Savvy Entertaining

After yesterday’s post on the worst gifts ever, I thought today it would be nice to share a few ideas for gifts when you are on a tight budget.

If you have limited, or no funds, to spend on the holidays but still want to give gifts, you can make it work! You will have to get creative and do a bit of thinking outside the box, but isn’t that half the fun of it? No? Oh, come on. Work with me, here!

Photos – An easy gift to give is a family photo or photos of your kids. You can find some great picture frames at the dollar store. I know this gift is particularly loved by grandparents as well as aunts and uncles. You don’t have to have a formal photo taken. Snap some  shots of the family doing something fun.

Kids Handiwork – One thing that is sure to be appreciated, especially by grandparents and adoring aunties, is artwork created by your kids. Have them draw a picture  specifically for the recipient. I promise the recipient will love it. It will be something they can keep for years to come as a loving reminder of your little ones. (Hint, hint… to the mother of the three children who give me sticky kisses and make my heart smile.)

Coupon Books – Make your own coupon books. You can give this to anyone. For an elder relative, you might give a coupon book with certificates good for a lawn mowing, a trip to run errands, or a day of housecleaning. You can give coupons for gardening help, baked goods, back rubs, all sorts of fun things. If you want to live on the edge, you can leave it blank and let the recipient fill it in (I would never be that brave. I’d get them redeemed for things like floss the dog’s teeth or scrub grout. I know it would happen!).

Sew A Gift – If you have a sewing machine and know how to use it, then do! You probably have some fabric scraps languishing in a corner somewhere. Make a patchwork quilt or a wall hanging. Trace your kids hands on blocks and have them write  a message with a fabric marker, then fashion the blocks into a wall hanging. Sew pillows or aprons. These are all simple and easy to make and don’t take a huge amount of time.

Potholders – As lame as it sounds, most of us could use some new potholders and you can make these quick and easy with a sewing machine or even a bottle of glue. Get two pieces of material cut to the same size, put some non-flammable fiber-fill inside and either sew the edges or glue and you are ready to roll!

Crafty Items – If you have a hot glue gun and aren’t afraid to use it (yes, they do burn painfully when you glue your fingers, not that I’ve ever done that) you can make any number of gifts with things you can gather outdoors. I live in an area where grapevines are abundant. With a little effort, you could fashion a grapevine wreath, attach some pinecones and a bow and you’ve got a great gift. A wreath can also be used to make a centerpiece. Take a walk outside and see what fun items Mother Nature can provide for you to make into a gift.  My niece, the one who got stuck helping me make a candy wreath, made bowls out of old rope one year by using a glass bowl as a form and wrapping the rope around it before gluing the coils together. It was pretty awesome.

Baked Goods – Most people appreciate homemade goodies. Especially those who are extra busy and have no time to create their own (or don’t know how). You don’t have to spend a bunch of money on fancy ingredients. You can search for recipes online using ingredients you may have or go for simple recipes that use few ingredients. Your efforts will be received gratefully! I promise!

Just think about your gift recipient and the things they might enjoy and combine that with your talents. I know you’ll come up with a uniquely wonderful gift that will be long-remembered!

Happy Holiday Entertaining!

Shanna

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