Why am I talking about upcycling and recycled gift ideas?
Because gift giving can be hard when you are on a budget or knee deep in debt.
Yet I know you still want to give beautiful, thoughtful gifts.
You love your family and friends and you want them to know how much you appreciate them being in your life.
But at the same time you don’t want to be going into debt or giving up your frugal ways every time a holiday comes round.
And then there is your growing awareness of the environment and the impact so much spending on stuff can have on it.
recycle gift ideas on a budget
So how do you marry your budget, your environmental concerns and your keenness to give thoughtful, useful and beautiful presents to family and friends?
I tell you how, by making your own handmade recycled material gifts through focusing on up-cycling and recycling gift ideas.
Up-cycle and re-purpose things that you already have around your home into something completely new and unique.
All for a few pennies and a little time.
You can be frugal, save money and be eco friendly when you know how.
Recyclable Gifts Are Money Savers
Upcycling, as it is known, is very much the thing now.
By upcycling something you are taking something you have, recycling it into a new item and giving it a new purpose.
Upcycled gifts are a fantastic way to keep things out of landfill, give new life to something and it can all be done on a small budget.
Possibly even for free if you have enough bits and bobs lying around to enable you to give gifts made from recycled materials only, without buying anything else.
You can of course buy recycled gifts but why do that when you can make them yourself?
These 20 recycled gift ideas are all focused on re-using items for another purpose, breathing new life into something that has been discarded.
Where you haven’t got some of the materials then you will be able to find them cheaply in thrift stores, car boots or yard sales.
Related posts:
How To Go Green When You Live A Thrifty Lifestyle
50 Frugal Habits That Are Also Eco Friendly
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Cool recycled gifts That Suit All Budgets
Saving money should never be at the expense of others.
You can still give beautiful gifts when you are on a tight budget or living on one income.
Some of the best frugal living tips focus on doing things for yourself.
When you do your own gift making, gardening or home maintenance you gain new skills.
Making your own eco friendly presents using these recycled gift ideas will save you a good chunk of money and stop you going into debt. And increase your skills.
Win: win.
Related reading:
How to Save For Christmas – 7 Easy Tips to Get Started
The Perfectly Simple 12 Week Christmas Savings Plan
21 Easy Recycled Gift Ideas
I love how creative these up-cycling and recycled gift ideas are. So many easy gifts that you can make, some in only minutes. No matter your creative skill level you are going to love making and giving these crafts.
How to Make a DIY Teacup Pin Cushion
I bet I'm not the only one who has a pile of weirdly-sized fabric scraps waiting for me to do something with them. This is an easy tutorial for making a teacup pin cushion out of that pesky extra material.
The easy way to turn a t shirt into a pillow
This upcycling sewing project is the easy way to turn a t shirt into a pillow gift. It could also be a sweet memory pillow sewing project for anyone who has recently lost someone.
DIY Marble Photo Coasters
Everyone loves family photos and what better way to gift them than on a set of photo coasters you have lovingly made. They make great Christmas gifts.
How To Make Marble Coasters With Leftover Tiles
Everyone needs a good coaster. Use up your leftover tiles to make these gorgeous marble coasters. They are SO easy to make and they make great Christmas gifts.
How to Make a T-shirt Bag: 8 Ways to Make a Bag from a Shirt
There are lots of ways to make a t-shirt into a bag or backpack. Here are eight great ways to do it, and you don't even need to know how to sew for some!
Make Your Own Cork Board from Wine Corks
Cork crafts are a great way to upcycle used wine corks. You can make your own cork board in about an hour! Don’t have an hour? You can make the pushpin DIY in 5 minutes or less.
How to Make Glitter Wine Glasses
These DIY glitter wine glasses are perfect for adding a bit of sparkle to your holiday gatherings and make a great, frugal gift for anyone.
How to... make a Rag Heart (Guest Post)
A perfect shabby chic inspired item that would make a special and thoughtful gift. A wonderful project in which to use up all those scraps of lovely fabric you have lying around waiting to be used.
DIY Photo Coasters with Resin
Get those photos off your phone and use them to create some beautiful and handy summer vacation DIY photo coasters with resin.
Gardening Gift Basket from the Dollar Tree
This bucket has been given a second chance to be a gardening gift basket and it will look beautiful in the garden as a plant holder. Do you know someone who would love a gardening gift basket?
Sock Teddy
Did you have new socks last Christmas? If you are clearing out any of your old, tatty or holey socks then why not try making a cute sock animal? A perfect gift for a little person.
DIY Leather Bookmarks – Easy Handmade Christmas Gifts
If you're looking for easy, handmade gifts to make for your friends and family, look no further. These DIY leather bookmarks can be customized for anyone and everyone.
12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas for 2018: Seven Swans-a-Swimming Succulent Planter
This swans-a-swimming inspired craft transforms a lonely tea cup into an upcycled succulent planter that will fit right in any time of year.
Leather Keychain – Great DIY Christmas Gift Idea
If you know someone that loves leather, they will love this easy DIY gift. This leather keychain only takes a few minutes to throw together and the result is so cute.
DIY Earring Holder for Studs (& Display Organizer)
Using recycled materials like scraps of wood and wine corks, you can make a handy DIY earring holder for studs and post earrings that is also a beautiful and practical display organizer.
Denim Tassel Earrings
It's quick and easy to make your own tassel earrings from scraps of denim. Even better when you make and give them to someone who will love them.
Cozy, Comfy, Hygge Perfect Mugs
Hygge embodies the feeling of comfort, togetherness and well-being. And there’s few things more comforting than relaxing with your favorite hot drink and curling up on the couch. Give the gift of Hygge with these cozy mugs.
How to make heart hand warmers, a handmade gift idea by Swoodson Says
Hand warmers are a perfect gift for winter. These would be a great stocking stuffer or teacher gift.
DIY Tray Makeover & Free Printable Pattern
Modern DIY Tray Makeover Idea; if you’re looking for an easy way to upcycle and makeover your old trays then this idea using Mod Podge and this modern navy blue circle Free Pattern Printable could be the perfect gift project for you.
How To... Make Cutlery Wind Chimes - Red Ted Art
These are some easy and fun wind chimes for you – great for that tinkering and tingling in the garden! Made from old cutlery, how up-cycling can you get?
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 gift on the cheap, eco friendly too.
Homemade Recycled Gifts On A Budget
When you want to treat family and friends to the best recyclable gifts they deserve what better way to do so than with something homemade?
Being frugal is not about going without or keeping your money to yourself.
Being frugal is about making smart decisions about your money and choosing to do things differently without.
These recycling gift ideas are not about buying something and then making it into something else.
These are absolutely about using what you already have.
With 20 cheap eco friendly gifts to make you are bound to find things that you already have the basics for.
You may also like:
11 Simple And Beautiful Homemade Food Gifts For Christmas
10 Best Homemade Gifts For Christmas – No Cooking Required!
For more help in saving money and becoming frugal sign up for the frugal foundations framework email course today
Last Updated on 26th September 2021 by Emma
