Budget Friendly Gift Ideas

Above: Edible gifts, like this holiday fruit compote, make great, inexpensive gifts.
Photo: Hannah Whitaker/New York Magazine

With the economy dwindling, everyone seems to be cutting back on Christmas gifts this year, myself included. I ain’t got no job, and consequently, no money. However, I don’t want to give my friends and family a big box of nothing, so I’ve decided to get creative this year. Here are some budget-friendly ideas I’ve devised that won’t break your bank or make you look like a complete cheap ass. Double Whammy.

1. Holiday gift baskets – Who wouldn’t appreciate a basket full of homemade goodies? I’m making one stuffed with candied nuts, assorted cookies, fruit compote and turtle bark, all prettily packaged and tied up with ribbons for my boyfriend’s parents.

2. Scrapbooks – If you’re looking for something sentimental to give a friend, family member, or a significant other, make a scrapbook filled with pictures, quotes and memorabilia from your most unforgettable times together. It’s a surefire way to stir up their emotions. Seriously, when my friend’s sister made her one last Christmas, she actually cried. You know who you are.

3. Art – If you’re a pro at painting, a wiz at the pottery wheel, or an exceptional jewelry designer, put your skills to the test and create a gift that’s fabulously unique. It might take a lot of time to do, but it will mean infinitely more to the receiver than a boring gift card or a crappy Christmas sweater.

4. Music – If your eclectic ITunes collection is the envy of all your friends, make them a collection of mixed CDs. You can even be super lazy and use ITunes’ new feature, Genius, to make the playlists – all you have to do is pick a song you know your friend loves, and Genius will make playlists of similar songs for you.

5. Chores – If you’re broke but can’t cook, aren’t crafty, have horrible taste in music, and have absolutely nothing to offer, you don’t have too many options. Instead of throwing in the towel and “forgetting” a gift (oops!), offer to do some simple household chores. Clean a toilet, do the dishes, or mop someone’s floor. It might suck, but that’s what you get for being worthless.