Money for Life work in partnership with the Money Advice Service, an independent organisation set up by government. Money AdviceService provides free, unbiased money guidance across the UK to help people make the most of their money. If you have a question or need help, you can chat to them here.
By Rebecca Hastings
Christmas can really drain your bank balance at the best of times – and this year, when many of us are feeling the pinch more than ever, the thought of forking out for presents might have you spiralling. But don’t panic – by getting creative and making your own gifts, you’ll save a lot of money.
If you do decide to go down the homemade route, don’t be afraid to give the same gift to multiple people – splashing out on lots of materials or ingredients to make different things can be counter-productive if you’re trying to save money. Also, you’ll want to leave yourself enough time to make your gifts, as well as to post them to any family or friends you won’t be seeing this Christmas, allowing enough leeway for any delays.
So, try and stick to one or two different projects. Pick what you’re best at – whether that’s cooking or crafting – and run with it. Here are some simple, affordable ideas to help you get started…
Who doesn’t love a steaming mug of hot chocolate at Christmas? These stirrers are so easy to make – you just need to create the chocolate blocks by using empty yoghurt pots as moulds, add a wooden lolly stick and decorate with your choice of toppings, which could be anything from fudge pieces to chopped peppermint candy cane. Try making a selection of stirrers as a gift for someone, alternating between milk and white chocolate, with a different topping on each. Pop them in a pretty box or gift bag and you’re good to go.
Got a friend who’s always complaining about the cold? These cute DIY hand warmers will go down a treat with them. They’re made of dried rice sewn up between two pieces of fabric – even an old jumper or apron with a pretty pattern will do. When the hand warmers are heated up in the microwave for 30 seconds, they stay warm for around 30 minutes in someone’s hands. Genius.
The great thing about biscotti – crunchy Italian biscuits often served with coffee – is that they stay crisp and fresh for ages, as long as they’re in an airtight container. This means they can be posted over long distances, and your recipient will be able to enjoy them long after Christmas. Put them in a sealable glass jar – which you can pick up at most pound shops – tie around some ribbon or twine and add a gift tag, and you’ve got a gift that looks like it was bought from a posh Italian deli. You can find lots of biscotti recipes here.
As far as Christmas gifts go, you can’t go wrong with a scarf. And if you don’t know how to knit, would rather not splash out on all the equipment, or need to whip up a DIY gift in record time, finger-crocheting is for you. You simply use your hands to knot the chunky wool together – no needles required. Check out this tutorial, which shows you how to finger-crochet a beautiful chunky scarf in just two hours.
If you want to give the gift of a seasonal tipple, why not infuse your own gin? All you’ll need for this recipe is a bottle of plain gin from the supermarket, some fruit, rosemary and a sealable glass bottle. You can decorate your bottle with labels and ribbons for a personal touch, if you like.
The good news is that the core ingredients of a homemade body scrub are store cupboard staples: brown sugar and coconut oil. You can then get creative with scents – try adding your recipient’s favourite essential oils or spices. This Christmas body scrub recipe from Holland & Barrett uses sweet orange oil and warming cinnamon. Package it up in a sealable glass jar to keep it fresh.
For a really personal gift for a friend or partner, print off some photos of your favourite memories together and arrange them in a frame – this one from Ikea is an affordable option for holding multiple photos. Alternatively, photo printing platform Snapfish can allows you to upload photos and create a ready-made collage – a bit like a real-life Instagram grid – which you can put in a standard frame. It’s a gift they’ll keep forever.
Photo by Kira auf der Heide on Unsplash
Money for Life work in partnership with the Money Advice Service, an independent organisation set up by government. Money AdviceService provides free, unbiased money guidance across the UK to help people make the most of their money. If you have a question or need help, you can chat to them here.
