Christmas is coming!
And what better way to celebrate it than with these homemade gift ideas for your whole family.
Something that shows them them how much you care yet doesn’t break your budget.
Christmas can be an expense time that’s for sure. And presents only make up part of the cost.
Choosing to give homemade gifts not only eases your budget worries, it also adds a big dollop of your creativity and personality into the mix.
If you are like me though, you may struggle with ideas for easy handmade gifts.
I don’t have a creative bone in my body.
Thankfully there are plenty of people out there who are creative, who think up new and interesting homemade gift ideas just because they can.
And one thing I can do, and am quite good at, is following instructions.
These creative people are the people you and I want to emulate, and one of the ways we can do this is to use the ideas they come up with to make Christmas gifts for our family and friends.
Christmas Gift Planning
Homemade gift ideas are perfect when you are on a budget. It’s not that you don’t want to spend money on your family, you do!
But you don’t have lots of money to buy whatever takes your fancy so you need to get creative.
Before you start scrolling and drooling over these creative homemade gifts, take 10 minutes or so to plan out WHO and WHAT.
WHO you are going to buy for – family, friends, neighbors? Try to keep your list manageable.
Not only do you need to think cost, you need to think time.
The more people you add to your list, the more time you need to spend being creative.
Which isn’t a bad thing because it’s fun (when you know how). But, you know, time and all that.
WHAT is your budget for your Christmas gift list? – DIY handmade gifts are certainly cheaper than buying the equivalent in the shops but they are not usually without cost.
One of my tips to keep Christmas gift budgets down is to have a theme for each year.
Which basically means a whole bunch of my family get the same DIY handmade gift. Christmas cookies are an easy gift to make for multiple people.
Not only does it save me some time, it saves me money as I am not buying a million and one different crafty items.
If your budget is really tight, then homemade gift ideas you could make for just pennies are what you need.
Why not check out my fantastic list of easy recycled gift ideas?
Related posts:
How To Save For Christmas? 6 Easy Steps To Debt Free Festivities
How To Buy Xmas Gifts – When You’re On a Tight Budget
9 Things I Refuse To Buy This Christmas
Making Your Homemade Gift Ideas Into Reality
The other trick to consider when you are deciding which of these easy handmade gifts to make and give to friends and family, is to choose gifts you can make ahead of time.
This is why I like to make non-food Christmas gifts.
You can start making gifts as far ahead as October, or even earlier.
No need to be rushed off your feet in December.
In my ideal world I would have 90% of my handmade gifts finished before December.
That way all the other things you and I have to do to plan for Christmas can happen without us getting stressed about lack of time.
It’s the same reason I try to write all my Christmas cards in early November.
They don’t get posted until December but they are ready to go, stamps and all, with plenty of time to spare.
All these 24 gifts can be made ahead of time, some you could make right now.
DIY Christmas Gifts You Will Love To Make And Give
You can be frugal, creative and give lovely gifts this Christmas to all your family. These 24 homemade gift ideas have got you covered. They're frugal, fun and easy to make. Which one will you choose first?
Christmas Cookie Mason Jar Candles
These candles would make a great gift for so many different folk, especially neighbors and Aunties! Who wouldn't want a candle creating cookie smells in their home?
Fragrant and Festive Pomander Tutorial
Pomander's take me back to my childhood. I love how they look and smell. You need to make these in December as they don't last forever but a Pomander is a fragrant and festive decoration or gift you've just to make.
Easy Peppermint Bark Recipe and Gift Idea
This quick and easy Peppermint Bark recipe is the perfect holiday treat. It is also great for a last minute homemade gift idea when you have an extra guest arriving.
Have a “Scent”sational Holiday Gift Basket Idea!
This Have a “Scent”sational Holiday Gift Basket is not only great for teachers, neighbors, Secret Santa and BFF- but it’s quite frugal too. And I do love frugal!
DIY Wine of the Month Club Gift
If you've got someone who loves their wine, a DIY monthly wine club could be just the ticket. No need to pay for expensive delivery, make your own club and deliver yourself for fun and great frugal savings.
Easy Ribbon Bookmarks - Intelligent Domestications
How To Make Reversible Christmas Pillows - Great Gift Idea!
If you are looking for a unique, handmade gift idea then this tutorial will show you how to make reversible Christmas pillows using store bought pillow cases and shams. A perfect use for your spare pillow case.
Christmas Neighbor Gift Idea – Stovetop Potpourri
Fresh potpourri can't be beaten on smell. It will make a great gift for friends, neighbors, and teachers. Not only is it gorgeous to look at, but it also smells amazing.
Americana Mason Jar Lid Coasters
A fun way to upcycle and repurpose jar lids into these fun coasters. A thrifty way to make a nice Christmas gift on the cheap, eco friendly too.
$5 DIY Christmas Gifts or Decoration: Spirited Candleholder
With the holiday season quickly approaching it’s time for gift giving. And that means for teachers, neighbors, and gift swaps too. The list of how many of these gifts you need to give can start to grow long. So here is a fab, festive and frugal idea.
How To Make A Candle Mason Jar Snow Globe
Showing you how to make a candle mason jar snow globe that is a perfect gift for your friends and family this Holiday season. Snow globes take me back to my childhood, everyone loves these so why not make some this year?
Watch Me Whip - Oven Mitt Gift Idea With Cricut Our Crafty Mom
If you love to make small gifts for neighbors, co-workers, etc then why not make this super cute Watch Me Whip – Oven Mitt Gift Idea.
Multi Season Monogrammed Frame using Cricut Vinyl
There is something classic and poignant about monogrammed decor especially for Christmas gifts for the men in your family.
Banana Jam Recipe : Make your own Banana Jam!
This banana jam recipe is great to make any time of year, especially since bananas are so inexpensive. But banana jam on cold turkey and ham is particularly delicious so it lends itself to gifting at Christmas time.
$5 DIY Christmas Gifts : We Wash You a Merry Christmas
Here are some fun and frugal DIY Christmas gift idea for $5 (or less!) Perfectly frugal gifts.
How to Make a DIY Silhouette Portrait
Silhouette portraits have been around for a long time. Creating them so that each one has a particular “feature” that makes it clear who is who. I can see why these have been so popular for centuries! And so easy to make.
DIY Mickey & Minnie Christmas Ornaments
Tis’ the season for fun DIY projects. The possibilities for making the perfect decorations and gifts are endless. Enter these Mickey and Minnie Christmas Ornaments. Perfect as stocking fillers, neighbor or co-worker gifts.
DIY Holiday Gifts For Coworkers Under $5 (Free Printable Tags)
It's easy to go overboard with gifts if you are not careful. These DIY holiday gifts are perfect for co-workers and neighbors and cost less than $5!
DIY Christmas Ornament Gifts For Coworkers, Family & Friends
These diy christmas ornaments are so easy peezy that you can make dozens of it to gift to coworkers, family and friends. You can also tie them around gifts as they look so pretty!
Paper Clip Angels: Sweet, Easy Holiday Craft for Kids
These paper clip angels are just adorable and such fun to look at. Each paper clip angel takes only a minute or two to make and could form part of a frugal Christmas gift basket.
12 Christmas Cork Crafts - Getting Festive!
Some fun crafts to make to decorate and gift, made from wine and champagne corks. Perfect gifts for your kids to give to family and friends.
Santa’s Sleigh From A Milk Bottle
This recycled Christmas craft shows you how to make a Santa sleigh decoration using recycled plastic. The milk bottle size is perfect for a table decoration. Add napkins or nuts.
Christmas Stars Made From Toilet Rolls
This Christmas craft project shows you how to make adorable stars out of recycled toilet roll tubes. You can't get more fun and frugal than re-using toilet rolls!
Christmas Luminary Mason Jar Idea
This Christmas craft project shows you how to make a simple luminary jar using a paper napkin and recycled glass (or plastic if using battery candle) jar. Perfect to make with or for kids.
Homemade Gift Ideas You Can Make On A Budget
I’m all about being frugal yet you and I don’t want to be labelled as Scrooge this Christmas do we?
Making your own gifts for family and friends really can make the difference between a frugal Christmas and a debt laden January.
I know which I choose, every year. Homemade is the way to go every time.
For more frugal help in stretching your pennies and making ends meet why not check out these posts?
How To Live Frugally When It’s All New To You
How To Be Frugal: 200+ Best Frugal Living Tips To Save Money
18 Fundamental Items In My Frugal Home You Need To Have
Last Updated on 22nd September 2021 by Emma