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By Casey Milton
Special to the Financial Independence Hub
Sometimes loved ones can be judgemental and happen to measure your affection for them based on what you get them for Christmas! But jokes aside, Christmas is an occasion that is incomplete without colourful boxes of presents.
But what about the budget? Especially when there are numerous people that you want to gift!
Here are 10 unique gift items to inspire you, which can be special, utilitarian and affordable all at the same time.
Before we get on with the list, it’s a good time to acknowledge that while many of us search for the most special gifts to give to our loved ones, it is also around this time that we contribute a lot to the global pollution rate with our unconscious consumer habits. It is high time we understand that sometimes “affordability” is not all about OUR monetary budgets but also about the Environmental cost.
So let’s be minimalists, let our gifts and gift packaging be in sync with the environment, and let the whole world have a breath of fresh air after the festivities are over.
1.) DIY Gift Basket
Gift baskets are the coolest things that can fit just about any budget! You can create one without spending any money at all, with the help of a cardboard box or paper mache. Though the basket can make your presentation much special, it is still what goes into the basket that matters! If you can spend a little time to browse the local thrift stores, you may find some cool objects within your budget. Here are some ideas :
- Coffee Hamper
- Chocolate Hamper
- Old-school basket of seasonal fruits
- Vintage Collectibles curated from thrift stores
- Hand-made, organic cosmetics
- Hand-made soap and bath accessories
- Art Supplies
- Old, rare books curated from library giveaways
2.) Handmade “Gift in a Jar”
The gift in a Jar is certainly not about a jar of honey or pickle! It is something a whole lot sweeter and full of joy! And this has so much potential to be a no-money gift item, based on whether you are buying the jar, and what you fill in it. Simply, take glass jar (recommended, reused jar) and fill it up with one of the following things :
- Good Quality Battery-Operated Fairy Lights
- “Open When” notes
- Homemade Cookies
- Homemade Chocolates
- Handmade Candle
3.) Personalized Tech Accessories
Tech accessories can be the most forward-thinking gifts, but only when you know your gift will compliment your dear one’s tech stuff. When it comes to such accessories, what better way to make them unique, than personalization! It doesn’t have to cost too much money, just needs a bit of your creativity:
- Personalized protective phone cases for girls or boys, with their Instagram-worthy images, favorite colors or name initials – it should truly reflect their persona.
- Personalized Bluetooth speakers
- Personalized power banks
4.) Rugs & Runners
Rugs can be functional gifts on a budget for the winter season and they don’t always have to be fancy or expensive. Here are some of the practical options:
- Paint or embroider good quality sisal or jute rug
- Knit a throw rug
- DIY Rag Rugs
- DIY braided rug with recycled fabric, you can also explore the thrift stores or art exhibitions to curate one of these.
5.) Shelves of all kinds
You can never go wrong with shelves even if the person you are gifting lives in a rented space. The only condition is that you have to be careful about size and the installation process. Here are some ideas:
- Ladder Shelves: you can take an inexpensive ladder, decorate it with some paint or polish, and you are good to go.
- Rope Shelves are practical for rented places when you can simply hang them from command hooks
- Floating wall shelves are good gifts when there are no restrictions or constraints on drilling
6.) Plants
Any day, any time, plants can be excellent gift items to gift anyone, but on one condition, that the person you are giving a plant, must be able to keep it alive. Here are some ideas of gifting plants:
- Decorative tree branches don’t need much of a maintenance
- Eco-Friendly artificial plants or flower arrangements that are washable
- Hanging plants
- Cactus
7.) Organizers
Organizers are personal things. They’re not supposed to make life clutter-free, but can also give your dear ones the impression that you think their habits or space are not organized enough. So while organizers are one of the most practical gifts, you must be 100% sure that the person you are gifting will appreciate your gesture! These are ideal gifts for roommates, someone who moving or newly shifted, new parents, artists, and Con Mari devotees:
- Rope baskets
- Bamboo drawer organizers
- Wooden desk organizer set
- Art Supplies organizer
- Peg board organizer
- Set of wicker baskets
8.) Lights
Let there be light! This is a very charming and fortunate gift item that can brighten anyone’s life. Some people consider lights as a collectible item. But if you wish to gift lights to someone, you must know about their spaces and whether your gift can be utilized. We already talked about fairy lights in a jar, so here are some other options:
- Portable solar camping lights
- USB Lamps
- Book Lights
- Hanging Lanterns
- DIY Moon Lamps made of Paper Mache
9.)Toys & Games
Toys don’t always have to be about children: they can equally please grown-ups. You just have to know what kind of toys will strum their heartstrings. Here are some examples:
- Wooden building blocks
- Lifesize soft toys that can be doubled up as snuggly pillows
- Recycled wood toy train tracks
- Wooden Indoor Bowling playset
- Magnetic jigsaw puzzle
10.) Glassware & Dinnerware
If you can’t afford to gift a bottle of delicious wine, say you care with some elegant glassware, or, better still, some classy tableware. Here are some affordability ideas:
- Hand paint simple white dinner plates
- Personalized coffee set
- Explore thrift stores, you might land into some cool artisan glassware
- Buy from upcoming artists
That’s about it: we hope you have a pleasant holiday and get all the gifts arranged on time.
Casey Milton is a content manager at casezone.com with more than 5 years successful content writing career. She loves writing lifestyle, relationship articles and copies for products and services.When not working, Casey enjoys going on hikes, CMAS diving and spending time with her cat.