50 Homemade or Highly-Affordable Gifts for Christmas on a Budget

Christmas presents are among the most anticipated things during the holiday season. Everyone loves getting presents, and receiving them brings out the yuletide spirit in everyone. Of course, giving gifts is another story, and it can get pretty costly. Fortunately, there are ways to give Christmas gifts to all your loved ones without breaking the bank. Here are 50 great ideas for homemade and highly-affordable presents:

Zero-Cost Gifts

Custom Playlist — Got an audiophile in your life? Give him the gift of music with a personalized playlist to upload onto his mp3 player. He’ll appreciate the sharing, and he might just be able to discover new music from you. If you really want to personalize things, burn the songs onto a CD and package it yourself.
Massage Gift Certificates — Whether it’s from a romantic partner or a concerned family member, a massage is always welcome relief from the usual holiday stress. Show your appreciation for your special someone’s efforts by giving him a few gift certificates to your own award-winning backrubs.
Re-Gifted Items — Everybody does it, but no one really admits to re-gifting. But really, who can blame you for giving away something someone gave you as a gift? It’s better that it’s being used rather than collecting dust in your closet. Just make sure you don’t accidentally re-gift it to the person who gave it to you in the first place!
Personal Lessons — If you can play an instrument, or have some other useful talent, why not gift someone with free lessons? This a great idea if you know a person who wants to learn a new skill that you just so happen to have.
Christmas Bouquet — If you’ve got a green thumb, chances are you’ll know someone who absolutely adores your blooms. Pick out a few flowers from your garden and arrange a beautiful Christmas bouquet for a present. The bouquet can make for an excellent and much-appreciated addition to holiday decorations.
Potted Plant — Of course, greenthumbs tend to have fellow greenthumb friends. If you’ve got a pal who’s fallen in love with the plants you grow, he’d really love to receive one of your plants in a pot. It’ll last longer than a bouquet, and will allow him to cultivate more of his own.
Memory Art — Christmas is a time for being with the ones we love. If you have artistic talents, you can keep your treasured memories alive through art. Paint, draw, or sculpt something that will remind your friend of a special moment in time that the two of you shared, and give it to him as a gift this holiday season.
Photo Collage — We all have wonderful memories with our friends; some more than others. If you have a friend you’ve shared countless memories with, he’d definitely appreciate a photo collage of those great times.
Books from Your Collection — There are some books that we really, absolutely love. This Christmas, why not share those books with your loved ones? Give the gift of a good read by giving some of your most beloved books as presents. Make sure, though, that they’re in good condition before giving them away.
Favorite Movies — Just like with sharing your books, sharing movies from your collection is another great idea. This works best if the person you’re giving it to loves the film as much as you do, and if that person doesn’t mind receiving used gifts.

Frugal Purchases

Towel Sets — One very underestimated household item is the towel. No matter what kind you give this season — bath towels, hand towels, kitchen towels, or any other sort — people will always have a use for them.
Crafting Kit — Visit your local craft store and assemble a small crafting kit out of beads, strings, and any other thing you can find within your budget. This makes an excellent gift for young girls and grownups who like to work with their hands.
Moleskine Notebooks — A lot of people can appreciate a good moleskine notebook. These simple, yet elegant notebooks can be used for a number of things — journals, recipe books, or starting out the next great American novel, among others. You can find these at most bookstores, or online at sites like Amazon.
Classic Video Games — If you’ve got a gamer in your life, chances are that he’s missed one or two good video games in the past. You can help him discover those missed classics by checking out the bargain bins at Wal-Mart or any other store that sells video games. A lot of the greatest hits are re-released with lower price tags, too. Just make sure that you’re giving him a game that isn’t already in his collection, and to always check the reviews for that game first.
Trinket Bags — You can find a lot of small bags for under $10. They’re great for keeping little items like makeup and accessories, and are easy enough to toss into a bigger bag when going out.
Custom Beer Mugs — For the beer lovers in your circles, there’s always the option of giving customized beer mugs. This site offers glass mugs that are etched to your liking. The great thing is that they’ll set you back less than $20. Ordering mugs by the bulk also brings their price per piece down to as low as $9.95, so more really is merrier!
Coloring Kit — Another great gift for kids, a coloring kit can provide hours of creative fun. All you need to do is buy a few coloring books (or, to be extra-thrifty, print out your own coloring pages), and crayons. Put them together in a nice-looking package, and you’ve got a gift fit for a little Da Vinci.
Hand-Blown Cali Vases — Most people wouldn’t even guess that these elegant vases are actually worth less than $5. Beautiful enough on their own, and simply gorgeous with flowers inside, these vases make a great gift for anyone who appreciates a well-decorated home. Available in teal and lime from this site.
Gift Certificates — A lot of your friends’ and loved ones’ favorite establishments offer gift certificates at very affordable denominations. Whether they’re for coffee shops, restaurants, music stores, or even online movie services, a gift certificate is a kind way of letting them enjoy what they love.
Personalized Handmade Pillow — The holiday season can be as hectic as it is fun, and sometimes we all just want to rest our weary heads. Your friends can rest their heads on one of these personalized pillows, which you can purchase for less than $10. More designs can be found among the seller’s other items. You can find even more affordable handmade items like these on Etsy.

Food and Drink

Gingerbread Cookies — Gingerbread cookies are a delightful Christmas tradition. Anyone with a sweet tooth will definitely appreciate a batch of freshly-baked gingerbread men, and baking them is easy enough. As an added bonus, you’ll have a lovely smell wafting through your home the day you make them!
Homemade Truffles — Who doesn’t love chocolate? Chocolate truffles are a cinch to make, and they taste absolutely lovely. Follow this recipe for quick and easy homemade truffles that’ll indulge the chocoholics in your life.
Holiday Fruit Basket — Don’t have the time to cook? Try giving your friends fruit baskets for Christmas instead. All you’ll need is a small container, fruits from your local grocery, and a little imagination to whip up a beautifully-decorated present. Apples, grapes and oranges add warm colors that’ll ignite anyone’s Christmas spirit.
Starbucks Peppermint Brownies — Every Christmas, Starbucks invites its customers to indulge in their decadent peppermint brownies. Save yourself a few bucks and try out this recipe that replicates the minty, fudgy bars. They make excellent presents, but chances are you’ll want to keep a few for yourself, too!
Banana Bread — It’s hard to find someone who wouldn’t appreciate moist, chewy banana bread. Follow this recipe for a present that’ll make your friends ask for more.
Angel Cookies — Give your friends and loved ones Christmas angels that are good enough to eat! Simply follow the steps to this recipe, and then cut the dough into angel shapes. For an added touch, decorate them with white icing gowns and yellow icing halos!
Homemade Jams and Jellies — Everyone’s got a favorite fruit, so it only follows that everyone’s got a favorite jam or jelly. Find the recipe of your choice on this site, then package it in a customized jar for that personal touch on your present.
Apple Pie — For a truly heartwarming Christmas, people need three things – loved ones, a mug of hot chocolate, and some homemade apple pie. Bring that quaint little picture of happiness together by gifting your friends with some freshly-baked pie. Here’s a recipe that’ll knock their Christmas socks off.
Oatmeal Cookies — Some sweet tooths try to be a little more health-conscious during the holidays. Satisfy their cookie cravings while being relatively healthier with some chewy oatmeal cookies. This recipe adds a delightful touch of cinnamon to the holiday standby.
A Bottle of Wine — The holidays are a perfect time to sit back and enjoy some wine. It’s a good thing to know that you can buy good wine for under $10 a bottle. Follow the tips in this guide and get a good bottle for your friends and relatives, without digging too deeply into your wallet.
Chocolate Gift Pack — Another one for the chocoholics out there — gather up an assortment of chocolates in all shapes, sizes and varieties (bite-size, thins, giant bars, hot chocolate mix, etc.) and put them together in an attractive package. If this doesn’t make a chocolate lover happy, then nothing will!
Panforte — This recipe shows you how to make your very own Panforte, an Italian Christmas tradition. The cake will be appreciated most by those of your friends who love fruitcake and want to try something with an international flair.
Caramel Corn — Caramel corn is a fun combination of crisp and chewy, and of salty and sweet. Make a tin of this tasty package of contrasts by following this easy recipe and give it to a friend.
Candy Cane — Another Christmas favorite, candy cane is an inexpensive treat that can also make for a good gift. Whether for decorating or for snacking, most people will enjoy an assortment of candy cane as a present.
Fruitcake — Joke about it if you will, but there’s a reason that fruitcake is a holiday tradition — people actually love it enough not to let it rot in their refrigerators all year. The trick is to find out which of your friends like the stuff before you go handing it out as a present.
Candy Jar — There’s something about a jar filled with brightly-colored candy that never fails to bring a smile to someone’s face. All you’ll need to do is find a spare clear jar you’ve got lying about, fill it with candy, and tie it off with a pretty bow and voila — you’ve got a festive holiday present!
Dip and Sauce Sampler — The holidays aren’t just for sweets; you can make a pretty good present out of your favorite dips and sauces. Place them in a decorative basket, throw some bread in, and give the gift for a loved one to enjoy.
Personal Hot Chocolate Mix — Have you always gotten compliments about your special hot chocolate? Make a present out of it by combining all the dry ingredients you use in a single jar. Include instructions on how to make the drink, and your friends will be thanking you in no time.
Cranberry Christmas Cake — If you feel like spoiling your friends with some fruity indulgence this holiday season, why not gift them with a delicious cranberry Christmas cake? Follow this recipe, and you’ll have a moist gourmet cake ready for the gift box.
Sugarplums — Sugarplums aren’t just found in Christmas stories; they’re very real and very delicious. A box of these dandy treats makes for a fine Christmas gift. Follow these simple instructions on how to make them, and go make someone happy with your present.

Arts and Crafts

Hollowed-Out Books — Kids get a real kick out of items with secret hiding places. They’re bound to love owning a hollowed-out book where they can hide their prized possessions. These simple instructions show you how to make the spy-worthy gear.
Personalized Ornaments — This is another gift that kid will go crazy for. Get one of your spare ornaments at home, and with a little artistic knack, decorate and personalize it with the child’s name and a design you know he’ll love.
Puzzle Blocks — These simple instructions show you how to make a fun homemade toy. For added personalization, use pictures of you with the recipient of the gift and bring a sentimental touch to the puzzle.
Hanging Paper Gift Basket — Simple gifts can look amazing when packaged nicely. Make one of these quaint little gift baskets, then insert a small token present inside. People love the extra effort you put into the packaging.
Felt Christmas Tree Ornament — Make sure your friends always think of you during Christmas. Give them one of these lovely homemade tree ornaments, and you’ll be in their minds every time they trim their Christmas trees.
Keepsake Box — Every Christmas, we end up with a lot of pretty trinkets that we don’t really know where to keep. You can help your friends out with this problem by giving them a nice homemade keepsake box in which to store all those little doodads.
Scrapbook of Memories — Nothing says personal like a scrapbook of you and a friend’s or loved one’s memories together. You’ll have a lot of fun decorating each page and finding reminders of the time you spent with each other, and he’ll enjoy going through it.
Field Bag — Got some old clothes lying around? Then you’ve got a great gift that’s just begging to be made! Follow this guide to make a nifty multi-purpose bag out of the spare fabric you’ve got at home. What’s more, the recycled clothing means that you’ve just made an eco-friendly gift!
Ribbon Headband — The fashionistas in your life will adore these cute little headbands you can make at home. Follow these simple instructions to make some really nice accents to any outfit.
Peppermint Christmas Candles — A lot of us gawk at the prices of scented candles; we can’t help but shake the feeling that those $30 candles are actually worth no more than a few bucks. The truth is, they are. You can make them yourself in the comfort of your own home. This two-part guide teaches you how to make a peppermint-scented candle that’s just perfect for the holidays.