As a single mom sometimes I need to get creative with gift giving. My budget is always tight so I try to look for bargains all year long but most of the time I just have to try to give from the heart. Other adults are usually the hardest to buy for, they usually already have everything they need. Here are a few ideas for a budget friendly holiday.
*Use your kid’s artwork instead of buying Christmas cards. Even if the artwork is not holiday themed you can still turn it into a card, write a personal message on the back and have the whole family sign it.
*Think about hobby’s that your recipient has, often you can find things that are used a lot and wear out for just a little money. For example, gardening gloves for a gardener or stickers for a scrapbooker.
*Food treats are always welcome. What is your specialty? Make cookies, bread in little loaf pans or a cake. It’s a gift for the whole family for very little money.
*Finally homemade gift cards are nice. A night of babysitting, dinner at your house, a dessert a month, whatever you enjoy doing for others.
*For the kids a homemade gift certificate for a day at the park and ice cream as soon as the weather is warm. They may not understand and appreciate it in the middle of winter but when that warm sunny day comes and they get to spend the day at the park they will be very excited.
*If you are good with words make a child their own book. There are places you can have it printed online or you can do it yourself and just protect the pages with clear shelf paper and use sturdy cardboard for the covers. What child wouldn’t love a book about themselves.
Be creative. We all have talents that we can use to make someone else happy. It may take a little more time than running to the mall and buying a gift but it will be one they remember for a long time because you gave of yourself.