How to Save Money by Making Your Own Perfect Presents

I think that most of us can agree with the saying “There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving”. However, the pressure we face to buy presents for our nearest and dearest, especially when they are expected and not a spontaneous show of love, can sometimes take away some of that happiness.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that there is no joy in giving expected gifts, but just that sometimes the amount of loved ones that you need to check off your list can really make the pounds add up, leaving you feeling a bit less joyful and a bit more stressed than you were at the start of your shopping trip.

So, without shortening our list of loved ones, how can we regain the happiness we want to feel when giving gifts?

Make the Presents

If making presents is something that you have never tried before, please don’t be put off. Making presents can be quick and simple if you just put your mind to it.

Also, it is a lot easier to find inspiration nowadays with sites like Pinterest being a top favourite for getting ideas and even free instructions on how to make your own gifts. It has never been more on trend to put the time and effort into making wonderful presents that will show your loved ones just how much they mean to you.

For example I recently decided to make my twin 3 year old nieces a gift each. At first I wasn’t sure exactly what it was that I wanted to make, so I had a look on the internet and came across some lovely soft toys. They were mice made from felt with a little bed for them to go in, making them super cute and perfect for taking out and about, keeping the girls entertained. They cost just under £20 each to buy which is a reasonable price for something so unique and sweet, however having to buy two meant that a reasonable £20 turned into a slightly heftier £40 ouch! Like I said earlier this wouldn’t be too bad a price, but when you have another 10+ people that you need to buy for it can really put a strain on your purse strings. So even though I couldn’t find a pattern on the internet for one of these little soft mice toys, I decided to just give it a go and make them anyway.

All I needed was two standard pieces of craft felt, a needle and scissors, three different colours of thread, a couple of pieces of fabric (I used some old remnants left over from cushions that I had made a few months earlier) and any little accessories you would like to make the finishing touches with, such as ribbons and buttons. I went down to my local sewing and craft shop but if you don’t have one locally then you can find everything you need on the hobbycraft website. Obviously excluding a sewing machine it cost under £10 for everything needed to make both of the presents and about 3 evenings of my time! It was so lovely seeing the look on the girls faces when they opened their presents and hearing them squeal “I love it!”

Now you’re probably thinking that finding ideas for making presents for preschool kids is really easy, and your right, it is. But making presents for everyone on your list can definitely be done too! Of course you don’t have to do it for everyone, even just making a few presents could really cut down on the overall cost. But just in case you are up for it, here are a few suggestions.

For Him:

• BBQ or gardening apron
• Jars of homemade meat rubs
• Stationary trays for work
• Tablet sleeves
• key chain

For Her:

• Spa and pampering jar
• Scrabble message box photo
• Fabric basket
• Personalised cushion
• Jewellery organiser

For the Grandparents:

• Handprint ornaments
• Personalised tea towels
• Photo coasters
• Handprint cushions

For Teenagers:

• Phone sleeve
• Make up bag
• Wallet
• Cool cushion
• Retro T.V blankets

These are just a few ideas but there are sooo many more to pick from. I’m sure that once you start making presents for your loved ones you’ll soon be hooked! You will find the joy in gift giving again and also enjoy having a few more pounds left over at the end of it all to help keep the stress at bay!

What tips and ideas do you have for making the perfect presents?