The Best Budget-Friendly Gifts: Neighbors, Friends, Teachers, & Coworkers
Christmas is in 18 days! Whether you’re the gal who likes to shop last minute or if you’ve already been pouring over your Holiday Gifting planner page for weeks, you are reading this post at the perfect time because, guess what? Planning ahead is one of the best ways to ensure a budget-friendly gifting experience. By doing your research, price-comparing, purchasing, and preparing your gifts ahead of time, you’re likely to find options for far cheaper than if you were to spontaneously purchase something convenient a few days before Christmas. Below are a few tried and true tips for budget-friendly gifting!
Bake it or Make it!
If you plan to gift something edible, DEFINITELY make it yourself! It’s no secret that making food yourself is cheaper than buying pre-made treats, but have you ever actually done the math? If you need a little nudge to put in the effort and time, this is the nudge you need! A very popular Christmas gift is flavored popcorn, the kind in a pretty, round Christmas tin. This gift can cost anywhere from $10.00 - $25.00 (or more!) when bought from the store or a popcorn shop! By popping, flavoring and packaging popcorn yourself, you can make a full batch of 8 cups for $1.00 - $3.00 (depending on the extravagance of your recipe and packaging)! There are so many great options under the umbrella of inexpensive christmas treats, and you can even find fantastic food blogs that break down recipes by price! Block out a couple of hours on a weekend morning and bust it out in one go! If you have roommates, a spouse, or kids at home, making neighbor/friend/teacher/coworker gifts can double as a fun family activity that everyone will love!
Consider Your Packaging
Though it’s tempting to buy a pre-wrapped Christmas gift, 9 times out of 10, if you wrap it yourself, you will stretch your dollar and it will look just as beautiful! You don’t need to be an expert wrapper by any means. If you’re gifting hand soap, tie on a tulle bow with a pretty gift tag. If you’re gifting a lip balm, toss it in a cellophane bag filled with red crinkle paper and tie it off with some festive string. If you’ve baked your fave family Christmas cookies, use a fun holiday tin or box. Buying your packaging in bulk will reduce your costs further, so make your holiday gifting list, figure out the quantity you need, and purchase your packaging ahead of time. Here are a few budget-friendly packaging options:
Cellophane bags ($0.04 per bag)
Toss in absolutely anything that fits! We love to pair cello bags with crinkle paper and ribbon - fun, quick and easy!
Tulle ($0.09 per bow)
Tulle is so festive! Bunch it up and tie it in a bow around any of your gifts.
Crinkle Paper ($0.72 per ounce)
The perfect filler to accompany a gift in a cello bag or a box. Also doubles as padding if your gift needs it!
Plastic Jars (8 oz jar - $0.75 per jar)
These are fantastic for homemade bath salts or homemade granola!
Treat Tins ($0.61 per package)
A nice choice to contain caramel popcorn, snack mixes, or fudge!
Treat Boxes ($0.42 per package)
Excellent for baked goods!
Tags & Plays on Words
A cute gift tag, a clever play on words, and nice ribbon can really dress up a simple gift. If you are a crafty queen or love graphic design, make your own gift tags! If not, there are an abundance of free printable tags to be found on online! Below are a few more budget-friendly gift ideas, along with fun phrases.
“Sleep in heavenly peace” - Homemade rice warming bag
“Soak in the holidays” - Homemade bath salts
“Any way you slice it, you’re the best! Merry Christmas!” - Bread
“You are Tote-ally awesome! Merry Chirstmas!” - Tote bag
“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good sprite” - Sprite soda with a bow
“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night” - Homemade lavender room mist
“May your days be merry and bright” - Candle
“Baking spirits bright” - Baked goods
“Merry Christmas, ya filthy animal” - Hand soap or hand sanitizer
“We wish you a Merry Kiss-mas” - Lip balm or gloss
“Fizz the season to be jolly” - Mini martinelli’s or soda of choice
“Spread holiday cheer” - Homemade jam
Let us know, what are your favorite budget-friendly Christmas gifts?!