The Gift of Thrift: How to Save Money on Christmas Presents

So, it's almost the holidays, and you're broke... again? Never fear, I'm here to help you solve your gift-giving dilemmas. You don't have to have a huge stash of cash in the bank to score big this holiday season. After all, everyone always says it's the thought that counts, and anyone who doesn't believe that shouldn't be on your gift list anyway! The gift from the heart is more meaningful that the gift from the wallet, so here are a few ideas to get your started.

Make a present: knit, crochet, or sew something cute. Print up coupons for free backrubs and study dates for some personalized fun on the cheap. Or grab a cheap frame from Savers and fill it with something you've made, whether it's a drawing, a painting, a collage, or a hand-written poem. Snap pictures of your friends with your digital camera and order cheap prints online (SnapFish.com & DotPhoto.com offer free prints for new customers). Frame a picture of your best buds and give the gift of narcissism.

Show your friends that you respect their intelligence by giving them the gift of knowledge: watch for library book sales throughout the year to score cheap books. Missed those? Visit Building 19, your local Salvation Army, or the bargain book sales at Borders just in time for the holidays. I scored two brand-new books for $1.99 each at Borders, a $1 foreign language dictionary at the Sally, and a 2009 Crochet calendar for $3.99 at Building 19.

Do your friends like eating? Start cooking! Give the gift of food by making up a plate of delicacies with a hand-written recipe card. Whip up a batch of your favorite cookies, and you're set. Got no oven and can't cook to save your life?

Try these Microwave Crisp Bars. You'll need a microwave, a large bowl, and an 11 x 13 casserole dish. Take 5 cups Rice Krispies cereal (or try Cocoa Krispies!), a 10-ounce package of large marshmallows, 1/4 cup butter, a 12-ounce package of semisweet chocolate chips, 1 cup milk chocolate chips, 1 cup mini marshmallows, and 1/3 cup peanut butter. Melt ½ cup of semi-sweet chips, butter, and large marshmallows in 1 minute increments at half-power. When melted, blend in the cereal. Stir in the milk chocolate chips and mini-mallows. Press flat into a lightly-greased pan using buttered fingers. Melt remaining 1 ½ cups of chips and peanut butter, ½ power in 30 second bursts. Smear this on top, cool, and cut into bars. Your friends will love you, I promise.

No time to make cookies and need to have lots of small gifts for co-workers or friends? Buy enough cute mugs for everyone on your list at your favorite thrift store. Buy several boxes of individually wrapped tea bags in different flavors from Whole Foods (I like Stash). From a nearby dollar store, get plastic cellophane wrap and ribbon. Make gift packages by adding an assortment of teabags to each mug and wrapping in the clear cellophane.

Think outside the box this holiday season. With a little time and a lot of creativity, you can come up with great presents that won't empty your wallet.