[SilverNeurotic]

I really enjoy buying Christmas gifts for family and friends, but this year I'm not working so financially this isn't a smart move unless I find employment in the next few weeks.

Does anyone have any ideas for free or inexpensive gifts that would work? I would really appreciate it!

[Rmdctc]

I usually bake something like cookies or bread. Ive also made like jam or homemade pickles before.

[ECHOES]

You could make up personal gift cards for anything you could do for the gift receipient. It could be for running errands, babysitting, cooking, cleaning, raking leaves, shovelling snow, making a web page, etc.

I just bought a magazine at the grocery check out that has ideas for gifts in a jar where you put ingredients for a batch of cookies, for example. The magazine includes nice gift tags to use with the gift in a jar.

Giving baked goods is a great idea. Festive boxes, bags, etc from the craft store make it extra special.

A coffee mug with several packets of coffee or hot chocolate.
A decorative small bowl with several packets of dry mixes for dips.
A christmas tree ornament. (I once gave everyone the same ornament and bought one for me too, and included a note about how our trees would be 'connected' at chrismas no matter where we are, by our common ornament. )

[SilverNeurotic]

Those are some good ideas...especially the baking. We do A LOT of baking in my family this time of year.

[lynn P.]

One time I went to the dollar store and bought 4 coffee mugs, wicker gift basket - all for a dollar each. Then I went to the grocery store and bought a can of hot chocolate mix or specialty coffee. At home you put all this in the gift basket and wrap it will clear cellophane and there you have a gift for under $8.00. You could do a variation of this and substitute beauty products from the dollar store ex. a manicure/pedicure basket.

You could also offer them a favour -like babysitting the kids, shovelling their snow etc. The baking idea is great too. Good luck

[SilverNeurotic]

I could make up some gift baskets from the dollar store. That's not too difficult and sounds kind of fun looking for stuff to use.

[lynn P.]

Originally Posted by SilverNeurotic

I could make up some gift baskets from the dollar store. That's not too difficult and sounds kind of fun looking for stuff to use.

I'm sure you've recieved one of those gift baskets from a store. They look so fantastic but when you actually open them they have stuffing underneath all the stuff and that's how they get them to look full. So you can use tissue paper or anything else. Just be careful and make a list because it's easy to get carried away at the dollar store. Since everythings so cheap a person feels happy, then they spend more LOL. Make a list of how many baskets you want to make, what theme. You can also buy the clear cellophane there. One time I found the cups halfs price and everything else half price so a complete basket cost me $4.00 bucks LOL. I always put a mini Xmas ornament or statue in mine. They also have decorative small boxes you could put stuff in. I saw on one show a lady took a colander(strainer) with a couple box's of pasta/sauce etc and wrapped it all in cellophane. Good luck

[Beholden]

One of our friends gave us 2 tall Winter themed mugs, and a matching "butter dish" shaped ceramic dish that she baked banana bread in. It was really nice and I still use the dish for my butter. I was at the Christmas Tree Shop the other day and they have all sorts of those same mugs and dishes. Cheap too.

[msolson81]

On one of the morning shows, they made book marks out of pretty ribbon and then attached a tie with a charm on the end. Good idea if you have family members who like to read.