It’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, but if money is tight, Christmas can be pretty stressful.
Keep in mind, the best Christmas gifts don’t come with hundred-dollar price tags. It’s the thought that counts. Here are some thrifty gift ideas to help you stay on budget:
1) Make everyone fleece blankets for the winter. Click here for instructions.
2) Donate a lump sum in honor of your aunts, uncles, cousins, and so on, to a local charity like PAWS Columbus or the Valley Rescue Mission.
3) Make creative coupons that your relatives can “cash in” later. For example, one car wash, one hour of weeding in the garden, one hour of board games, etc.
4) Use fabric paint to decorate or personalize t-shirts for everyone.
5) Give framed copies of your child’s artwork to relatives.
6) Fill large mason jars with cookie, brownie or soup mixes. Layer the dry ingredients than add a gift tag that provides the rest of the directions and wet ingredients. Here’s a recipe for Snowman Soup Mix.
7) Make small scrapbooks of your little ones for the grandparents. Look for photo coasters or a pretty picture frame, and slide in a nice shot of yourself or your kids with your parents or grandparents.
8 ) If you like to bake, fill some cute little containers with goodies.
9) Give Christmas ornaments to everyone. They’ll hang them on the tree every year.
10) Do a Secret Santa gift exchange with the extended family.
