Does your wallet feel a little light towards the end of the year, but you still want to surprise your loved ones with a very special Christmas present? Explore simple yet meaningful ways to bring joy to your loved ones without breaking the bank. For example, you can give a homemade delicacy from your kitchen or something beautiful that you made for them. It’s a sustainable alternative.
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The year is slowly drawing to a close, and the Christmas season of gift-giving is fast approaching. You want to treat your loved ones, but you can’t ignore bills for things like insurance and taxes that tend to arrive at the worst possible moment. If your budget is a little tighter now, you don’t have to miss out on surprising your family and friends with wonderful gifts. Not everything that brings pleasure has to be expensive. There are countless ways to show your appreciation with creative, sustainable and often inexpensive gifts. Explore this article for inspiration and tips on how to save money on the run-up to Christmas and the festive season.
How much money will you set aside for Christmas presents?
Small gifts, big impact – the emotional value of a gift often exceeds its material value. Perhaps you’ve experienced first-hand that cherished moments tend to last much longer than costly items. A gift is much more than an object – it’s a gesture that says “I’m thinking of you!” and “You’re important to me”.
You can express this appreciation with small, personalized gifts. A handwritten letter, a homemade gift or a shared experience sometimes say more than any gift, no matter how expensive. Give the gift of joy this year by creating something unique and heartfelt. Those are the best gifts.
Just imagine a leisurely winter walk with a surprise picnic, a spontaneous film evening with dinner at home or a fun baking session in your own kitchen – shared experiences like these create the best memories! Spending time together is one of the most valuable gifts you can give − and it’s virtually free. It is an invitation to enjoy the moment together and strengthen connections. This type of gift is perfect for any budget and doesn’t involve consumer stress. Surprise your loved ones with a handwritten card inviting them to a special occasion. You’re the best judge of what will the recipient will enjoy the most. For friends with children, for example, you could offer to babysit or host an afternoon of handicrafts for older kids. You could also lend a hand around the house for an afternoon or organize a games evening together.
Get creative and let your imagination run free! Homemade gifts are meaningful and unique, which means they are always something very special. Culinary creations in particular are a wonderful way to customize your gift to the recipient’s tastes. Presented in a jar with a ribbon or pretty wrapping paper, they make for real eye-catchers under the Christmas tree. You can easily find detailed recipes on the Internet or on social media.
Mix some oats, nuts and dried fruit of your choice, and add a little honey and cinnamon. Roast in the oven, leave to cool and pour into a nice jar – now you have a great gift for breakfast lovers.
Mix together nuts such as almonds, cashews and walnuts with olive oil, salt and spices such as rosemary, paprika or chilli. Roast in the oven until crispy, leave to cool and fill into jars – perfect for lovers of savoury snacks.
Pour all the dry ingredients for a recipe, e.g. for brownies or cake, into a jar in layers (e.g. flour, sugar, cocoa powder, chocolate chips). Add a small tag with the recipe and baking instructions.
Dice mango, apples or tomatoes and cook with onions, ginger, vinegar and spices such as cinnamon and cloves until you achieve a thick consistency. Pour the hot chutney into sterilized jars and seal airtight.
Dry apples or pears in the oven or dehydrator, then dip the dried fruit in melted dark chocolate. Leave to cool on baking paper, wrap and give as a gift in a decorative bag – a delicious snack for between meals.
Finely puree fresh basil leaves, Parmesan, pine nuts, garlic and olive oil in a blender and season with salt. Pour into a jar and cover with a layer of olive oil – a delicious gift that goes perfectly with pasta.
Write down or print out the recipient’s favourite recipes and stick them into a nice notebook. Optional: Add small drawings, photos or personal notes – a personal and creative gift for cookery enthusiasts.
Pour sugar into a glass and add a sliced vanilla pod. Seal the jar and leave to infuse for at least a week – a simple but fragrant gift, ideal for pastries and desserts.
Add lemon zest to olive oil and leave to infuse. Lemon oil gives dishes a fresh citrus flavour and is perfect for adding a touch of brightness to salads and vegetables. Perfect for amateur cooks.
Homemade chocolates filled with marzipan or liqueur and then packed into little boxes are a deliciously sweet gift idea.
For anyone who enjoys crafting or writing, there are many ways to create personalized gifts. A handwritten letter, a self-designed Christmas card or a handmade decoration made from natural materials – little things like these express creativity as well as genuine affection.
Digital gifts can also bring a lot of joy. Create a playlist of the recipient’s favourite songs, design a photo collage of shared moments or record a short, heartfelt video message.
Or perhaps a digital voucher for music, films, games and more would be a great idea. As the vouchers are available immediately, they are also suitable as last-minute gifts.
How about gifting a “green Christmas” this year? Sustainable gifts help to protect the environment and promote conscious consumption. For example, you can give recycled or upcycled items as gifts. With a little creativity, you can create real jewellery from old materials.
Turn old jam or pickle jars into pretty candle jars by painting them or decorating them with lace ribbons and natural materials.
Spray paint or paint old glass bottles and give them away as decorative vases.
Make individual bookmarks from old cardboard boxes combined with scraps of fabric. Cover the cardboard with fabric and decorate as desired.
Small pendants made from fabric or leather scraps that are easy to cut and embroider. A pretty and practical accessory for keys or bags.
Arrange small figures or natural materials in empty glasses and fill them with water and a little glitter. A little winter dream to shake and marvel at.
Melt leftover wax from old candles and pour it into old cups to make charming candles. Especially pretty with vintage cups and plates.
Cut bicycle inner tubes to size and decorate them with beads or other details to create unique jewellery.
Cut to size pieces of paper that are only printed on one side and bind them into a small notebook. A sustainable gift for notes or sketches.
Glue wood scraps together and create a rustic picture frame; paint if necessary. A personalized gift for photos or small works of art.
Paint and decorate Tetrapaks and turn them into bird feeders by cutting an opening and filling the inside with food. A great idea for nature lovers and bird enthusiasts.
Turn your gift-making into an Advent event. You can make many of the listed gift ideas alongside children.
Are you still looking for upcycling decoration ideas for your home?
Second-hand gifts also have their very own charm. You can often find some real treasures at flea markets and second-hand shops – from vintage books and nostalgic jewellery to unique decorations. These pieces tell their own story and have a special character that mass-produced items often lack.
It’s all in the packaging! Small gifts can be enhanced with creative and loving presentation. You could wrap simple gifts in self-sewn fabric bags or wrap them in colourfully painted newspaper. Try using natural materials such as fir sprigs, dried oranges or cinnamon sticks, which will give your gift just as much festive flair as glitter and glamour. Personal messages add the finishing touch – write a small card or note on which you record your thoughts and wishes.
Gifts that cost nearly nothing? There are plenty of them. And the best thing is that homemade gifts become a very personalized present if you adapt them to the tastes and preferences of the person receiving the gift. Because you know best what your loved ones enjoy. Get creative!
Another great idea is to slowly save money for your child, godchild or grandchild. You can even do this with small sums.
Here are some tips to help you go easy on your wallet in December. If you have a financial buffer rather than nothing at all in your account, you can be sure of a merrier Christmas and more peace of mind come the New Year.
To ensure you won’t be left wondering at the end of the year where all the money went over the festive season, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on smaller expenses. All those little temptations also cost money. And it's better to check your budget once too often, rather than too little.
Go over your accounts and work out your maximum budget for gifts. And avoid last-minute impulse or panic buying – the costs for these items can stack up pretty quickly.
Why not deduct a small sum from your monthly salary and set this aside for gifts and festivities? The best way to do this would be to set up a standing order.
Resist the temptation to spend your Christmas bonus on gifts and celebrations. Transfer this money (either partially or in full) to an account from which you do not make your day-to-day withdrawals.
