If you have a large family or extended group of friends you give presents to, it can seem like it is someone's birthday a few times a month. Then there is the added pressure of commercialised holidays like Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day and Christmas Day. Feeling obligated to buy expensive gifts can really stretch any budget, or friendship!

Upcycled jars make a great container for homemade bath products
Instead of buying a present, why not show someone you care by making a gift. You don't have to be particularly crafty, it just requires a bit of thought and research. With so many tutorials for
homemade and frugal gift ideas on the internet to choose from, making the present can seem like the easy part! Take some time to think about what the receiver's interests and likes are. Start with this idea and work from there.

Homemade truffles, Monica Halberg- Wikimedia Commons
If your person likes pampering then bath bombs or salts,
body scrubs or soy candles are economical and simple to make. Maybe you're getting a gift for a foodie? Then try your hand at making some jam or relish, chocolates or a cake. Or, if they enjoy gardening you could make up a basket of seeds and gardening tools or gloves.

My first attempt at making soy candles turned out pretty well
I recently had a friend's baby shower to attend and wanted to give a practical gift. I knew nappies would be appreciated and had priced a few nappy cakes up and they were all over $100! This was way out of my price range which was closer to the $30 mark, so I decided to try making my
own nappy cake It was really fun to make and turned out beautifully. Best of all, it came in under budget.

Nappy cakes are a great gift and can be made for a fraction of the retail cost
A great reason for making gifts is the satisfaction of doing it yourself. Another advantage is that some items like can be made for a much lower price than buying it. Also, by trying your hand at something new, you might even find yourself a hobby.
Have you ever made your own gifts? What did you create?
#Frugal Living
#Craft
#DIY
#Save Money
#Budget
#Gifts
#Christmas
#Birthdays