So you’re careful with your money – that doesn’t mean you forgo holidays. You can still have a great time giving this Christmas without spending your entire emergency fund (or even your paltry summer vacation change jar) on stuff your friends and family won’t be using anymore by Valentine’s Day. If you stop to think about it, none of us really needs anything that’s made of plastic, operates on batteries, sucks up electricity, or comes in a giant box that’s impossible to open without a chainsaw. Since when does Christmas mean meeting the demands of spoiled kids, stocking up on batteries and ibuprofen, and making sure you spend the same amount on people who will see each others’ gifts? That one’s pretty obvious – since commercialism’s reign of terror – but you don’t have to pay through the nose to enjoy Christmas and bring happiness to the important people in your life. It might take some time and effort, but you can use the following ideas to help you come up with inexpensive gifts that are perfect for each person on your Christmas list.
For the Kids
Craft Kit: Go to the Dollar Store first, then hit up your local craft store for anything you might have missed. Include fun items like glitter, colored pencils, crayons, markers, construction paper, scissors with different edging options, and paint (but only if you know you won’t have to clean up after the colorful apocalypse). Pack everything into a tin or plastic carrying case, including a sheet of stickers so the kids can decorate the container.
Rainy Day Kit: Pick up an inexpensive basket, filling it with one or two puzzles, some snacks, and drink mixes. You can also include a used DVD from your collection (kid-appropriate, of course), a deck of cards, or a gently used board game you no longer play.
For the Parents & Siblings
Framed Art: Have your kids draw or paint pictures for family members, have them framed (or just pick up a simple frame at an office supply store), and give them with a smile. As simple as this might seem, it’s a great way to add joy to someone’s bare walls.
Vouchers: Write up some gift certificates (or print them on your computer) that entitle your family members to some valuable service hours from you. You might offer babysitting for a few nights, free yard work, a tutorial on using the computer (great for parents), or any other way to share your expertise.
For the In-Laws
Calendar: It can be tough trying to get used to all the dates and traditions of a new family, so give your in-law a break with a special calendar. Mark birthdays, anniversaries, and other important family events so your new brother or sister will be in the know. You can even make your own calendar with fun family photos and nametags to help the newbie remember everyone’s names.
Recipe Basket: If you know a favorite family recipe, pack up the ingredients in a pretty basket and include the recipe so your in-law can make it “just like Grandma used to.”
For the Friends & Coworkers
Music: If you know a music lover, make a mix CD of songs he or she might enjoy and include an inexpensive iTunes gift card. You can even decorate the CD case to make it more special.
Spa Basket: For the ladies, put together a basket filled with some of the following items: bath salts, a manicure kit, nail polish, soaps, shower gel, a sleep mask, mud mask packets, lip balm, sugar scrub, or a loofah.
Car Care Kit: Gentlemen usually like to keep their cars looking spiffy (even if they don’t care about anything else’s appearance), so give them a plastic bucket filled with a chamois cloth, car wax, black tire gel, leather cleaner, detailing clay, car wash, polish, and anything else manly and car-related.
Bio: Maria Rainier is a freelance writer and blog junkie. She is currently a resident blogger at First in Education, researching various online degree programs and blogging about student life. In her spare time, she enjoys square-foot gardening, swimming, and avoiding her laptop.
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