How do you handle the friend/ward/neighbor gifts? In my experience, those are the ones that I forget to budget for and the ones that add up so quickly! I want to give to everyone but can't and so I usually make a short list of the work/church/neighborhood/VT friends that I want to remember. I have found the dollar spot at Target to be very helpful but I don't always find what I'm looking for. I'm not a candy maker so I am not able to whip up some fudge or anything fancy like that either! Have any of you found creative, thrifty ways to remember your friends at the holidays without feeling like you've short-changed them?
9 comments:
I typically make some sort of treat. I usually get TONS of cookies at Christmas time...so I try to not make cookies. Last year I made popcorn balls (like 100 popcorn balls...it was crazy!). This year I think I'll make Rice Krispy Treats.
For my good friends in the ward (like my Mother's Group people) I bought a couple ELF lip glosses and a nail polish for each one. Can't beat a cute gift for $1.50! :)
I find that people like getting candy bars too. Or a little stocking stuffed with candy. Or a jar of hot chocolate.
I guess most of these are perishables...I'm excited to see what everyone else puts. :)
I do the same thing as Tiffany! Treat plates. Last Christmas I was 7 months pregnant, and some of our friends gave us a bag of homemade truffles. They were TO DIE FOR. I gave my husband one, and I inhaled the rest. I then craved truffles throughout the rest of my pregnancy!!
Those friends have now moved out of state, so I'm hoping to get their recipe and hand those out this year.
I usually make cookies. Popcorn balls are a great idea! I might do that. I've also thought about making cinnamon rolls. There are so many good treats to make I can't decide what to do! Sorry I'm of no help.
Something else ...
My husband and I are on a very tight budget this year. I am still deciding what to do for family. I had a gift in mind before but I'm not sure if I'll have enough in my budget for everyone. So, I've thought about writing a personal letter to each family member.
Maybe for the work/church/neighborhood/VT friends you could write a note card telling them what they mean to you and attach one or two treats. Perhaps give one plate of cookies to your office as a gift everyone can share.
My ward also has a play group. I thought it would be fun to have a dollar store item white elephant gift exchange with them.
I do treats too! But since that got covered pretty well, here's a couple of other ideas: I thought about getting cute Christmas mugs at the dollar store or something, and putting hot cocoa packets, and some chocolates in them. Also, I know most of us are in the category that would rather BENEFIT from this gift, but last year a friend of mine with no children gave us a free babysitting coupon. We LOVED it! So that might be a good idea for friends/neighbors with children.
Save yourself some time in the kitchen and go buy cheap Walmart-brand boxes of light bulbs (last I checked, $0.79/box). Attach the note, "May your days be merry and bright." Who can't use more light bulbs?
One year I got a spice cake mix with the recipe for pumpkin cookies (one box spice mix with one jar pumpkin) attached to it. That was fun.
Also, when I was teaching, our school counselor gave us all a box of corn muffin mix with a note that said, "You're gettin' muffin for Christmas." It was super cute. :)
Also, I've made candy trains before. Have you seen those before? A 5-piece pack of gum for a base, a pack of lifesavors on top, four mints on the gum as wheels, a hershey's kiss on top of the lifesavors and a caramel square at the other end of the lifesavors. They're pretty cute. :)
I've done spiced nuts for the past several years. I'll post the recipe on the post asking for recipes. Anyway, it is easy, quick, and unusual. Also it isn't so so so sweet (not that I ever shun sweet).
We do sweets, because I LOVE to bake! Plus, it's a great way for me to pass the cold, snowy days with my little girls who LOVE to help in the kitchen!
Post a Comment