Nine Frugal Gift Ideas for the Holidays

With the holiday season upon us, we start thinking about all the people we have to buy for. Then we start thinking about where we'll get the money to buy all those gifts.

To help ease the money crunch in this economic hard time, here's some suggestions for homemade gifts that people are sure to enjoy.

Using your imagination is great, you'll save money and the recipient will appreciate your thoughtfulness. Like they say, "it"s the thought that counts'.

1. Take a five-quart empty ice cream bucket, buy some decorative shelf liner or contact paper and attach it to the outside of the bucket; giving it a personal touch. Fill the bucket with items of interest of your gift recipient. If they are in high school, maybe put some personal hygiene products in the bucket. If they're an avid reader buy some paperback books at local library sales and fill the bucket. The ideas are endless. If you don't buy these ice cream buckets, you can also find cheap and nice wicker baskets at local resale and consignments stores. I once found six beautiful and large baskets that I used for Christmas instead of filling the kids' stockings.
2. Make a homemade personalized recipe book. Last year before my oldest daughter moved away from home, I bought a photo album at a local dollar store and some index cards to fit inside the album. I wrote out her favorite recipes that she's eaten at home over the years and filled each slot of the photo album with the recipes. We can add new ones each year.
3. The typical fall back item of gifts in a jar. There are hundreds of recipes on the Internet for this. This is where I found most of mine. Some include www.heart4home.net, www.allfreecrafts.com and www.recipepark.com). There are hundreds of websites and recipes to look through.
4. For our anniversary a few years ago, we were broke. But I still wanted to let my husband know how much I love and appreciated him. So I went online (www.budget101.com) and printed off some pre-made and fill-in-the-blank gift certificates and coupons. I used clear contact paper and covered each coupon and hooked then together with a single snap ring (found at an office supply). He received one coupon for each year of our marriage.
5. Buy a kit or find a pattern online for a fleece tie blanket. These are great for kids. Find their favorite design or character, buy the fleece material and get to work. Once you've made a few, the time is shortened.
6. If you have talent, can read crochet directions or already crochet; the ideas are endless. One item I know I can never have enough of is potholders. I have a stash of these for Christmas gifts and people (usually women) always rave about how nice they are and how long they last. I've had a friend who politely requests these every year.
7. Take empty frosting or icing containers and make a personalized picture pencil/pen holder. Carefully tape the back of photographs to the outside of a cleaned frosting container. Cover with clear contact paper. Add a few pens and pencils for the recipient. Great gift idea for writers and students.
8. Another old standby is a plate filled with homemade goodies and cookies. Wrap a fancy plate with colored Saran Wrap, ties with a festive bow and string and attach the recipes for the goodies to the ribbon and string. I've gotten a few good cookie recipes this way.
9. Make your music fanatic a homemade music CD. Take the recipient's favorite artist or music and burn a CD. This way they'll always have some favorite songs to listen to.