[Zack]

Hi Friends! Does anyone have creative ideas around giving thoughtful gifts to give friends and family without breaking the bank?

For example, many folks are known for gifting treats or tamales each year.

Next year, I’m considering gifting homemade potpourri featuring cinnamon sticks, dried citrus slices, and cloves. Would you enjoy receiving such a gift?

How do you approach giving gifts to friends and family members around the holidays?

My wife and I are grateful to have many great friends and family members we love.

We often receive thoughtful gifts from them and feel the pull to reciprocate with gifts of a similar monetary value.

The problem? It’s quite expensive. I DO believe in being generous and thoughtful, but I also feel conflicted in shelling out lots of money.

Perhaps it’s just me, but the consumerism culture in America can be tricky to navigate.

Thanks for weighing in

[Jennifer]

I have a tradition of gifting homemade English toffee for almost 30 years that I hear over and over is cherished (& sometimes hid so they don’t have to share with family.)

It’s a labor of love.

Each batch is about 4-5 treat bag or small tins. I make 7-8 batches.

[Carrie]

I can jam in the summer when fruit is in abundance in my area and distribute at the holidays. Peach is always in demand.

I usually just make the small jars.

That way I’m not rushed at Christmas to add one more thing.

[Erin]

While I like where you’re coming from, I’m not sure that potpourri would be widely enjoyed. I, too, dislike consumerism and personally prefer not to get gifts because I find it overwhelming to have to re-home so many things that I don’t want or need, even if I appreciate the thought behind the giver.

What about hosting people for a holiday dessert and game party?

Have some games like Love Letter that are easy to learn and do in rounds/jump in and out of, maybe a sporting game or something on TV if you have sports lovers, some delicious homemade treats, and coffee, tea, or hot chocolate?

Many people are looking for “dry” social options nowadays for health reasons, and this would be an inexpensive way to host people and spend quality time with them.

Those who like alcohol would probably bring it with them as a hostess gift and you can feel free to serve it then, if you’d like (have some glasses you can easily pull out and leave the wine at the drink station).

If you needed to have several smaller gatherings, you could make everything and freeze it or you could freeze the dough and bake things fresh.

You could even give them the invitation during December and host the event in January if the timing feels too tight.

With post-Christmas sales, you can probably score some really cute themed paper plates and napkins and keep them for next year, if you’d like.

[Vira]

I bought a whole bunch of handmade organic soaps and some coffee and have been giving that.

I had been away on vaca just before Xmas so bought it in Puerto Rico, but I think even local stuff would be cool.

Just remember to buy during the year at any interesting markets

[Michelle]

I’m with you. My husband is a pastor, and for his Christmas to the staff (12 people) I make a meal for them.

It used to be a nice breakfast for their staff meeting with cinnamon rolls, fruit, etc, but then their meetings changed to 1:00 so this year I did a lunch.

I made Green Chili Chicken Enchiladas, Peruvian Rice, Refried Beans, and a Pear Crisp.

Then for a little take home gift I made homemade chicken bouillon, made with rosemary and garlic from my summer garden.

I’m big into consumable gifts!

[Susie]

One of the best gifts I ever got was homemade brown butter chocolate chip cookie dough. Not baked cookies! But they made the dough and gave me specific instructions on how to bake them.

I got fancy, delicious, fresh baked cookies. They also included the recipe.

Most people are used to getting baked goods but they’re dry or stale quickly, so the dough is a novel idea that people seem to love.

Edit; you just have to make sure your cookies are really good, so be sure to do test batches.

[Mee]

I like your potpourri idea. Homemade vanilla is also a nice idea and can take 6 months to prepare.

I don’t personally buy gifts for adults but do like doing experiences with them.

Maybe inviting them over for breakfast or dinner with games would be fun.

[Emilee]

something easy and cheap are custom ornaments. just get some bulk plastic ones, some paint pens, and some crinkle paper.

easy to make and customize and whoever celebrates christmas probably has a tree.

alternatively, my family had a similar problem and we decided to start pooling a smaller amount and doing donations to local charities instead of getting gifts that we don’t particularly need.

[Lori]

I am very sensitive to fragrances so that would not be a gift I would enjoy. I would graciously say thank you and then when I got home, it would go in the trash.

I like the photo of a homemade gift, but potpourri is not a good option in my opinion.

[Frank]

Consumable items are best. Just make sure that person likes the form of consumable being given.

For example, I would prefer scotch to a potpourri.

[Jody]

I had my children make homemade chocolate covered oreos that were a hit

[Gina]

Just watched BUY NOW on Netflix and …. Consumerism is beyond and the newer reseller “industry” just to make money as a line of work is also feeling incredibly wasteful.

Do your friends and family generally celebrating Christmas / have Christmas trees?

My cousin made each of us an ornament, tiny little ball with our initial on it. It was so thoughtful. And we still use them. Then when our son was born she made a tiny felt dinosaur for him.

If this is for this time of year, I think upcycling things to create ornaments for people is a great idea.

I don’t think she spent more than 1-5 dollars each in materials.

Other ideas I have if I had the time and space, wooden or ceramic coasters. More time consuming but could be wonderful.

I have been growing plants and up to about 50 babies… I bought or have been gifted a dozen of them.

I think I’ll start gifting them to clients, friends and family when I can grow another 50 to good sizes.

The cost would be the soil (unless I can successfully compost enough) and planter and dish which I hope to make.

Happy to brainstorm more!

[Liz]

We buy some items at my child’s craft fair/holiday market- organic handmade soaps, bath salts, and then I make scented soy candles with my child.

We put them in a basket with gift cards and other personalized treats and that’s our gift to each family member.

[Sarah]

I like getting presents for kids but all my adult friends and relatives get the same thing from me every year!

Homemade jams and jellies!

[Mel]

I buy bulk natural Epsom salt and sprinkle in some lavender essential oils and dried lavender bits and rose petals.

Divide them up into small cute glass containers and label them by hand.

Buy glass containers in bulk on Amazon or local store.

[Sandra]

We gift each other consumables. One smoked meat and cheese, we do our honey, homemade vanilla and toffee, one makes Christmas candy, etc. we also do that with the neighbors.

It’s fun to receive things we can eat or use up and then we look forward to it again next Christmas!

[Ginny]

Agree to no gifts. Did that from the family years ago and we are all happy.

be honest with them and they will probably agree.

[Jolene]

We’ve decided no gifts as there’s now 18 people on my side of the family. Instead we rent a nice event space with a kitchen, bathroom, chairs, tables for mid-day (10 am – 3 pm).

People can bring puzzles or games, and everyone brings a dish or two.

No one is burdened with set-up or clean-up in their home with this arrangement.

[Ann]

You just have to pre-empt their giving by saying that you/your wife would like to give DIY/homemade gifts.

I tried it this year with my cousin about gifts for the kids and she (intentionally?)

didn’t understand and still got my kids gift and of course that left me in a spot where I didn’t give her kids gifts!

[Author]

Posts