How to save it big with smart DIY holiday gifts
The high prices have Americans looking for creative ways to save on holiday gifts this season. According to Deleitte’s Retail Surval Survey, nearly half of respondents said they plan to give DIY gifts this season to save money. About 4 out of 10 survey respondents consider handmade gifts, and 3 out of 10 plan to make homemade food gifts.
On the face of it, this seems like a great way to save a few bucks while getting into the holiday spirit. There’s no shortage of Pinterest boards and YouTube tutorials to search for inspiration.
Even a quick Google search turns up a blizzard of DIY Sugar Scrub advice, bath bombs, baskets, sogu, candles that seem endless, and that’s before you get to the party favors cooked, baked and molded.
But experts in cooking and crafting warn that it still takes some planning to make sure your national holiday gifts don’t blow your budget.
“People can save money by making their own gifts, but they can also be very expensive,” said Sara Croymans, an adjunct professor in the University of Minnesota’s Department of Family, Health and Extension. “We really encourage people to plan ahead so they know what to do.”
What makes a successful DIY gift-separator? Preparation is key, the Croymans say. “They have a list, they have a budget and they start early.”
Whether you hit, wake or step, experts say there are a few costly issues that can derail your reporting plans. Here’s what Prons says you should avoid – and what to do instead.
Shopping at craft stores
“I don’t always shop at specialty stores because they’re exclusive, in my opinion,” Marlene Alexander, founder of the Dollar Store Stere Blog, said via email. Instead, experts recommend hitting dollar stores, warehouse clubs and big box retailers.
Another pro tip: You can often find better deals on supplies and ingredients, especially when buying in bulk, if you shop at the same places where the same store is. “If you look at restaurants that have a restaurant, sometimes you can save a lot of money that way,” said Luci Mosesso, 4-H Agent at West Virginia University.
All of the money experts on display and solicited DIY gifts also hit local thrift stores to make them happen. “Thrift stores are a great place to go for DIY types of things,” Croymans says. “You can find a lot of crafty things … and that’s good for nature, too.”
Buying price miles
A DIY kit that gives you everything you need to create, say, a needlepoint pillow or a crocheted basket may seem useful, but it often comes at a price.
“Craft Kits are designed to be easier, and probably more expensive than if you just collect the items individually,” advises Alexander.
If this is your first foray into embroidery or beading, notice how the All-One Kit fits: You can buy individual parts very cheaply, she said.
The difference here is about the price, says Croymans. If you know you will only need a small amount of an ingredient or material and have no plans to use the rest, a kit may be the way to go.
Thinking you should buy everything available
Cheap stuff is great, but freebies are even better. Take stock of what you have when you have it; You may be surprised to find that you can trim your gift budget and clear the clutter at the same time.
If you do a lot of moving, for example, Alex Mathias, Assistant Professor and 4-H Agent at West Virginia University Extension, suggests returning fabrics rather than buying new equipment. If your craft involves nature, try carving branches, pinecones and the like.
To that extent, he suggests sticking with projects that include easy-to-source materials. “Open for something that inspires you as opposed to looking for something specific,” he says.
Falling into a trap in a container
Mathias says one area where you can be dragged down by hidden costs is presentation and packaging. “Gift containers can be very expensive,” she said. “You can use things like Christmas-themed figure bags or colorful saran wrap. That makes it festive without getting a bunch of cute ribbons and wraps, especially food items.”
Another pintertest pigeonhole to avoid: making everything aligned. Sure, a display of the same plates put together at the top with handles can make a nice picture, but your recipients won’t know if their gift looks like someone else’s or not. “They can all look different because you give them to different people,” said Mathias.
Lack of process on the ground
For novice cooks or chefs, tying can be a budget-buster. As people who can’t roll out cake batter or sleep poshinis know, you have to invest time and time to wake them up to get a handle on special skills.
“If a young person is creative, it’s always better to read/watch a course to make sure you understand the process to save time and money,” Alexander said. ” Alexander said.
Mathias takes it a step further. “Watch or read several different versions of what you’re trying to make. I’m always looking for different recipes,” he advises. And give yourself enough time that you won’t look at yourself and ignore a critical step, he adds.
“It’s always going to take longer than you think… Set a manageable goal about who will give who, [to avoid] fullness. “
Paying for expensive equipment
If your baking plans for treating friends and family don’t require any supplies other than the mixer you already have, you’re good to go. But DIY gifts sometimes think they need to buy expensive equipment, says Mathias, even if they don’t.
There may be other ways or equipment you can use that won’t break the bank. Other options include borrowing or renting the special piece of equipment you need.
Ask around at local “Buy Nothing” groups and do some investigating. Local equipment availability varies, but you may find that you live near a commercial kitchen, sewing studio or other local “maker” where you can pay a rental fee or hourly access to the equipment you need.
Check your local library, too. With a growing number of them, you can borrow manual machines and the latest Bestseller.
It tries to do everything from scratch
Like turning a scripted cake mix into a homemade dessert, you may be able to get more bang for your buck by buying and customizing things rather than creating them from synthetic materials. For example, maybe you can buy plain kitchen towels from the dollar store and dye or add a stamp design instead of buying them yourself.
“Keeping things simple can help save money. So it’s possible to choose projects that are interesting within a person’s ability,” says the Croymans. Even if you’re not crafty at all, putting together a gift basket doesn’t take special skills.
At the end of the day, he adds, remember the gift-giving axiom: it’s the thought that counts.
More from money:
Your secret weapon this holiday shopping season can be … Chatgpt?
6 ways Americans are paying for holiday gifts this year
Why he (probably) shouldn’t give a car as a holiday gift
