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Being totally broke one Christmas after an unexpected week-long stay in the hospital, I received from a little next door neighbor a love chain for my Christmas tree. She cut out little 3" hearts of construction paper and decorated them with little odds and ends (yarn, pieces of doilies, stars, dots from hole-punchers) and then glued them to a length of yarn. On each piece she wrote something she was thankful for warm summer days, good friends, grandma and grandpa, etc. It was treasured for many years on my Christmas tree until it was lost during a move. I often wonder if she has remembered to do the same with her own children.
N.
For my husband, I had my 3-year-old daughter tell me a story, which I typed, printed on pretty paper, and framed. He loved it!
I.
What about the idea of giving some of that saved money to charity? It's amazing how good it feels to give to organizations that help people who really need *essentials* -- food, clothing, shelter, etc. -- rather than buying our friends and family more and more of the superfluous trappings we fill our lives with in this part of the world. In lieu of gifts, I like to make charitable donations in family members' names (and my family likes it, too!). With the recent devastation in Central America, there couldn't be a better year to begin one's career as a benefactor. Happy Holidays!
Cindi
The best inexpensive gift I ever gave or received was homemade stationery. I flipped through magazines that I have already read. I tore out the pages that had colorful pictures that covered the whole page and little to no writing. I then took an envelope of choice and unfolded it and traced the shape on the magazine page. After cutting out the shape,I folded it correctly and used a glue stick to seal the sides(not the top,of course). Then I let my imagination run wild with what kind of stationery paper to use---card stock, plain or decorated, lined paper--more appropriate for a child or any other creative paper. I included two plain address labels trimmed with deckle scissors and one sticker that matched the envelope to seal it closed. I selected 8-12 envelopes that matched either in theme or color and tied them with a ribbon. The responses are so great---everyone wants to make them and can. Some other ideas are to use old road maps for boys, coloring book pages for young children and even wrapping paper if you desire matching envelopes. I think it cost me around $.35 for each one if I used card stock and MUCH less if I used regular paper. Great for teachers gifts and hostess gifts.
Teresa M
My Uncle every year tells us all he wants a kiss or hug or something like that for Christmas ( you know something that's free!) So this year I decided to do him one better. I recently started shopping with coupons, and since you never know when a cleaner or cereal or anything will go on sale I tend to cut out almost all coupons. My Uncle has a weakness for Rice Krispie Treats So I decided to make him a care package of marshmellows and Rice Krispies, I really hadn't thought of putting anything else in the basket untill I noticed the grocery had suave products on sale and with my coupons I bought 2 shampoo products 1 can of mouse and 1 deoderant for $0.45, I don't use suave but he does! So I started buying many differant types of items this way. I ended up with two baskets one for him that had over $20 worth of food, cleaners, and health and beauty products that I only paid $4.25 for! I also ended up with one for my Grandma who cleans houses for a living she had mostly cleaning supplies in hers over $30 worth for only $7.35! I also got things for my sister-in-law who is a college student she had junk food, shampoos, and snack size ziplocs about $18 worth for $4.80 I put her things in a $5 rubbermaid storage bin in her favorite color I figured she could use it in her dorm, everyone elses went in a basket with a homeade ribbon!
Amanda
My best inexpensive gift received has to be from last Mother's Day. My 11 year old son bought a small double frame. With his sisters help he found a picture in the albums of me holding him as a baby for one side. On the other side he put in a poem he wrote to the effect that we would love each other forever because I'm his Mom and he's my Son. BOY did I cry!!!
Linda
I have a few that might help people, both with time and money!
Chocolate dipped spoons - Either use a double boiler, or microwave choclate chips, and a few tblsp. of butter. Once the mixture is melted, dip plastic spoons into the chocolate just to where the handle of the spoon begins. Place on waxed paper until cooled and dried. I then cover them with celophane wrap and tie with a bow. You can add flavors to this too. Use liquors, extracts, crushed candy canes, mint leaves, or whatever inexpensive flavoring you have. This goes into the chocolate as it's melting.
Tin can can holders - Tear off the label from any size tin can, once the can is empty. (be sure to remove the glue too) Fill almost to the top with water, and place in the freezer until it forms ice inside. Now, you have a sturdy object to work with! Placeon the can on it's side, on a folded towel, and tape whatever design you wish on it.(stars, moons, circles, diamonds, scrolls, or freeform) Using a nail and a hammer, punch holes in the can, about every 1/4 inch or so. If the ice starts to melt, simply put it back in the freezer and work on another one. Continue this until all the desired holes are punched. Let ice thaw and dry off can. Use a pair of pliers, and squeeze the top of the can to make sure all the sharp edges are gone. Now, spray paint or sponge paint the can any color or colors you wish. Then, place a small votive candle inside. When lit, the design shines through and makes a wonderful candle holder anyone would love to have. (I use these to light up my walk way when I'm have Christmas parties.) If you use different size cans, they make a wonderful grouped arrangement for a centerpiece too!
W.
When I was in high school and college, I wanted to give my group of friends something more than just a card. At the grocery store, I bought about $15 worth of bulk wrapped candy -- mints, chocolates, hard candy, etc. I then took plastic baggies (I cut the zip top off of the zipper ones) and filled them with about 10-15 candies. With about a foot of colorful ribbon that mom had, I tied it with a bow and labeled it as "brain candy" for finals time. After a couple of years, my friends started looking forward to the sugar hit at Christmas time. I was ususally able to stretch out the candy to about 20-30 candy bags.
Colleen
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