Cheap Meals For Your Family

I have spent the last two days rummaging through my cupboards and racking my brain for some simple and cheap gifts for the kids to give to their teachers, bus drivers and for neighbors from the family. 

Our Holiday budget of course is dry so my only option was to get creative with what I had on hand and what little bit I could purchase.

I was actually impressed, I managed to come up with some great gifts that cost nothing or next to nothing to give.

If you are like me and freaking out over last minute gift ideas here are a few cheap ways to spread some Holiday cheer:

• Big Hershey’s Candy Bar – Hershey bars only cost $1 and they have many varieties. Wrap some yarn or ribbon around the candy bar, tie in a bow and attach a gift tag. (we gave these to teachers and my teenagers close friends at school)

• Candy Gift Sack – Put 1 Candy Cane and 4 or 5 pieces of candy in a cello bag or sandwich bag add some ribbon or yarn and a gift tag. (I actually couldn’t find any Christmas cello bags but I found these sandwich and craft baggies in the Ziploc section at Wal-Mart. The baggies are made by Hefty and cost me $1.25 for 150 sacks and ties.) (we gave these as a gift to each student in my kids classrooms)

• Hot Cocoa Gift Sack – Put 1 envelope Hot Cocoa, 1 candy cane and 2-3 hot cocoa Hershey Kisses in a cello bag or sandwich bag add some ribbon or yarn and a gift tag. (we gave these to the bus drivers and classroom aides)
• Popcorn Gift Sack – Fill a cello bag or sandwich bag with microwave popcorn add some ribbon or yarn and a gift tag. (we give these out to neighbors and the neighborhood friends my kids play with)

• Cookie Plate – I’m out of time and cannot bake cookies so I purchased a tube of chocolate chip cookie dough for $2.50, baked them and place 5 or 6 cookies on a paper plate, covered it with some Christmas colored Cling wrap and added a Christmas bow to the top. (we give these out to family and friends that stop by)

As you can see most everything I have given was right from my cupboard. I love to give gifts but just don’t have the money to purchase much. But with some creativity we were able to give gifts to all our friends and family without spending a bundle.  Happy Gift Giving and Happy Holidays! -Machelle