Here are three budget friendly ideas that can be used alone, or combined for a meaningful holiday gift!

1. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Roll

A few years ago I received the most wonderful Christmas present! It was a roll of homemade cookie dough, ready to bake or freeze. Who can resist the urge to try a homemade cookie when all you have to do is preheat the oven? Within twenty minutes, I had several hot, mouthwatering homemade cookies without any of the work!

When some of our friends made a surprise visit a few weeks later, I popped the dough out of the freezer, let it thaw, and in no time I had hot cookies coming out of the oven. They walked in the door just as I pulled out the tray of fresh cookies. “Oh, you shouldn’t have,” my friend said as she reached for one right away!

Every year since then, I have loved making this for friends and family. I like to make an extra batch or two for myself as well. Your kids can contribute by helping add the ingredients and forming the roll.

I use the Nestle Toll House Recipe, found on the back of most packages of the Nestle Toll House Chips. You can use any of your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipes, or even buy it in the box.

Steps:

Mix the dough according to package directions (or your own recipe) and spread it out on wax paper. The idea is to make one long “roll” of cookie dough (like the slice and bake kinds you find in the store).

Once you have shaped your roll of cookie dough, simply wrap it in plastic wrap very tightly. Add a ribbon around one end (or in the middle). Add a gift tag with that says something like this:

Happy Holidays! This is our homemade cookie dough, ready to go in the oven when you are! You can also put it in the freezer for later use up to eight weeks. Simply thaw out for about thirty minutes, remove the plastic wrap, and bake as many cookies as you like at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes. You can slice them or put a spoonful of dough on a cookie sheet. Enjoy! The Smith Family

2. Coupon Book

Give the gift of time in the form of a coupon book. All it takes is pieces of paper, each decorated with your ‘coupon’ and stapled together. You can make it a little fancier by punching a hole at the top and lower left corners and tying together with ribbon.

Some ideas for coupons include:

Baby sitting Coupon: This coupon is good for babysitting services for two weekend date nights next year.

Trash service: This coupon is good for taking out and bringing in your trash cans during the next snow or ice storm!

Pet Sitting: This coupon is good for walking your dog, feeding your cat, etc., the next time you are gone for the weekend.

Dry Cleaning Pick up: This coupon is good for 1 week of dry cleaning drop off or delivery.

While many of these are favors that you wouldn’t mind doing to begin with, sometimes people have a hard time accepting help. After giving them the coupon book, you could always call in a few months and ask if they’d like to ‘redeem’ the babysitting coupon for next Friday night. It will be very much appreciated, and they won’t feel like they are putting you out since they have their coupon.

3. Donation

You can make a donation to your friend’s favorite charity, or a charity that is close to your heart. This is an excellent way to donate to a good cause and make your friend smile at the same time. Usually the organizations will send your friend an acknowledgment card of your donation without revealing the amount of the donation (and every little bit helps). You can also send a nice note saying something along the lines of:

Happy Holidays! In honor of your family, we have made a donation to xyz Charity. We wish the very best this holiday season! Love, The Smiths.

This is a great way to teach your children of all ages about charities, and what the money from your gift will help the chairty accomplish.

Happy Holidays!