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If you’re so skint this year that even a bag of satsumas is starting to look a bit out of your price range, don’t despair. We’ve got 30 of the best free (or at least really, really cheap) Christmas present ideas. The following tips won’t break the bank, ruin the planet - or leave your close personal relationships in tatters.
1. Get in a pickle
“For Christmas last year, my cousin and his partner made edible jarred goodies complete with cute homemade labels. To make them even more personal, they based the product names on their own names and the name of their dog. ‘Harry’s homemade pickle’ was particularly tasty.
“If you’re stuck for recipes, ask the elder members of your family. Most grannies have a much-cherished pickled onion, lime pickle or jerk seasoning recipe lurking in their recipe collections. If not, try making Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s pickled cherries or Nigel Slater’s slant on baked beans for something a bit special for your Christmas jars.”
Lucy Hancock
2. Put your mug on a mug
“Dads are notoriously hard to buy for, so why not get a treasured family photo of him printed on a mug so he can see it every day when he has his tea? Tesco will do it for just £7.”
Julian Ireland
3. Oh-sew clever
“Good with a needle and thread? Got any little girls to find presents for? Make them their own special Raggedy Ann doll out of recycled fabrics and add bright, sparkly frills. You’ll love designing their faces and adding the clothes and accessories.”
Natalie Walsh
4. Paint a picture
“Two years ago I painted my husband a picture of a wireframe cat. I thought it was rubbish, he was moved. Canvas: less than a fiver. Paints: borrowed from a friend. The look on my husband’s face: priceless!”
Michelle Goodall
5. Recipe for Christmas success
“Create a cook book filled with your family’s favourite recipes - the perfect gift to hand down the generations.”
Natalie Walsh
6. Say it with vouchers
“Rather than fork out for Christmas gifts that can cost a small fortune, give your loved ones the gift of your time - and the benefit of your talent if you have one. Make a homemade voucher entitling the lucky recipient to what they need the most, whether that’s an evening of babysitting, six foot rubs or a three-course meal for two.”
Natalie Walsh
7. Shh… it’s a secret
“Secret Santa isn’t just for the office. If you’ve got a big family, or are part of a large group of friends, suggest that you each just pick one person to buy for with a price limit you can all afford. You can even run one online.”
Randip Dhesi
8. Take them down Memory Lane
“Scrap-booking is so hot right now. Why not make one for a special friend who you’ve spent good times with? You don’t have to just use photos - you could dig out an old ticket stub from a gig you went to together, or put in something that would remind them of a joke you’ve shared. Anything to make them smile.”
Jo-ann Hodgson
9. For someone who likes a soak
“Bath salts aren’t boring - they’re very relaxing and can make your entire body smell wonderful. Instead of buying expensive shop-bought varieties that include ingredients you’ve never heard of, why not make your own bath salts from ingredients in your kitchen?”
Natalie Walsh
10. Get the picture
“Why wear out your stilettos trawling up and down the High Street for your gifts? Instead, use the Saturday you’d set aside for Christmas shopping to upload all the pictures you’ve got on your phone, camera or Facebook page to a photo sharing site like Flickr or PhotoBucket, then sort them into separate sets or folders for each group of pals or branches of the family.
“Print out a selection then make your own frames by recycling cardboard from cereal packets with a bit of paint, glue and glitter. Et voila! A ready-to hang picture of a memorable and happy occasion for them makes a super thoughtful present from you. And to be even more helpful, write the URL of your Flickr or PhotoBucket page on the back of the frame so the recipient of your gift knows where they can find more pictures like these to look at online.”
Tamsin Hemingray
11. Help a technophobe in distress
“Fed up with seeing your mum struggle to find all her favourite webpages whenever she uses the computer? Set up an iGoogle or NetVibes page personalised to all her web preferences and bookmarks, from her favourite news feeds to the weather report.”
Charlie Peverett
12. Make a mini masterpiece
“Rather than sticking it on the fridge door, turn your little one’s latest artwork into a charming gift that’s sure to bring a tear to a grandparent’s eye by getting it framed.”
Natalie Walsh
13. Just pants
“Can’t afford to get your sister some nice lingerie? Make her a pair instead. Quite apart from some cheeky patterns for cute pairs with pretty bows, there’s even a pattern for a rather charming knitted thong and suspender belt - great, if she doesn’t mind the itching.”
Tamsin McCahill
14. Cut out the cards
“Save money and do something for the environment by sending Christmas e-cards instead of the paper version where you can.”
Charlie Peverett
15. Card carrying
“Running short of space to put your cards? Tack string across a room’s ceiling and hook them over it - you’ll save money on Christmas streamers, too.”
Simon Handby
16. Towel treat
“Lovely white fluffy towels are surprisingly cheap to buy - and you can never have too many of them! Roll them up and tie with a pretty ribbon for a stylish gift.”
Susan A
17. Do a Nigella
“Bake your own goodies and put them in a pretty Christmas box, like this one from Confetti.Home-made chocolate truffles are especially good.”
Lucy J
18. Get the kids to help
“Get your children to make useful pressies - sentimental value always outweighs the slightly amateurish quality. When I was about seven I made my Dad a tie holder at school. I drew a circular picture of his face, then cut a washing-up liquid bottle into a bangle-width cylinder which I covered with some shirt material so it looked like my dad’s face with a shirt collar attached. My Dad kept his ties on it until he retired.”
Catherine B
19. Make someone a cushion
“One of the best gifts I’ve ever been given was homemade. One of my friends made me a cushion for my 30th birthday. It was out of different scraps of material with ‘30′ incorporated into the design. I still have it and it’s lovely.”
Carmen K
20. Adopt a dolphin
“From £3 a month you can adopt an endangered wild animal to really give your children a gift to remember. On the World Wildlife Fund website you can adopt a tiger, dolphin, panda, orang-utan, rhino, elephant or a polar bear.”
Natalie Walsh
21. For a green-fingered friend
“Ever had one of those posh yoghurts that come in little brown ceramic pots? Don’t waste them! Instead, wash them out and fill with soil. Then plant with a couple of crocus bulbs and put some moss on top. They’ll look great at Christmas - and even better in the spring!”
Susan A
22. Good with wood?
“Then why not make a CD or spice rack? ”
Natalie Walsh
23. Move over, Fortnum’s!
“Find pretty glass bottles and jars in junk shops, then make your own hampers of flavoured olive oils, adding dried chillies, garlic or herbs and filling it up with oil. ”
Natalie Walsh
24. Who do you think you are?
“Research your family history and make a family tree. A great gift for everyone in the family.”
Natalie Walsh
25. Go to pot
“Give someone a pot you’ve painted and fired yourself. There are ceramic cafes all over the UK so take the kids and make a day of it.”
Jim Byford
26. Light relief
“Buy a cheap lamp and then make your own lampshades.”
Adam Boulton
27. Do it for charidee
“Make a pact with your friends and family that instead of getting a pressie for everyone, you’ll all give the money to a good cause.”
Julian Ireland
28. Deck the halls the eco way
“If you think Christmas decorations have to be made out of lurid plastic that won’t biodegrade, think again. Making your own organic decorations is easy and fun! Try stringing up popcorn, making bows out of ribbon for your tree, or hanging up gingerbread men. You can also get Christmas decorations made from recycled CDs and computer parts.”
29. Star in your own home movie
“Record your own Christmas message in the style of the Queen’s speech. Or make your own video diary for a fab gift to send to friends and family members overseas.”
Natalie Walsh
30. Personalise a stocking
“Make and decorate your own Christmas stockings. You can personalise each one by stitching on the person’s name. Why not make one for all the family?”
Natalie Walsh
Phew. Did we miss anything? Let us know!
IMAGES by Flickr users Southernpixel, smoorenburg, lunarpersuasion, vanlaar and bestfor.
