Budgeting

Hi ladies,

I was reading an old issue of Good Housekeeping and they had a section on homemade gifts so I thought I'd ask.

-Are there any friends/family members that you give homemade gifts too? Are there any that give homemade gifts?

-Are there any homemade gifts that you give regularly? Are there any you want to give or learn to make?

-Once time and cost of materials is factored in are homemade gifts necessarily more budget friendly?

Oh, and if you have a homemade gift pattern/recipe/whatever please post it!

I used to make about a dozen Gifts-in-a-Jar cookie mixes every year. But now, my friends and sisters don't give gifts to each other, so I don't bother.

The jars came out to about $5 each, but cost just a few hours of my time for shopping and putting them together. I bought a pack of mason jars and all the ingredients for a few varieties of cookies (White choc macedamia nut and Snickerdoodles were a big hit). I put them together in assembly line fashion, and the recipe book included gift cards, so it was pretty quick work.

Once, I just made spa stockings for friends. Filled stockings with individual packs of bubble bath, a face mask, a few Lindtt chocolates, and a mini bottle of champagne. These were about $12 each, thanks to the champagne. They make single serving wine now that you could buy in 4-packs, so that would bring down the cost.

I tend to do homemade candles.  The initial cost of buying supplies probably cost more than just buying candles, but that was 6 years ago and I can still use the same equipment - so I have saved money in the long run.  Most of the candles I make are remnants of old candles. This means, I also don't have to buy wax.

I have been working a lot with clay lately and once I feel that it looks like an adult attempted it, and not a 4 year old - then I will start doing clay gifts. 

Hi!   I have done homemade gifts forever. Started when I didn't have much money and continued when relatives demanded them.  I have made some that cost as little as ten cents and have gone much much higher.  My rule of thumb is that I only make things that are truly useful and I know really meet the recipients' needs. A few really inexpensive ones that people have liked are: Hot packs of various sizes filled with any of the following: Beans, corn,flax, or rice. If you live in an area where cherry pits at available they are really great.  I have collected small picture frames and using the computer printed quotes or sayings that are either particularly relevant to that person or that describe some aspect of the recipient. I have also put together theme baskets that have really not cost much but work out well.  I think the key is to think of the person and base the gift on their needs and interests.    Trudy