Learn to make something that you like so well you would eat it or use it yourself and be able to give it away as a gift.

Not everyone can sew or bake (or cook) but if you can stir, you can make some body scrub or you can make a potpourri for someone .

I tried a scrub that was in the bathroom at a department store and then I decided that I wanted some. I bout some and my best friend said – “you can make that”. I had never made any scrub before but she knew the skills I had and even though I did buy the scrub I investigated and discovered that I could make some of the scrub by buying the ingredients for a fraction of the cost.

I have made other things and have given them to people who love them. If you go to a craft store or even grocery store a lot of the materials for scrubs are there: salt, sugar, flavoring and oil are all you need to made a basic scrub. Or just make a sugar scrub, buy sugar when it is on sale, add olive oil (the cheapest kind you can find) and add some vanilla for fragrance or you can buy some other fragranced oils. Remember a little goes a long way.

Once you make some scrub then you may decide to splurge and buy containers just for your items. Majestic Mountain Sage is a company that sells reasonably priced equipment such as fragrances and additives like ground seeds or pumice. I buy the oil at a large discounter. It’s actually olive oil pomace which is a little thicker but works just as well. Heavier items cost more to ship but things like containers and fragrance oils are more difficult to get locally so buy those online.

There is nothing wrong with making gifts or giving the gift of your time.

Start scouring the sales papers for things you can use to make something. There is still time to make an afghan, throw or scarf. Just don’t go overboard. Be reasonable in determining how many gifts you can make.

If you are a crocheter (or knitter) and know someone who wants to learn, then you can give the person a hook, yarn and a certificate for 2 hours of lessons. Or use a coupon from Joann’s or Michael’s and buy a learn to crochet or knit kit.

Be creative when giving gifts. It will make your pocketbook happy. If you are not a “skilled craftsperson” there is always next year.