I am looking for help with Christmas presents. I have no money to spare for gifts for family. I work a part time job and my husband is disabled with no income at this point. I do have food stamps to use but what do you give an 18 year old or 25 year old-both boys. One is on his own and the other is in college. Or parents who have everything? Any suggestions would be welcome.
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My husband, who adores cookies, loved the cookie tree I made for him. Stained glass cookies (made with Jolly Ranchers-see marthastewart.com) are most impressive on a lighted tree. Also, my boys love snack mixes they can munch on while playing video games. If your sons are gamers, and you can manage 10 dollars, Wired Magazine is a nice, inexpensive year-long gift and includes computer and gaming news. You can also find very nice books at second hand shops. Other much-loved gifts are truffles made from chocolate chips and fudge. Google Rachel Ray's fudge wreath for an easy recipe (and last year Target had a fabulous sale on baking chips, all flavors, prior to Christmas). Save money by omitting the nuts unless you already have some. In fact, some kids prefer fudge without them.
Do you have a food dehydrator? Most all boys love beef jerky, you could make lots of beef jerky in different flavors like teriyaki etc. Even dehydrate fruits like banana chip,s pineapples, etc.
I'm 24 and my boyfriend (and most of our friends) are tight on money as well. I would suggest a small bag or basket with snacks in it also. For example, a bag of microwave popcorn, Pringles, Snickers, Jerky, maybe a $5 gift card to a fast food place. Homemade cookies or Chex Mix. My friends always appreciate chex mix. Almost all college age kid needs money and food. So snacks are a safe bet.
One year when we were ALL quite poor, I asked everyone what they would like me to cook/bake for their Christmas gift. One brother-in-law wanted a pan of my biscuits all to himself.
I would like to share what I did a few years ago for our grown children. I decided on a few recipes that I knew that were their favorites and bought all the ingredients for that particular dish, wrapped it along with the recipe together and gave each about 3 or 4 "Meal Kits". They were a big hit for when they want a home cooked meal and all they had to do was simply put it together and let it cook. If the recipe calls for any perishable items you just put it in a seperate package marked perishable.
One of the things I treasure is a cookbook of family recipes that my grandmother put together for me when I was about 10 or so.
One could pick up a largish album or journal at the dollar store and give all those favorite recipes as a gift, in your own handwriting, and with commentary and photos as needed. When the actual food is long gone, the living history remains!
How about cookies and other treats that you could make for gifts? Also do you do any crafting? I have free patterns available at http://www.myrecycledbags.com that you can sew or crochet projects using recycled materials.
How about homemade gift certificates for: backrubs, doing their laundry, car wash, their favorite meal or food.
Good luck, God bless you.
Darlene
There are a ton of ideas here: budget101.com/
The suggestion of "time" gifts for the parents is a good one. Yard care, a night or two of meals prepared and delivered, etc.
How about making your own hot chocolate mix and putting some in a tin or jar as gifts. My recipe makes a large batch. Judy from Alabama
This time of the year, many churches and/or organizations hold rummage sales. If you go on the last day, the last hour is usual the "bag" sale time.
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