Christmas Gifts that cost very little…
So, do you have a lot of people who are looking at you as their Great Santa this year? But not being employed has put you in a gift-giving pinch, right? While the obvious answer would be to politely abstain from gift-giving this year, you know and we know that there are some circumstances where gift-giving is unavoidable.
So, to help you out with the gift-giving dilemma, we have come up with some homemade gifts that you can make and pass out without costing an arm and a leg! Not only does it give you gifts in a hurry, it’s an activity the whole family can enjoy doing together to celebrate the holidays!
Treats In A Jar
Depending on the item or goodies that you put in the jar, you can average approximately 76¢ per jar prior to decorating! You can make Trail Mix Jars, Cookie Mix Jars or Cake Mix Jars (minus the eggs and milk of course). Or you could bake or mix together the ingredients and create infused cooking oils! Like Olive oil 
infused with jalapeno or rosemary. Do you have a special blend of seasonings or Grandma’s secret ingredient that you add to your food creations? Package them up and pass them out as cool gifts! Maybe you can try your hand at apple butter or hot chocolate mix with marshmallows or peppermints! How about something for the ladies on your list? Take a Mason Jar or any clear jar, layer the bottom with cotton balls, then place some nail polish on the next layer, then place more cotton balls, then add some small emery boards and top it off with more cotton balls. You can then make a cute label to place on the outside of the jar. All of these items and ingredients can be bought very cheaply at your local dollar store! And it is so much fun, especially when you engage the whole family!
Make Bath Time Fun!
There is not enough room on this page to go into all of the things that you can create to make someone’s holiday a spa experience! Scented bath salts, hand scrubs, sugar scrubs, and homemade bath soaks can all be made at home and placed into cute decorated containers to pass out as gifts. Don’t want to go through the hassle of making it yourself? Go to a dollar store and purchase various items to create small gift baskets for your family and friends! It’s the thought that counts.
Christmas Ornaments
Making ornaments is soooo easy and all it takes is some love, some time, and a generally steady hand… if that fails, you can get stencils! Personalizing ornaments is a great way to show someone you love them! You can put the year you met, your favorite nickname or a personalized message. Perhaps stenciling an angel or a Christmas tree with their name underneath would be a nice touch. The colors and options are endless with this type of gift. The great part is that you can buy a large box of cheap ornaments and make them into miniature works of art that look expensive!
Get Crafty
Maybe you have a skill… or maybe you don’t, but you can fake it! It might be sewing, crocheting, knitting or maybe even ceramics. Whatever it is, use it. If there was ever a time for you to apply a hobby or a talent you enjoy to encompass the world around you, now would be the time! Create yarn dollies, stuffed animals or scarves and 
mittens. Maybe you can’t paint, but you can cut a straight line. If you can cut, heck! if you can tear, you can hodgepodge the bejesus out of a cardboard box and make adorable storage for keep sakes or a playhouse for the kids. Everyone has a talent, so, utilize it and bring joy to those you love!
Helping Where You Can
So, let’s say that your wife has cornered the cooking gifts, your kids have crafted you to death, and you’re more comfortable putting up Christmas trees instead of decorating ornaments. Never fear, you get to give what I call Christmas coupons! 
Do you have a sister or a friend who can’t program their DVD Player? Maybe your wife has been gently asking you to fix that wobbly table. Well, all of that can be remedied with a coupon! Just write out or print note card sized pages with things that you know someone in your life wants done and they can trade in their coupon for that particular task. Brilliant, huh?
Another way to use your talents is to find out causes that your family and friends are passionate about and donate a small amount of money to that cause. You get to control how much you’re spending and you’re supporting a cause that they love!
We hope this helps with your gift-giving plans this year and puts to rest the boredom and the hassle of shopping this year. Just remember that you’re with those you love, and the best gift you can give someone is your continued health while you search for that next great job. If you don’t have the ability to give this year, then you just don’t and those who love you will understand just as you would if it was the other way around.
Please have a safe and happy holiday! △
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