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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThis post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n These thrifty gifts show that you care without breaking the bank, ensuring both your wallet and your recipients’ hearts stay warm this festive season!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Used bookstores can be treasure troves of great titles. A used book is just as pleasurable to read as a new book, and the savings can be significant. A friend of mine who was on a very tight budget once bought used books for all ten people on her gift list for $25. My family loves and encourages used books!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Craft a cozy atmosphere with homemade candles<\/a> in various scents, perfect for creating a relaxing ambiance at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Compile cherished family recipes on customized recipe cards, adding a personal touch to the kitchen. Or make a simple cookbook with your favorite recipes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Small succulent plants bring a touch of greenery indoors and require minimal care, making them ideal for busy individuals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s also easy to propagate new succulents from cuttings<\/a>, so if you plan ahead you can make lots of new baby plants for gift giving! <\/p>\n\n\n\n My friend Lynn at Nourish and Nestle has an easy pattern to make hand-knit washcloths<\/a>, plus a free printable gift band.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Combine a classic movie or a fun family comedy, a box of microwave popcorn, and a cozy blanket for an enjoyable night in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For cooking enthusiasts, an herb garden in a pot offers fresh flavors right from their windowsill. You can grow your own from seeds or use an indoor herb garden planter kit.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Make your loved one’s favorite holiday treat, such as a batch of chocolate fudge<\/a>, a big bag of homemade Chex mix<\/a>, or Christmas cookies<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whip up a batch of delicious, wholesome granola<\/a> with nuts, dried fruits, and honey for a nutritious and delightful gift.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Assemble a collection of travel-sized toiletries, perfect for those who are always on the go and planning their next vacation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Always welcome, you could give a bottle of French lemonade or your recipient’s favorite wine, a six-pack of gourmet soda, or an assortment of microbrewery beers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Classic board games like Monopoly provide endless fun for friends and family during gatherings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Give a budding artist paints and brushes or blank canvases; give your favorite writer a fat, blank notebook. <\/p>\n\n\n\n An assortment of pretty papers and stickers would be a welcome present for a scrapbooker, or give new garden gloves and tools to a gardener, or a generous bag of instant yeast<\/a> to your favorite bread baker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Design mugs with personalized drawings or quotes. Your loved ones will enjoy a daily dose of warmth and inspiration every time they pour their morning coffee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Give layered cookie mixes in Mason jars<\/a> so your gift recipients can make easy and delicious homemade treats whenever the mood strikes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Share cuttings from your own plants for friends to cultivate their green spaces. Spider plants and philodendron are especially easy to root in water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Fuzzy, warm socks are a simple yet appreciated gift, especially during the colder months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Create a memorable photo collage capturing shared moments to remind loved ones of the good times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Combine homemade sugar scrubs, bath salts, and soothing teas in a basket or gift bag for a DIY spa experience your friend will love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Design a personalized calendar with family photos, featuring important dates and memories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Share local flavors like honey, jams, or specialty snacks that showcase your region’s uniqueness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Create magnets featuring personal photos or artwork to brighten up refrigerators. Shutterfly often has promotional deals on photo magnets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stylish, eco-friendly bags are both practical and environmentally conscious. You can sew your own reusable grocery bags<\/a> with colorful fabrics to reflect your loved ones’ interests or style.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Introduce coffee lovers to different blends with a sampler of gourmet coffee packs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Handmade soaps in various scents offer a touch of luxury and relaxation. You could also give a soap making kit<\/a> that includes molds and supplies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Provide a space for self-reflection with an inspirational journal that encourages personal growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For gardeners, seed packets offer the promise of future flowers, herbs and fresh produce. (Busy gardeners will especially appreciate easy-to-grow vegetable seeds you can direct sow<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n A flowering plant lasts longer than a floral arrangement, and will bring a welcome burst of color to your friend’s home or workspace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Apple butter, peach jam<\/a>, strawberry preserves are all welcome. Or make delicious savory Bacon Jam for your favorite bacon lover. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I love rummaging around thrift stores, and am always amazed by what can be found within. Some great gifts you might spot include classic cast iron cookware, antique china dishes, vintage Christmas ornaments and cashmere sweaters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Quality cooking utensils or your favorite gadgets are always appreciated by those who love spending time in the kitchen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gift access to Amazon Prime, e-books, online courses, or streaming services for entertainment your recipients can enjoy for months to come. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sudoku, word search, crosswords, and brain-teasers are perfect for those who enjoy mental challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Help loved ones stay organized with a compact desk calendar that adds personality to their workspace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Brain-teasing puzzles provide hours of entertainment and cognitive stimulation for recipients of all ages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Decorated plant pots add a personal touch to indoor greenery. First Day of Home has detailed instructions for painting terracotta flower pots<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Share your culinary skills by giving a jar of homemade salsa<\/a> bursting with flavor. Accompany it with a big bag of colorful tortilla chips, and your recipient will be ready to party!<\/p>\n\n\n\n For those who like it hot, a new bottle or assortment of spicy hot sauce will warm their hearts! Small bottles of hot sauce make great stocking stuffers<\/a>, too! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Put together a themed food basket, such as an Italian dinner with gourmet pasta, spaghetti sauce, bread sticks and a chunk of good Parmesan cheese. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Give a reusable water bottle that’s stylish, sustainable and functional. Your well-hydrated friends and loved ones will thank you! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Most of us have those people on our gift lists who really do<\/em> have everything, and would love nothing more than a donation made in their name to a charitable cause. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Print out the details of your donation on a pretty piece of paper, and wrap it in a box for a special presentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I’d love to hear your ideas for creative-but-thrifty gift giving, enjoying a meaningful Christmas<\/a>, and making the holidays merry and bright while avoiding debt<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might also enjoy one of this blog’s most popular posts, “One Real Family’s Real Simple Christmas<\/a>.” This is a true story about how my friends the McDonalds radically simpliifed their Christmas celebrations one year, and it was later picked up by the Chicago Tribune<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n1. Used Books<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. Handmade Candles<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Personalized Recipe Cards <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4. Succulents<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
5. Hand Knit Washcloths<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
6. Movie Night Package<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
7. Potted Herb Garden<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
8. Christmas Goodies <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
9. Homemade Granola <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
10. Travel-Sized Toiletries<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
11. A Special Beverage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
12. Board Game<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
13. Creative Supplies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"paint](\"https:\/\/www.happysimpleliving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/art-supplies-gift-728x728.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n14. Custom Coffee Mug <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
15. Cookie Baking Mixes in Jars <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
16. Plant Cuttings <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
17. Cozy Socks <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
18. Photo Collage <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
19. DIY Spa Kit <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
20. Family Calendar <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
21. Local Foods <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
22. Custom Magnets <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
23. Reusable Shopping Bags <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
24. Coffee Sampler <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
25. Homemade Soap <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
26. Inspirational Journal <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.happysimpleliving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/focus-15-minutes-DP.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n27. Assortment of Seed Packets <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
28. Flowering Plants <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
29. Homemade Jam or Preserves <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
30. Thrift Store Find<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
31. Cooking Utensils <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
32. Digital Subscriptions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
33. Puzzle Books<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
34. Mini Desk Calendar<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
35. Puzzle<\/strong>s <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
36. Painted Plant Pots <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
37. Homemade Salsa <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
38. <\/strong>Hot Sauce<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
39. Food Basket<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
39. Eco-Friendly Water Bottle<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
40. Donation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How About You?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Save for Later<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.happysimpleliving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/40-frugal-Christmas-gifts-pin-1.jpg\")
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