Money Management

Homemade Christmas Gifts

Homemade Christmas gifts are a great alternative to spending a lot of money on Christmas gifts. You can still celebrate Christmas on a budget and shower the people you love with gifts.

Homemade christmas gifts

It just takes some creativity and time. You don't even have to be "crafty" to make homemade Christmas gifts, just have some initiative.

You can share your ideas here. Otherwise here are some suggestions:

Homemade Recipe Box

Homemade Christmas Gifts With just a few simple supplies you can create a gift that people will love and use for years to come.

Gather index cards, cardholder, pen, your favorite recipes and a little wrapping paper! Copy down a few of your favorite recipes on the index cards; wrap your gift and you are done.

Friendship Bread

Speaking of food a favorite homemade Christmas gift idea is to bake a loaf of Amish friendship bread in a decorative dish. Most people include the recipe and the bread starter so the gift continually gives.

Check out this recipe here

Candy in a Decorative Jar or Mug

Who doesn't love holiday candy? One Christmas gift idea that even large retailers have gotten a hold of is the candy filled glass or mug. Of course, the premade ones often come with stale candy and filler so it is best to create your own. You may even want to make your own candy.

Decorative mugs or glasses will be on sale just about everywhere and all you have to do is fill with your favorite confections and tie a ribbon to have a great homemade Christmas gift.

Look all year for jars to fill at Christmas time for gifts. You can find them at dollar stores, flea markets and other discount stores.

You could also make themed jars. I once received a jar filled with candy from the year I was born - that was really fun and inexpensive for my friend to make for me. I also really appreciated it!

You could make a crayon jar with other art supplies for the kids on your list, or a chocolate filled jar for the chocolate lover.

Time

One thing we never have enough of is time, and this is especially true with our children. Thrill someone special with a booklet of "coupons" of your time.

A walk in the park, movie "ticket" (promise to watch a movie of their choosing, just the two of you); the possibilities are endless.

Or you could offer to do some housework that your loved one is dreading, or what works for me is if someone gives me the gift of washing my car. Nothing makes me happier!

Ornaments

Homemade ornaments are wonderful Christmas gift ideas. You can make frosted pine cone ornaments with a little glitter, glue and cones or cute painted snowflakes with supplies from your local craft store.