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Sorry for the cheesy title.
Real quick gift idea on a budget that I gave to my sister for her birthday last week.
Homemade bread loaf (made at Kathy’s bread class–we get to do these classes all the time!)–.50 (?)
Jar of fruit spread (purchased at the bent and dent store)–$1
Stabucks Hot Chocolate Mix (valued at $8,)–$1.99
Greenery and pincones for decorating–$0
Basket (thrift store)–.50
Total: $3.99 (Valued at approximately 18.00)
If you’re thinkng “cheap skate”, we don’t view it like that 😉 We see frugality being based on the value of something (and the presentation and heart with which it is given), rather than actual cost.
By the way…stay tuned for a free “easy gift” project post from my newest ebook “Easy Homemade Gifts”!
73 comments
“We see frugality being based on the value of something (and the presentation and heart with which it is given), rather than actual cost. “
We do too. I mean, would you turn your nose up at the Hope Diamond just because it was a gift and the person didn’t pay for it? LOLO I enjoy being able to give much more than I could afford to by shopping wisely and with prayer. Many needs and wants get met that way.
Many Blessings 🙂
Ace
That’s not cheapskate. That’s reality.
Wonderful idea! I, personally, have no qualms with being a “cheapskate” and would proudly agree with anyone who accuses me of such 🙂 I would much rather put in a little time it would take to actually make something inexpensive, custom-fit to my loved ones than to stress out because gifting might send us over our budget. If they don’t like it, they can politely give it back, I love bread and jam! LOL It’s sad that the price tag is more important this time of year, I’m pretty sure it grieves the Spirit of God to see people so concerned with getting more “bling”.
You are so creative! And easy! Wow!
I would think anyone would love a gift like that.
on a side note and regards to thrifty-ness:
My husband (of all people LOL) just got my sewing machine working for me.Woo hoo! So now maybe I can learn huh… So I can make some things. I have been dying to learn for years!
And this dude is really macho so it makes it more funny that HE was able to get the bobbin in there right and threaded the right way after my whiney “honey, can you help me???? Pleeeeasssse!”
It took him just a few minutes.
I would be honored to receive a basket like this!
I appreciate creativity, thought and heart in gifts that I give and receive!
Shannon
by the way…. I am offended at you for RUBBING IT IN that you “get to” go to Kathy’s bread class.
That is SOOOOO NOT FAIR! ugh! 😛
Can you send her to Indiana for a little while????
Kim m.
LOL! Sorry, didn’t mean to rub it in! I do SO wish everybody had a Kathy…she’s a gem and has such a heart for equipping young women and moms!
Maybe you could start one in IN??? It is a dream of mine to have a big “blog reader convention” here one day…and maybe do some classes like these!
I would love to come if you do!!!!
It would be a reality for me since my family is “down the road” from you.
If I ever learn to sew, and if my bread baking and housewife skills get better (working on it!),
I’d definitely offer to teach.
Right now I need a teacher myself. I’ve asked some older ladies around here and offered to pay, but few feel secure enough to do it. They seem to shrivel when I ask 🙁
I can’t follow dummy books or videos as well as hands on instruction.
Maybe I should start by getting some of Kathy’s videos sometimes huh. If I had the money I’d buy them all.
Hey! That gift basket is GREAT! I would LOVE to have a gift like that! I don’t think it’s tacky or being a cheapskate at all!
I like your creative ideas for gifts. I wish I could be more creative like that, but my brain doesn’t function in that direction, ha!
I need gifts for some young ladies this Christmas, and have been making purses out of old blue jeans (or any color jeans). Cut them off below the zipper. Leave the waist-band, belt loops and pockets intact. Sew up the bottom. Use the legs for the strap, or use the waistband from another pair of jeans for the strap(belt-loops removed). Attach strap on inside or outside of jean purse. Doo-dad them up with old belts, scarves and pins to make them look botique-y. A lovely, hand-made gift, and you can make it in an hour. And, it costs practically nothing to make.
Civilla–I love those. I almost put that project in the “easy homemade gifts” book, but when I tried to whip one up for a pictre it was crooked and looked funny 😉
I’m very impatient, so I just moved on to another project ’cause I wanted to get it done RIGHT NOW. It’s a trait I’m trying to recover from, with very little hope.
I think I am going to try making those purses… thanks Civilla!!!
Look at these… they look like skirts…
http://personalitypurses.blogspot.com/2005/09/new-style-fancy-pants-blue-jean-purse.html
I dont think its cheap skate at all……….I think its very creative and ‘out-of-the-box’ thinking.
I am also jealous! lol.
I am on a ridiculous tight budget this year….for my kids, the best I did, being short on time, too….was to go to a craft store and buy those wooden little houses….and a few pieces of $1 furniture to go inside, so they can have fun painting it all. then i got them some dolls at a ‘second hand’ furniture store I visit sometimes (i like to find bargain furniture and make it come alive again)….the dolls were still in the box and about half price or less; other than that, i paid full prices/sale prices for a few little things.
last year i made these awesome cinnamon rolls……they were the ones from the Pearls’ calendar last year….oh my they were THE BEST and all my girls teachers raved and the neighbors raved too, so i think they actually MEANT it. i must say though bying the nuts and stuff….and some ingredients, wasnt that cheap.
I saw some cute Christmasy food items at Walmart, as always, and could get away with some $6 gifts. I also like to make banana breads, and strawberry bread, thoguh I need to look for that recipe.
One year I made the homemade playdoh….for my girsl friends birthdays, and added scents to each color…..and then either sparkle, glitter, or ‘dust’. packaged them in containers 4 for $1 at the dollar store…..and put stickers on each one, with a label. the parents were amazed more than the kids. I think we threw a few cutters inside the package, too.
BUT I NEED IDEAS. real cheap ones. people really appreciate the warmmness of a homemade and thought out gift. But my ‘thinker’ isnt working too well this season and ill take any ideas! especially for MEN or families, where there are boys and men….for Christmas, it is cheaper to just give a ‘family’ gift reather than one to my sister, one to her hubby, one to the kids, etc.
I think running to the store and buying a gift, while Ive done it, doesnt really satisfy me, lol! Plus im trying to get my kids to realize that thinking unconventioanlly has its advantages…and specialness. this year at some point, I am going to teach them to decoupage something cute and simple….for gifts. I do mosaic and they want to get their hands on that talent………but decoupage seems safer right now….i cant wait!
civilla….that sounds awesome!
kim….i have two broken sewing machines here….:( I so want to learn too….i have all sorts of ideas! anyway, my friend just learned…she said she just read the simple manual that came with it, and sat down with scraps to start. i know you said you hate the books…hers looked not-so-bad…then again, it came with a ‘new’ sewing machine so it was probably written with more ease of ‘comprehension’.
PS….this is embarrassing to admit, but my first take at baking bread in a breadmaker, is TODAY in about an hour. my friend homeshcools her one daughter (she is eligible for Olympics, in gymnastics and spends much time training) and it is this daughter who is teaching me casue Mom says she herself cant get it right! lol. plus my breadmaker was given to me, and the company went out of business, so i have no manual to refer to. Maybe i can learn some interesting breads, and add jam (wish i continued canning, ugh!)to a basket…and maybe a few other doo-dads. sigh.
AM,
Crescent rolls are always a huge hit. I personally have had a lot of luck with them… more than anything else!
The church ladies always ask me to make them for the funeral dinners.
Here is a recipes from Taste of Home magazine’s website:
Easy Crescent Rolls
SERVINGS: 36
CATEGORY: Breads
METHOD: Baked
TIME: Prep: 20 min. + rising
Bake: 10 min.
Ingredients:
* 1 package (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
* 1 cup warm water (110° to 115°)
* 3 eggs
* 4 to 4-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1/2 cup sugar
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 cup shortening
Directions:
In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. In a small mixing bowl, beat eggs until light. Add to yeast mixture; set aside. In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 cup flour, sugar and salt. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in yeast mixture. Stir in enough remaining flour until dough leaves the side of the bowl and is soft (dough will be sticky). Do not knead. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
Punch dough down. Turn onto a well-floured surface; divide into thirds. Roll each into a 12-in. circle; cut each circle into 12 wedges. Roll up wedges from wide end and place with pointed end down 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Curve ends to form a crescent shape. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes.
Bake at 375° for 10-12 minutes or until light golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks. Yield: 3 dozen.
Here is an online tutorial link showing you how to roll and cut them:
http://videos.tasteofhome.com/video/Crescent-Rolls
I am embarrassed to say that my sewing machine bobbin story in the comments above was on a brand new digital sewing machine that my hubby bought me last year (he sold his favorite gun to buy for me for a Christmas present).
So, I have a manual and everything.
That’s what I meant by not even being able to follow the “dummy” books. I think I am too impatient! Once he figured it out for me, it practically sews by itself!
I am so excited about using it!
im envious! naughty me!
ty for the crescent rolls……..trying them out on the children always brings back the honest opinion. they love BREAD; dont we all.
Yer welcome 🙂
Regards to the crescent rolls, you can use real butter instead of shortening (just in case you didn’t know).
I wasn’t meaning to “gloat” about the sewing machine…. really.
I wish everyone who wants to sew could have one. They are pretty reasonable at Wal-mart.
Reasonable as in.. cheaper than they used to be.
Interestingly my hubby did this in the worst financial year of our lives. We would not have made it without the Lord’s help and I mean that. When my husband went to check our credit score the bank person was shocked that we even stayed out of debt. There were times when money came that we had no idea where it came from to pay our bills.
In his own way, my husband told me it was a way to “make up” for all the hardships we had endured financially that year. As if he ever had to do such a thing! I appreciate him for it though!!!
Now maybe I can use it to be even more frugal than I learned to be in 2007!
the ever-ongoing quest for more ‘frugalness’. hahaha. i may have a few gift ideas…..need to retrieve them from my brain.
Bring the ideas on! 🙂
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