The Christmas season can be especially difficult when it comes to finding unique, personal presents for friends and coworkers. You spend hours shopping for the perfect gift at a price you can afford, but everything seems either too generic or overpriced. Never fear; there are options. The best gifts I've received have often been small, unique, and inexpensive presents created by friends who really took the time to get to know me and find out what I would want.
One of my favorite gifts is a bowl a friend made for me while taking a pottery class. I was constantly losing my keys, so she made a lovely little bowl, painted it to match my décor, and gave it to me as a Christmas gift. Thanks to this small, inexpensive present, I scarcely ever lose my keys, and I have a beautiful decoration.
You can do the same things for your friends. Maybe you're not in a pottery class, but there are many pottery stores that allow you to paint your own piece for a small price. There are also stores that allow you to create your own jewelry as well. Other ideas include buying ornaments and decorating them for your friends' trees, or you can decoupage a small box with photographs and it can hold letters or trinkets. You can also hit the day after Thanksgiving sales to find great little gifts for rock- bottom prices.
A simple, but thoughtful idea that is often overlooked is baking a treat for your friends. Everyone loves to get food that they didn't have to buy, so make a batch of cookies or brownies to hand-deliver to your friends and colleagues. You can also cook a dinner and throw a holiday party for everyone. The holidays can be stressful, and people love to have a place to go and relax.
You can also re-gift. I realize that many people find this to be tacky or rude. However, America has one of the most wasteful cultures of the world. A person gets tired of something, and rather than re-gifting it or sharing it with someone else, we tend to just throw it away. It really is okay to re-gift something to someone if you know they would really love it; don't hand off junk, but if you don't need something anymore or it doesn't match your décor, pass it on to someone who will enjoy it.
Good luck with your holiday shopping, and use some of these options to help you save money and time shopping for your holiday gifts this season. Have a very happy holiday!
