Start practicing making things for Christmas. Recently I saw a blog called Keep Christmas Cheap and another posting on Walletpop  - “Broke for the Holidays.” 

Many people may pare down their Christmas spending this year, but if you know how to create a gift it is much better.  Unwilling to learn to crochet, knit or sew just for a gift for Christmas? Have no fear. Instructables has many directions that uses items you could commonly find at home and you could find something here that you could make for someone on your Christmas list, like a clock from an Altoids tin, or solid perfume or find a purpose for all those old CDs.

If you are out of work and crafty or short on cash and no so crafty there are directions for most people to make a nice gift for their friends. Even if you just want to keep Christmas cheap for whatever reason, you can make a gift and feel good about what you made.