Frugal Family Gifts

Love the holidays but hate the thought of spending hours scouring stores for the perfect gift for each person on your list? Or perhaps you love shopping for others but have a meager budget that won’t stretch as far as you’d like.

One approach that is gaining momentum in recent years is to focus on family gifts rather than individual gifts. Say you have a sister who is married and has three kids. Instead of buying gifts for each of the five members of her family, put together one large family gift that they can all enjoy. Doing so saves both time and money, two things that seem to be in short supply this time of year.  Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Movie Night

Who doesn’t love to curl up on the couch and watch a movie with their family? Buy a large, inexpensive bowl and fill it with a variety of popcorn. Include some popcorn seasonings and several boxes of theater candy (just a buck at Walmart and many other retailers). You can pick out a family-friendly movie to include with the gift, or tuck in a gift card so the family can choose one themselves.

Breakfast Basket

Encourage the family to have a slow-paced weekend breakfast by putting together an assortment of tasty breakfast foods. You can purchase two or three different pancake and muffin mixes and some flavored syrups and jams to go with them. Round things out with some cocoa and fun mugs (or buy inexpensive mug-decorating kits at a craft store and have your kids personalize them for the recipients). Put everything in a large mixing bowl, and the family will thank you for an effortless Saturday morning breakfast.

Winter Warm-Up

Buy a large puzzle that the family can assemble together on a cold winter night. Include comfy socks for everyone and some apple cider or hot chocolate. If you’re feeling like Martha Stewart, you could bake an apple pie…or buy an apple pie scented candle. Either way, your loved ones will have the makings for a cozy night at home.

Sports Lovers

Know a family who loves to cheer on a favorite team? Maybe you can’t afford tickets for them, but you can make their game viewing a little more fun, whether they are tailgating or watching the game from home. Fill a cooler with snacks such as peanuts, pretzels, chips and dip. You could also print off some easy recipes for appetizers. Reusable water bottles with their team’s logo will be a nice addition to this gift.

Game Night

We all know the benefits of family game night, such as laughter, togetherness and a fun way to engage your brain. Encourage the family on your list to have regular game nights by giving them all they need to make it happen. You could pick up a couple of board, card or Wii games the whole family might enjoy. Of course, game night is not complete without snacks, so throw in some summer sausage, cheese and crackers. The recipients will soon be on their way to making joyful memories.

Book Lovers

Are you giving to a family of book lovers? Try putting together a package of personalized bookmarks and book plates. Elastic bookmarks are easy to make and do a great job of staying put in the book. Go to www.Whimsy-Girl.Blogspot.com and search “elastic bookmark tutorial” for step-by-step instructions. Bookplates – decorative labels attached to the inside front cover of a book to indicate its owner – are also easy to make with scrapbooking paper. You can also purchase bookplates at a bookstore or print them off the Internet.

Pizza Kit

Know anyone who doesn’t like pizza? Me neither. Try buying a pizza pan and loading it up with boxed pizza crust, sauce and a few toppings to please everyone in the family. They will have a great time preparing the pizza together and eating as a family. Consider including a jar of dinnertime conversation starters written on small pieces of paper. The family can take turns drawing topics out of the jar and will enjoy lively conversation while they eat pizza.

Memory Book

More than likely, you have photos of the family who is receiving the gift. Why not arrange a few of these in a memory book and write fun captions to go along with them? You don’t have to limit the book to just photos, either. Each member of your own family can take turns writing stories, sharing favorite jokes and even drawing pictures. Recalling a special memory or hilarious moment is about as heartfelt as you can get when it comes to giving gifts. The family will undoubtedly feel honored and will cherish the book.

KC Destinations

Give a gift that a family can enjoy throughout the year. A membership to a local museum or a Friends of the Zoo membership can be enjoyed over and over. Tickets to a production of The Nutcracker or tickets to Starlight’s Children’s Theatre Season (starting at only $28!) is something for all to enjoy. Consider a gift card to an indoor entertainment venue or for bowling or ice skating. There are so many ways to get creative and give a frugal gift for the entire family!

Family gifts not only save money and time, they are often more meaningful than individual gifts. By considering the family’s favorite pastimes, passions or foods, you are giving gifts that are personal and unique. You are also encouraging togetherness and helping create lasting memories. And isn’t that what the holidays are all about?

Tisha Foley and her family live in Belton. She is eager to make the elastic bookmarks mentioned in this article.