14 Affordable “Gifts from the Heart” for Christmas

This holiday season will bring fewer gifts this year.  I have never been one for spending a ton of money on Christmas presents each year.  Buying expensive toys or computer games just is not my thing.  My husband and I both try and give gifts that are useful (and wanted), not something we would spend the money on ourselves and now that we’re empty-nesters, it’s more about experiences than things!

Most of the gifts that I truly treasure are gifts from the heart.  It doesn’t come from some big fancy jewelry store or Amazon, but something that was given to me that had some special meaning behind it. This week, I (Michele the Bargain Queen from SavingMoneyandMakingMoney.com) will help to inspire you to give an inexpensive gift from the heart this holiday season.

What do people know you for?  What is your specialty?  Are you a cook, a baker, a gardener, a crafter?

Here are 12 great examples of gifts from the heart.

1.   If you’re a baker, make something to give to your loved ones.  I have a friend, Betty, who makes the most delicious lemon cake.  She donated one of her lemon cakes to a local charity auction and it went for $400!!  It is that good. If she made me a lemon cake for Christmas, I would certainly appreciate it.  (She makes an awesome whiskey cake as well.)

2.   I have another friend, Kelly, that makes home-made soups.  She makes all different kinds and if she made me some soup and put in a plastic container with a bow and a tag that says, “Warmest Holiday Wishes”, I would be most grateful.

3.   Do you make a great cookie?  Who doesn’t love cookies?  Bake a bunch and get either pretty paper plates or little trays at the Dollar Store, cover with plastic wrap, put a big bow on it and put a tag on it that says, “Take a Break from All You Do and Enjoy This Sweet Treat Just for You!”

4.   Candy is another great option for you to give away.  If you want something even easier than fudge, you can just grab a bunch or raisins or nuts and throw them in a bowl with chocolate and place on plastic wrap until they cool.  You could even get pretzel rods, roll in melted chocolate, and then roll them in nuts, sprinkles, or crushed peppermint candies.

5.   Not good at baking or cooking?  Go onto Pinterest and check out mason jar cookie ideas.  You will find how to layer ingredients (and how much to put in). Don’t forget to add a tag with the recipe on what to add and directions for how hot the oven should be and for how long the cookies should be in the oven!

6.   Make a batch of Chex Mix or get a box of Golden Grahams cereal, some M&Ms, and some mini marshmallows and put them in a big jar.  Tie with ribbons around it and make a tag that says, “Wishing you S’more Holiday Joy”!

7.   For those that have a friend that is a baker…just get a whisk from the Dollar Store fill it up with Hershey Kisses, put cling wrap around it to hold the kisses in, tie with a pretty ribbon and make a tag that says, “We Whisk You a Merry Kissmas!”  How adorable would that be!!

8.   Do you like to garden or have a green thumb with houseplants? Why don’t you take cuttings (propagate) and plant in a little container and give to your friends!  Just make sure that you give them directions on how to care for it.  Not a gardener but know someone who is? Get some popsicle sticks and paint or draw on them herb garden plants – parsley, cilantro, basil, oregano, etc., and put that in a little jar along with some seeds and perhaps even some gardening gloves.

9.  Do you like to paint or draw?  Paint something that your friend or family would appreciate it.  My Mother-in-Law took the engagement picture of my son and his fiancée and sent it to a paint by number company.  They sent the paint by number picture with corresponding paint, and she did the paint by numbers photo of them and gave it to them for their wedding.  The time it took her to do that and how it was such a special photo of them, really brought everyone to tears when they opened it.

10.  Do you have a friend that likes to read?  Make them a bookmark out of ribbon and beads!  Just go to Pinterest for ideas and personalize it just for your friend.

11.  Have a niece or granddaughter or even a girlfriend that loves to paint her nails?  Get a container at the Dollar Store and fill with a couple bottles of nail polish, small emery board, toe separators and cotton balls put some ribbon around it and make a tag that says, “For Your Mistle ‘Toes’”!

12.  Make a rag wreath for a beautiful gift for the holidays.  Go to the Dollar Store and get a big round plastic wreath (they’re usually green or tan), take any kind of fabric, and cut into 6 inches long and 1 inch wide.  Just take a piece of fabric and tie it through two spokes of the wreath, alternating fabric (or not) the entire way around.  First piece of fabric goes around 1 and 2 spokes, second piece of fabric goes through 2 and 3, and the third piece of fabric goes through 3 and 4. I’ve done these all sorts of different ways.  You can do them for season (pastels for spring, fall colors for autumn, etc.), I did one wreath that was blue fabric, Penn State fabric, white fabric and Nittany Lion fabric and it turned out great.  I’ve also done one with Eagles colors for my sister and mother-in-law!  My very first one that I did, I used an old dining room tablecloth. You can even use old flannel shirts, or sheets, or curtains.  Use your imagination and get creative. 

13.  Not good at baking or cooking but really want to give your friends something to eat? Why not make a cupcake or brownie mason jar?  Just go to Pinterest and look for mason jar gifts.  There are all sorts of ones to choose from.  Just follow the directions on laying the items and don’t forget to print out the directions for the gift getter, so that they know what to do with the mason jar!!

14.  Do you have a parent or grandparent that don’t really need anything?  What do you get someone who already has everything?!  What they really want from you is your TIME!! Make a “coupon” book for all types of things… take for a walk, go for a drive, bake cookies together, weed their garden, mow their lawn, spend an afternoon reminiscing of your younger days.  You can even have your kids do the same and give they’re grandparents a coupon book.  You could include coloring together, making cookies, blow bubbles, watch a movie, cuddle, read a book.  There really is no limit to this.  Just get creative!! It really doesn’t have to cost money, just spend time with them!

Have you decided what gift from the heart that you are giving this year? Hopefully the 14 above suggestions will help you. If you have an idea for a gift from the heart, let me know in the comments below.

And remember what my hubby always says, “Saving Money Is Making Money!”