mine is for kids, I do this every year because we have about 20 to buy for.

I start at the dollar store and move on to the craft store. (also, now that I do this every year, after school starts I can usually find a lot of items 75%-90% off in early September)

Buy a container, basket, bucket etc. I try to get unique ones for everyone with different colors. Depending on what I can find at the dollar store I might also buy bulk/multi packs from the craft store. Fill them with all kinds of craft stuff, popsicle sticks, crayons, glitter pens, pipe cleaners, stickers, little jewelry making/car/airplane packs (they are usually about 50cents each etc. I do it all age appropriate and end up spending about $10 per kid when all is said and done. I try not to get stuff that is cheapy or that I wouldn't want in my house but from my experience the kids always show me stuff they made and the parents like it because it isn't some $10 crap toy that gets thrown away a week later.

I make gourmet chocolate balls which have always been a hit. Cream cheese mixed with crushed oreo biscuits, roll into balls, freeze then coat in yummy chocolate, wrap each in foil then I put about 24 in a pretty gift box. Cost about $10 all up.

I love the mug and tea cup candle idea

I'm going to get plastic clear ornaments and put hit caca powder and mini marshmallows. And their name tag. U can add any candy flavering or the like. Decorate the ornament.

I also go to thrift stores and gave found some of the mist unique gifts. like I found some brand new wooden spoons with different shapes on the handle and I'm going to paint the shapes and put each family name on it.

Every year my kids make their holiday gifts. With friends and family to gift to, each has about 20 people, so this is way less expensive and more meaningful than buying little things.

Last year oldest BD made sugar scrub for the bath. The recipe we made is just sugar, olive oil, peppermint oil and cocoa. Put it in an inexpensive bottle from a craft store and adorn with a homemade tag. My other BD made 3D Christmas tree ornaments using old Christmas cards I had saved from years past, in the shape of a star, bell or Christmas tree. Add a pretty ribbon and a tag with the year.

Don't know what we are going to make this year, I am just starting to look.

We do a whole bunch of homemade stuff. I have a knitting loom. The kids make potholders to go in gift baskets. They also mix up "Russian Tea" and cocoa mixes in different flavors. They make those little reindeer ornaments with clothes pins and some with candy canes. I bake bread and include homemade jam, pickled quail eggs, pickled veggies from my garden this summer, homemade soup in larger jars to go with the bread and jam.....baked desserts....this past year I melted down wine bottles and made cheese trays out of them. Today I'm mulling wine.

So, ya know, just a bunch of pinterest-esque stuff, but people like me appreciate that kind of stuff.

I make body scrubs and body butters for gifts. I put them in 8 oz mason jars and do cute labels for them. Last year I did a candy cane body scrub that turned out pretty cool looking. Pinterest is the best for finding ideas!

A warning about the sharpie mugs: use oil based sharpies or go to this blog for other tips:

http://www.diyopolis.com/tips-and-tricks-to-the-diy-sharpie-mug/

I did Sharpie mugs last year, and the sharpie washed off after a couple of washings. i found the blog above a few weeks ago, so I might try it again this year.

I love that tea cup candle idea!!!!

We make up our own hampers.

We bake gingerbread, shortbread, mince pies, mini cakes and puddings, truffles etc in huge batches (my dd's and I)

Then get sets of 3 tins from the discount shop and a pretty bow around the bunch. A lot of fun.

Time consuming but a LOT cheaper than buying presents when money is tight and great as gifts for whole families.

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