It’s never too soon to start planning for thoughtful holiday gifts. One of the best parts of the holidays is giving gifts to your loved ones and seeing their reactions. Often, that means an expensive gift that the recipient wouldn’t splurge on for themselves, but a thoughtful gift doesn’t have to have a hefty price tag.
The holiday season can get expensive quickly, and that’s tough if you have a limited budget. This year, consider these creative gift ideas that’ll delight your loved ones without maxing out your credit cards.
1. Get Crafty
Do you have a crafty side? Use your skills to make gifts for your friends and family this year rather than buying them.
If you know how to knit or crochet, you can make scarves, hats or gloves to keep your loved ones cozy through the cold winter months. If cross-stitching is more your thing, make some fun pieces for your friends to keep on their desks at work or hang in their homes.
If you have a skill, put it to use this holiday season and save some money at the same time.
2. Gift Some Baked Goods
Gift some homemade baked goods rather than store-bought gifts this year. Find out your family and friends’ favorite cookies or cakes and get baking!
You can purchase gift bags or boxes for cheap from a discount store and use them to store the gifts for an extra fancy touch. And if you want to share your love of baking with your family, invite them over for a day of cookie decorating, or gift them a recipe and the ingredients to make their own versions at home.
3. Give Homemade Jams, Jellies and Other Canned Items
Canned fruits and veggies, fresh pickles, or homemade jam or jelly make great homemade gifts for a foodie. If you have skills in the kitchen, put them to use by making preserves or other goodies you can give to your loved ones as a holiday gift.
Not only will they appreciate the thought you put into the gift, but they’ll be able to enjoy the fruits of your labor for months to come (and think of you whenever they spread your homemade raspberry jam on a fresh croissant for breakfast!).
4. Make a Photo Collage
You probably have hundreds (if not thousands) of photos on your phone of your favorite people. Rather than buying an impersonal gift, print out your favorite photos and make a collage or put them in a simple frame.
You can typically print photos for a low cost at pharmacies or grocery stores, and you can find cheap and unique photo frames at a thrift store or a dollar store. Your loved ones will appreciate the thoughtful gift they can hang on their wall to remember all the good times you have together.
5. Plan a Family Secret Santa
Rather than buying gifts for everyone in your family, suggest a family Secret Santa this year.
You can draw names the traditional way, by pulling them from a hat or cup, or you can use an online gift exchange program such as Elfster. Set a spending limit to make sure no one goes overboard (and to make sure those who don’t have much to spend don’t feel like the family Scrooge) and get gifting!
You’ll get the pleasure of gifting and receiving one special gift rather than dozens of pairs of socks and bath salts.
6. Give Time Rather Than Gifts
If you’re low on gift funds this year, consider gifting time rather than material items. Plan a day out and make a card that contains the details of the experience. If your loved one is into hiking, plan a day hike somewhere new, complete with a picnic lunch. If they prefer crafting, buy some cheap supplies and plan a day of painting together. Gifts are exciting to open in the moment, but the gift of time is where memories are made.
The holidays can be expensive, but with these ideas you can stay within your budget and give unique gifts your friends and family will remember for years to come.
Disclosure:
Quontic Bank cannot and does not guarantee the information applicability or accuracy regarding your individual circumstances. This is not financial advice, nor should it constitute or be construed as instruction for any individual reader, or group of readers, to act or make a decision in any financial capacity. Seeking independent, professional consultation from a qualified and licensed expert is always the optimum avenue in making financial decisions. Information is accurate as of November 8, 2022 & is subject to change without notice.
