for them. Last year, I lined the bottom of their baskets with all sorts of coloring books (which I got for a dollar a piece at the local dollar store - but you can check out www.Amazon.com, or E-bay for specific coloring books that you know the little ones will like). Then I topped those with crayons, a paddle ball game, a small stuffed animal and some other small toys that I knew they would like.