This is the time of year that I find myself thinking about Christmas gifts. I'm usually not getting them yet, but I'm at least pondering what I could do for different people or what a certain harder-to-pick-for sibling might like. On a teenager's budget though (and I'm sure on other age group's budgets too!), it can be tough to be able to get something for everyone that you'd like to without spending way more money than you even have. So, in line with this, today I have nine ideas for Christmas gifts that don't require alot of money. Pray about ItThis may not strike you as a gift idea at first, but it really is the most important one on this list. God sees what we're trying to do for someone else and He'll take notice of that and help us if we ask Him to. One of my younger sisters once had a dollar, and she wanted to get all of her siblings a gift with it. It may have seemed impossible to us, but God did that for her. Another time one of my sisters had been wanting this pink toy vacuum cleaner, and my mom walked into a thrift store and found it. God will help us when we do something for others and, ultimately, for Him. Thrift StoresThis sorta ties back to the last story about the pink vacuum cleaner. Thrift stores are a great place to find things that, though not brand new, are still in good condition and often look like brand new. Clothes, dolls, games, little magnets or trinkets, and all sorts of other stuff can be found inside a thrift store for a much better price than the things are sold new. Make SomethingSometimes these are the best gifts. Do you like to draw? Draw a picture and frame it for them. You could make ornaments, magnets, or some other type of craft that you enjoy doing. If you like to knit or sew, that opens up a whole other world of possibilities. Another idea could be putting together a cookie or hot chocolate mix in a jar to give to the other person to make themselves. Do you like to write? Writing a story for someone can be a great gift (these can even be printed and mailed to family and friends who don't live near you almost like a Christmas card). One DIY gift that I've been given and was especially fond of is a journal-in-a-jar. You just take a jar, fill it with slips of paper with journalling questions on them (you can find ideas online, but writing at least some of them yourself allows you to include questions specifically pertaining to the person), and then decorate the jar according to their tastes. Then each day, or however often the receiver wants to do it, they can reach in and pull out a prompt to journal about. Group GiftsGetting something for all of your siblings or for a whole family together instead of each person individually can be another way to be able to get something you know they'd like without going over-budget. For instance, buying a series of books in paperbacks that you know two or three of your siblings like for all them allows you to get something they'll love but have three gifts covered in one. CDs (for kids, a couple ideas are Patch the Pirate or these Bible verses set to music) make great group gifts too. Candles, movies, board games, or the cookie or hot chocolate mix in a jar idea that I mentioned earlier also work. Book Sale at the LibraryRemember the story that I mentioned earlier about my sister who had a dollar and wanted to get each of her siblings a gift with it? This was where God allowed her to find a way. Sometimes when books have been donated but aren't going to be put into circulation or the library is getting rid of certain books, they'll sell them for just a few cents! Of course, you have to look through them and make sure they're okay, but it's a great place to check if you're trying to get a gift for someone who loves to read (or maybe a cookbook for someone who loves to cook). Do Something with ThemNot all gifts have to be tangible things. You can make memories with people by doing things with them as a gift. Last year, me and my siblings practiced a play and did a play night as a gift for our parents. It didn't cost us anything but a few dollars for the hot chocolate and things we got for that night, but it allowed us to make some fun memories with them (and with each other as we practiced for it). Last Christmas I also had fun getting Christmas stories and reading them to my siblings during the days approaching Christmas. Going somewhere with them one day (like out to walk around stores or for coffee or just something to spend time together like that) can be a good gift. There's alot of possibilities under this category, and it all depends on the person's tastes and how far your imagination goes. A Subscription to SomethingA music or movie subscription (as long as you know that it's good and what you're getting into!) can make useful but fun gifts. This may not strike you as cheap at first, but if you use it as a group gift, it can be a really good deal. There's also all sorts of magazines that you can subscribe them to. Notes/CardsChristmas cards are a classic gift, but they don't grow old. Sending a note with a picture to family or friends that live somewhere else (or even ones that live near you!) is a great way to show people that you care about them and are thinking of them. You could even combine the DIY idea with this one and decorate the card yourself to make it even more personalized. Cookies/DessertsThis is one that we did on a year that we went to visit our family out-of-state for Christmas. We made a few different types of cookies, packaged them in freezer-size Ziploc bags, and then gave one of the bags to each household that we visited. Brownies, fudge, or homemade candies could be fun too. (And think of how inviting someone else to help you make them could be a neat Christmas memory with them!). Have you ever used any of these ideas? Do you have any other ideas to add to the list?
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