Getting your loved ones gifts for the holidays doesn’t have to put a sizeable dent in your wallet. With the economy tanking and unemployment numbers rising, you may be looking for ways to curb your holiday spending. Here are five budget-friendly ways you can get into the spirit of the holidays:

1) Have a cookie baking party. Invite five to 10 friends to your house and ask them each to bring enough premade cookie dough to make six dozen of their favorite cookies. Spend the day baking and catching up with friends. When you’re done, combine everyone’s cookies and divide them up equally. Barring any kitchen mishaps, you’ll each get to take home a variety of 72 homemade cookies that you can give as gifts to friends, family members, or coworkers.


2) Give apple cider kits. Stock up on 64-ounce bottles of apple juice and attach a cheesecloth-wrapped packet containing three sticks of cinnamon and a tablespoon of whole cloves or allspice. Make sure to include the instructions to “add the cheesecloth package to the juice and heat until bubbles begin to form” (“20 Ways to Save During the Holidays,” Real Simple).


3) Send an e-mail holiday card.Collect the e-mail addresses of your friends and family and wish them a Happy Holiday by using free online greeting card services like Bluemountain, egreetings, or 123greetings.






4) Make it a kids-only holiday. Talk to your family members about only buying gifts for the kids this year. Taking the adults out of the gift-buying equation eliminates the pressure of getting a gift for every family member and helps you keep your costs down. To help you stick to a budget, set a price limit – including sales tax and shipping costs, if necessary – on how much you’re willing to spend on each child. When you shop, only bring cash with you to avoid spending more by charging to your credit or using your debit card.


5) Create gift certificates. Skip the commercial gift cards this year and create your own certificates that give the gift of your time. Get creative with this low-cost approach to giving. Write personalized messages to your loved ones that entitle the recipient to two nights of free babysitting, a week of dog-walking, or a home-cooked dinner of their favorite meal.

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