Holiday Gifting: A Tight Budget
BOSTON (CBS) - Christmas can happen even on a tight budget.
My go-to person for help at Christmas is Martha Stewart. She recommends homemade gifts and has some great inexpensive ideas. Her book, Handmade Christmas: The Best of Martha Stewart Living, which was printed in 1995, can be found in your local library or on Amazon for under $6.
If you don't have much money to spend then you will have to spend your time. And if you have any talents use them.
Are you a good cook? Anything homemade is such a treat. Fudge, peanut brittle, cookies. Buy some fancy containers at the Dollar store or better still get some Rubbermaid containers and they become part of the gift. I buy odd dishes at yard sales that I can use.
Can you knit? A sweaters, scarf or mittens. If you don't have the time to finish the sweater by Christmas, wrap the yarn and pattern up and give that with a note telling them when it will be done.
Flower arranging. Cut some greens from your yard, the bottom of the Christmas tree or your neighbor's yard (with their permission), buy some red carnations, search around for some interesting containers and make flower arrangements for your friends and family.
Smart phones take great pictures. Find some reasonable priced frames and you have gifts for all on your list. Frame the kid's school pictures for grandma. You can create a calendar with pictures of your family for under $20 or a memory book about last summer's vacation.
How about time itself? Literally, give away your time and you don't have to give it on Christmas. Give a gift certificate, an IOU, for what you will do in the future.
Create a coupon book. Some examples; snow shoveling, lawn mowing, babysitting, help with a party, back rubs, gardening, dinner by candle light, brownies, fudge, desserts, party help.
Promise your elderly aunt a weekly trip to the grocery store, church or the COA. Give your nephew a fishing trip in the spring. Your niece, skating lessons at Frog Pond. You get the idea here!
