My Frugal Life - Homemade Christmas Gifts
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What do you buy the people who have everything? I knitted afghans for everyone, one year. Another year, I made homemade throw pillows. I always include a homemade Christmas tree decoration.
Another gift I do for my parents and did for the siblings and their spouses a couple of years, was go to the grocery store, buy 5 or 6 small packages of different cheeses I know they like and different crackers and turkey kielbasa. They loved it.
This year, I've knitted each recipient 4 dishcloths, and am in the process of finishing four kitchen handtowels that attach to the oven handle for each. I'll include dish soap, dishwasher soap also for the sister and a few other goodies as well as the homemade Christmas tree decoration. One year, my sister went to the dollar store, got a pair of hand towels for everyone and knitted fancy edging and sewed on. Beautiful!
It's not the amount of money, it's the love behind it. Remember Jesus is the reason for the season.
Tanya from Oshawa, ON
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RE: My Frugal Life - Homemade Christmas Gifts
One year I made up a box of groceries for my late Dad, he didn't really need clothes, he liked to read, but I didn't know what books he had read. In the box of groceries I put cans of his favorite soups, a jar of peanut butter, a jar of jelly, a can of chili, a box of crackers, a pkg. of cookies, box of facial tissues, a pkg. of toilet tissue. Basically I put in canned foods that I knew he liked and that he could heat in the microwave, because he wasn't much of a cook. My sisters that lived near him would cook extra for their families and use the leftovers to make TV dinners for him to keep in the freezer, so that all he would have to do is thaw and reheat them.
Post by redhatterb
RE: My Frugal Life - Homemade Christmas Gifts
Crafts can be so much fun! Russellrhodes.com has tons of craft project ideas for Christmas ornaments, gifts and more.
Post By Denys Slater (Guest Post)
RE: My Frugal Life - Homemade Christmas Gifts
Great article. With Christmas coming up, I always try to get create personalized Christmas cards for my family and friends. This year I also threw in some personalized ornaments from Ornamentshop (http://www.ornamentshop.com) with my cards. I'll see how many compliments I get!
Post By Diane (Guest Post)
RE: My Frugal Life - Homemade Christmas Gifts
I like to make different kinds of "kits." One year I made "Heartburn Kits." I made a small bag (out of X'mas fabric) for each kit, then filled them with sausages, crackers, cheeses, plus wierd foods that I knew the recipients would like to try. (Ex. smoked oysters, smoked frog legs, pate', things like that.) I tied the whole bag shut with a ribbon, and attached a roll of antacids to the bow. People really liked these, and thought they were humorous as well!
Post By Louise - Guest (Guest Post)
RE: My Frugal Life - Homemade Christmas Gifts
Handcrafting gifts is a very frugal way to stretch the budget while making gift giving a loving pleasure. I have crafted a variety of gifts over the years and they have typically been well received. I tend to stay with the crafting I am most comfortable with rather than experiment on a gift item. Most have fallen into the sewing/stitchery related area plus a forray into wood working. Just for ideas sake for readers I am listing a few of the gift items I have crafted over the years.
stuffed animals from scratch or kit
simple clothing like shirts, pants or skirts
embroidered wall hangings
plastic canvas remote control covers
embroidered aprons
lace edged ladies' handkerchiefs
baby clothes, blankets, booties, bibs and burp cloths
decorative pillows
holiday decorations
small bedside tables from a precut ready to finish kit
a handcarved wooden chess set and chess board
I hope these spark some ideas for you as well.
Allow your hobbies and interests to guide your gift making and you can't go far wrong.
Charlotte
Post By Charlotte (Guest Post)
RE: My Frugal Life - Homemade Christmas Gifts
I'm making these (http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf895928.tip.html) for family & friends this year. Planters, fruit bowls, vases... I'm going to look at local thrift stores for the records, and to make them colorful, I'll use the spraypaint made for plastic. I figure you can get them at thrift stores or garage sales for like 50 cents a piece - not bad for a thrifty but way cool awesome present!!!
Post by savethemunny
RE: My Frugal Life - Homemade Christmas Gifts
Loved the idea for the "movie basket" I always get my kids a dvd for one of their gifts, this year as they are getting older I think I'll personalize them with their favorite snack items.
Post by Billie Jo
RE: My Frugal Life - Homemade Christmas Gifts
Awesome Ideas!! Here's one I like to do for my parents. My dad loves movies so I'll get a gift card for a rental and fill a basket with popcorn, soda and other snacks. I am also starting a birthday cake for Jesus this year. My son is 3 and he needs to know this is about the birth of Jesus and not Santa! no presents until we sing happy birthday.!!
Post by kimmiek
RE: My Frugal Life - Homemade Christmas Gifts
Here is another idea to think about.
I began some years ago making or buying a special tree ornament for each family member. Each year another one-- when my grandchildren get married-- they will get a box of their own ornaments for their first christmas tree.
Another idea that was great fun-- Each family member had a gift-- but it didn't have a name on it-- only an ornament. The youngest is always the "elf" who delivers the gift to the recepient-- BUT the group had to guess for whom the ornament was intended. I do believe I enjoyed that christmas the most-- but..... be sure and have a master list! I had put it away and nearly got in a pickle!
Post by 2oma
RE: My Frugal Life - Homemade Christmas Gifts
Loved all of the ideas, I try to give homemade gifts every year. I feel good giving from the heart not the pocket. As has been stated before Jesus it the reason. Thanks
Post By ppree1964 (Guest Post)
RE: My Frugal Life - Homemade Christmas Gifts
You hit the nail right on the head. Jesus is the reason for christmas not Santa Claus made up by businesses who want to sell, sell, sell---They prey on us to spend big and give everyone in the USA a false sense of what the holiday is truly about. Good for you keep it up and God bless you and your family.
Post by Tanya39
RE: My Frugal Life - Homemade Christmas Gifts
My mother was the eldest of six sisters and the Christmas I was five - Christmas 1957 - she gave each of her sisters a dishtowel in the colour of their kitchens for Christmas. This was much appreciated. One of my aunts received a BIG parcel. On opening it, it was a shoe box with a pair of stockings! It was "dressed up" to appear a big present. We had lots of fun and appreciated everything we received. Nowadays, with all the possibilities to buy at craft markets, also for charity, it is so difficult to stick to one present per person. We were so happy with so "little".
Post By Carol Churchill (Guest Post)
RE: My Frugal Life - Homemade Christmas Gifts
i love homemade gifts. i always feel the extra love that was put into making it. i love to make gift baskets for christmas too. so much you can do with a basket
Post By Enter your name. (Guest Post)
RE: My Frugal Life - Homemade Christmas Gifts
I would have to agree that homemade christmas gifts are a great idea and friends and family absolutely love them! I would also add that personalized christmas ornaments with the recipients name on it makes an excellent gift as well. Why? A personalized ornament is not only a beautiful Christmas tree decoration, but a unique keepsake gift that captures a snapshot in time of precious memories and the events of ones life. Theyre also fairly inexpensive gifts (under $15), something to keep in mind if one has a limited christmas gift budget. I found that Ornaments with love (http://www.ornamentswithlove.com) has a great selection to choose from.
Post By Lisa (Guest Post)
RE: My Frugal Life - Homemade Christmas Gifts
I thought this was a good story as well and I hope to use some of your ideas....for Christmas or for any gift giving occasion!
Post by Debbie52
RE: My Frugal Life - Homemade Christmas Gifts
I absolutely LOVE homemade Christmas gifts; both giving and receiving. I like to do crafts, but I liked your idea about the Q-tips, soap, toothpaste, and other bath items. My family always uses the excuse that they can't give homemade gifts because they aren't "crafty" like me. You just proved that you don't have to be "crafty" you just need to use your imagination! Thanks for your story, I hope many others are inspired!
Post by Persnickety Paula
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