Gift giving will be upon us very soon. Many of us want to save some money during this holiday season. Simplify this holiday season by thinking outside the box. Homemade gifts, I.O.U’s, and shopping at consignment and vintage stores can help you save money. These gifts tend to be more unique and fun to open. Enjoy these tips on how to create gifts for your loved ones this holiday season that are more simple and snazzy!

Are You Crafty?
If so, there are many ways to create gifts for your loved ones. Baking, creating, knitting, and sewing are just a few ways in which to show your friends and family that you care.

Love to bake or cook? Spend an afternoon in the kitchen baking dozens of cookies. Purchase bakery boxes and decorate them with wintertime scenes. The kids might like to help in this venture, too. Perhaps you are trying to cut sweets out of your life? Bake some wholesome bread with whole grains, wrap them in fun plastic wrap and tie with a bow. Or arrange a simple basket with goods to make soup. Put together some lentils, beans, spices and a recipe printed from your computer and you are all set. Or you might like to give a hot cocoa basket? Arrange a few mugs with some cocoa, cinnamon sticks, chocolate sticks and some cookies. Viola, it is a great gift basket.

To do you love to create? Perhaps you are interested in making candles or soaps? One of the top ten gifts women love are candles and soaps. You can easily find a kit at your local craft store if you are interested in learning more. Do you knit or sew? Scarves and socks are a fun gift to give during the wintertime months. Do you have a special child in your life? Think about making some play dough and packaging it in a fun tin with some kitchen items.

I.O.U.’s Are Easy To Create
I.O.U.’s are gifts of a service that you promise to perform at a later date. You can get really creative and make them on your computer. You can promise to baby sit for your friend’s children while they take a night off. You can promise a dinner date for someone really special. Do you have a particular specialty? Look deep within you to find the gifts you have that you can share with your friends and family.

Browse Consignment or Vintage Stores
Go to your local consignment or vintage stores and look for next-to-new items. Many clothes at consignment stores still have tags on them. Also, you are often able to find rare house ware items, pottery, and jewelry.

Looking outside the department store box this holiday season is a fun and a money saving way to shop. Take yourself on a treasure hunt this holiday season while you look for gifts to inspire your friends and family. You will never go back to the old way of shopping in a frenzy on Christmas Eve.