Christmas Presents on a Budget

Posted by Candyce on November 16th 2008

I know this may seem a little early for some of you, but it is a good time to start thinking about Christmas gifts.  I prefer to give gifts that can mean something to those who receive them.  I love giving.

Being that we are students, we don’t have a lot of money.  I love giving gifts, but even I’m sticking to a strict Christmas budget this year.  So what is someone who is short on cash supposed to do about presents?  Be original.  Rather than just going to the store to buy the latest toy, electronic, or gift card, you could take a hint from some of these ideas for inexpensive, but meaningful gifts:

1. Donate your time.  If you know a friend or family member who could use a baby-sitter, and your good with kids, donate your time.  You can make a “gift certificate” for free baby-sitting.  (You can also find printable versions online for free if you do not want to make it yourself.)  You could also volunteer for one of your friends or family members favorite charities.

2. Make a CD.  This is fairly easy to do.  If you already have (legally) downloaded songs, you can put your friends favorites on a CD for them.

3. Make clothes.  If your good at sewing clothes- this is great for you, but you don’t have to be an awesome seamstress to be able to do this one.  You could also buy shirts or aprons at cheaper stores (discount) or crafts stores and add your own touches.  You could put pictures (there are kits to do this is you have a home computer and printer), create designs with 3-D paints, use regular paints, or embellish the items with gems.

4. Make purses.  There are so many purse kits out there right now, so that if you don’t necessarily have a “creative side” there might be the right kit out there for you (includes everything you need).  You could also find plain purses (discount stores or crafts stores) and choose your own embellishments.  You could add buttons, 3-D paints, iron-on transfers (although I use a hot glue gun on most of mine to make sure they won’t come off), beading, and so much more.  If your really talented, you could add pockets or lining too (but make sure to do thorough planning- I’m still trying to find a way to do this one since my hand stitcher doesn’t open wide enough for the particular type of fabric).

5.  Boxes.  Okay, this one may sound weird, but hear me out.  This one is great for female gift receipients, especially those that appreciate hand made gifts.  You can find cheap paper mache boxes at craft stores and Wal-mart (they have some for $1 or less!).  Then you’ll need your materials.  Wal-mart also has cheap foam brushes and detail brushes (I’ve been using them and I love them- the foam brushes are easy to clean and use over and over again).  I also bought acrylic craft paints (like apple barrel) and 3-D paints (typically used on clothing but work great here too).  You could use cut outs from magazines for a great collage look and scrapbook paper for back grounds.  This year I’m making inspirational/personality boxes.  I painted the boxes in colors or themes that remind me of my friends and add designs.  (Make sure to do several coats of paint before adding more “details” so the color of the box won’t show through.)  I then add the paper cut outs and 3-D details.  Anything I glue on I use Mod Podge for paper (available in craft stores and Wal-mart).  Mod Podge is great because after you finish everything, you can then “seal” your artwork on the box (to prevent damage by little mishaps).

6.  Make jewelry.  You’ll need jewels and/or beads, line (metal, fabric), and closures.  You may need mini needle nose plyers depending on your skill, what your doing, and the materials that your are using.  There are also books on how to make jewelry and some ideas and tips online also.  Do note that beads and accents can get a bit pricey, so plan ahead and bargain shop. 

7. Candy bags or boxes.  You could buy the Christmas treat bags (typically around a $1 for several) or you could find the paper mache boxes (see number #5) and decorate it.  Then, add your famous homemade (add your specialty here- cookies, brownies, candies) treat or buy your friends favorite and there you go.

As stated above, many of these items can be found relatively cheaply at craft stores, discount stores, and Wal-mart.  When starting out with your crafting, there is a bit of an investment (paints, Mod Podge, embellishments, jewels, etc.), but many items can be reused (paint brushes) and if you bargain shop for some slightly more costly items, you can have plenty left over for numerous other projects.

I hope this helps those of you who might be looking for cheaper, but meaningful presents this year.  Good luck!

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