Frugal Gift and Present Tips

Davy

To make tips easier to find, use a different thread for each topic.

So any gifts/ present tips can go here................

Pang

Make food hampers. Stock up on cheap ingredients such as onions, chillis, plums etc.. and make preserves. You can also make honeycomb and chocolate freckles etc.. cheaply.

Keep all your old glass jars.

You can design and print your own labels and use scraps of fabric to package and present your pots and packages attractively.

Ladyblackadder

Knit scarves as gifts. Even if you're not very good at knitting, a bit of care and using big needles and about 200 to 400grammes of pretty wool picked up in bargain bins in wool shops and you can knit lovely scarves very reasonably. Cast on about 30 stitches and knit every row. Slip the first stitch of every row for an even edge. Knit until all the wool is nearly gone, using the last few feet to cast off, or else knit until you feel the scarf is long enough and use any left over or contrast wool to make a fringe. Use contrasting colours for stripes. Fuzzy wool hides mistakes best. Aldi and Lidl do deals in wool from time to time and Dealz have cheap wool too. With knitting, practise definitely improves the end product.

livinsane

Dress up a few DVDs with packets of microwave popcorn and sweets and chocolate and call it "family movie night pack" for any families with children.

julyjane

In early January chains of chemists almost give away gift sets that were on sale at full price before Christmas. I buy as much as I can afford to keep for presents during the year.

le la rat

Glue some left over toilet rolls together and write NASA on the side. Will go down a treat with adults and children

tink2

Give someone a word cloud as a present, think of adjectives to describe them and put them into www.Wordle.com & print off & frame. Thoughtful & cheap!

rubadub

Give "vouchers" to do odd jobs for people. Cleaning the garden, fixing a PC, washing the car, cutting grass etc. They could be made humorous too.