Old-Fashioned Cheap Holiday Gifts

There was a time when far less people had jobs that had financial room for gift-giving. The holiday season would be a time to give gifts that don’t really cost much money, but would be valued by the gift receiver.

Presents had to be hand-made and inexpensive to make. Parents ensured that their children would receive holiday presents, even if they had to give handmade gifts. Children and teenagers could also make great gifts for the people they cared about with very little effort and money.

Making homemade sugar candy is one of the most old-fashioned and easiest holiday gifts. Just by mixing little bits of water into a cup of sugar and vanilla flavoring until the consistency is moist but thick, and then spooning the mixture onto a plate, a great holiday gift is easily created. A dot of food coloring can turn your creation into a rainbow work of art. Setting the plate in the refrigerator for a day will make the candy solid. The candy can then be placed into a little candy tin.

Opting to make a tin of homemade cookies has always been an old-fashioned holiday favorite. The cookies should be baked no more than two days before the day you will give your home-baked gift. A batch of no-bake or easy bake cookies such as chocolate chip or peanut butter makes a tasty holiday gift.

Another inexpensive gift is a crocheted scarf. Even if you don’t know how to crochet, you can learn in a few minutes how to make the basic stitches to make a scarf. You will just need a crochet needle and yarn. Variations of the scarf, including a hat-scarf combo by stitching up a portion of the scarf or making a very large scarf to be used as a shawl or wrap for the cold weather, would make a nice holiday present. The recipients of these homemade gifts will treasure and value the items for many years.

A homemade potpourri sachet is easy to make, and material stores will carry a variety of gauze material, satin ribbons and bows that can be sewn or tied around the dried perfumed leaves or herbs. Sachets can also be made with regular kitchen ingredients, such as cinnamon sticks, sage leaves, ginger or dried fruit peels.

If making a present for children, both boys and girls may like a poppet or rag doll. A very easy rag doll can be made just by sewing edges together and stuffing the doll with cotton. Jewels or buttons can be sewn onto the doll’s face for eyes and mouth and the hair can be made from slices of material sewn onto the doll’s head. The doll’s clothing can be made easily also, with a free pattern that can be printed out. The dolls can be made with felt, muslin, old T-shirt or fabric remnants.

Think of all the things that we use in our everyday lives that could become a holiday gift. Look in the supermarket also. For instance, for parents or adults, a can of ready-made eggnog can be used as a base to make a holiday beverage jar. Just add ¼ brandy or rum to ¾ eggnog, place a few cinnamon sticks in the jar and sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg powders. The mixture should be refrigerated until you are ready to give the gift. If you take a strip of aluminum foil and wrap it around your finger, it will mold a nice swirl to be twisted into a holiday bow for your jar.

After the holiday, you will be satisfied that you were able to make someone happy with your homemade gift.