How many people can you knock off of your Christmas giving list without spending any more than $5 a piece? One, two, none? You might be surprised. With a little investment of a few hours, you might be able to get a gift for everyone on your list for free or for less than $5. Here are some ideas.
Homemade Knitting
Knitting a sweater or a scarf is an age-old way to give someone a nice personal gift, but yarn, especially that made out of wool can get expensive. Instead, buy a nice sweater or sweaters second hand and then unravel the yarn to use in new projects.
Grocery Basket
Save up all of those free coupons and use them to purchase free groceries. Combine all of the groceries in a basket and present them as a gift. You might already have a basket around, or you can purchase one for less than a dollar, usually, at a thrift store. Send away for samples throughout the year to add to the basket.
Alternatively, collect coupons for free items that the recipient is sure to use and make sure that they have long expiration dates.
Gift of Companionship
One of the best gifts that you can give is one of companionship. Surely there is someone on your list who would appreciate some time spent with you playing a board game or sharing a home cooked meal. You might also to make it more of a service gift, such as shopping or taking someone to the store who can’t make it to the store themselves.
Gifts from the Clearance Rack
If you are prepared to do some bargain hunting, you can find all sorts of lovely gifts from the clearance rack for less than $5 including children’s clothing, games and toys, home decor, kitchen items, electronics accessories, and more. Go straight to the back of the store, and start shopping there first.
Books
Find new-looking books for anywhere from 50 cents to $3.00. You can find even more “curb shopping.” Pick up a bunch for your favorite reader. Include a homemade bookmark for a nice extra touch.
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