Christmas can be an expensive time of year, but with a little forethought and creativity, you can gift something thoughtful and special that is also budget-friendly. With sites like Pinterest at our fingertips, there’s no shortage of ideas and inspiration. Here are a few of our favorite gift ideas that make the occasion special while also keeping costs in check this season:
1) For the bird and nature lovers, do up some homemade bird feeders.
A great gift the whole family can participate in making, homemade birdseed ornaments are a sweet and simple present the nature lovers in your life will adore. These birdseed ornaments are practical, beautiful, and a lot of fun to make! Birdseed, flour, water, gelatin, and corn syrup are the only ingredients you’ll need—read on for step-by-step directions.
2) Have a child on your list? Try homemade playdough.
Playdough provides endless hours of fun and entertainment (and hey, it’s not just for kids, either!). There’s something we all love about shaping and melding the dough into shapes and structures. This recipe is easily made with regular kitchen ingredients you likely already have on hand; simply find a nice jar to store it in and—voila!—your gift is ready. Try making a double batch and splitting it into several parts so you can dye each a different color. View recipe and directions.
3) For the sweet tooth, make homemade caramels.
There’s nothing better than some homemade sweet treats over the holidays, and caramel is favorite flavor for many. Homemade caramels take it a step beyond the store-bought versions, and they take surprisingly little time and effort to make. Fill up a decorative bag full of caramels for the sweets-loving person on your list this year. All you’ll need is some sugar, corn syrup, cream, butter, and vanilla. View recipe and directions.
4) Give the gift of fragrance by whipping up some homemade soaps.
Choose a holiday-appropriate scent (like peppermint!) and use it as inspiration for some fabulously scented homemade soaps for any of the recipients on your Christmas list. You’ll only need a few things to make this thoughtful gift, including a melt-and-pour soap base, essential oils of your preference, and soap molds (which can be fashioned out of everyday items around the house). Learn how to make your own peppermint soap.
5) For the baker, put together a cookie mix in a jar.
There can be an abundance of treats available around the holidays, and while this isn’t a bad thing, it can be nice to extend the sweetness a little bit longer. Let your loved one have fresh baked cookies in January with a cookie-in-a-jar recipe gift. Simply fill a decorative jar with all the ingredients they’ll need for your favorite cookie, and let them bake the cookies whenever they please. Explore different options like brownies in a jar, oatmeals cookies in a jar, sugar cookies in a jar, and more. View recipes and directions.
From your friends at InTown Suites, we wish you and yours and safe and happy holiday season!
