Christmas gift giving is a long-standing holiday tradition and a lot of time and thought is usually put into gift selection. Choosing the best gift for each person should be fun but often just creates added stress at this already hectic time of year. Rather than trying to guess the right color, size or style for every person on your list, make holiday shopping easy and opt instead to give consumable gifts.
Food
Holiday treats top the list of favorite consumable gifts. Make a variety of candy, cookies or miniature loaves of pumpkin and zucchini bread. Arrange the goodies on a holiday tray or plate, cover with clear or colored cellophane and add a festive bow.
For those without the time for baking and candy making, a variety of gift baskets are available. These baskets often rely on attractive packaging at the expense of content, however. Instead of buying gift baskets, make your own simply and inexpensively by purchasing a variety of holiday treats and arranging them in a tin or basket yourself.
Art and Hobby Supplies
An oft-overlooked consumable Christmas gift is art supplies. Appropriate for any age group, you can complete all your holiday shopping in just one trip to an office supply store. Small children can always use a new supply of crayons, markers and construction paper. For older kids, consider a variety of decorative papers and a set of colored pencils or gel pens.
Art supplies are not just for children! A sketchpad and pencils or charcoal are good choices for the budding or accomplished artist on your list. A wide variety of cute and clever items are available for friends and family who enjoy scrapbooking or other paper crafts. Calendars are abundant this time of year and make a great gift for any teen or adult.
Along the same line as art supplies but specific to the recipient’s interests, hobby supplies are always welcome. Fabric for the quilter, sandpaper and dust masks for the woodworker, garden gloves and a variety of seeds for the gardening enthusiast, balls and tees for the golfer, and specialty yarn for those who knit or crochet are just a few ideas.
Gift Cards and Other Cash Alternatives
Perfect for all ages, gift cards are a popular Christmas gift choice. Gift cards are available at most stores although local retailers may provide paper gift certificates instead. For increased versatility, opt for a VISA gift card, which can be used almost anywhere.
A variety of entertainment venues present consumable gift options. Consider movie or sports tickets, a club or gym membership, lessons in everything from aerobics to violin, or a season pass to an amusement or ski park.
Budget Friendly
In addition to being clutter-free, a big advantage of consumable gifts is that they can be very easy on the budget. The base ingredients for many homemade treats are commonly found in most kitchens. Special ingredients needed for baked goods or candy are usually on sale during the weeks before Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Various art and hobby supplies are frequently on sale throughout the year. Even at full price, a nice selection of paper, crayons and watercolor paints can easily be found for under $10. Quilter’s fat quarters or skeins of yarn cost just a few dollars each. Most hobbies require low cost items that need regular replacement. These budget-friendly items are always of use and value.
The Gift of Time
The best consumable gift is the gift of time. Spending quality time with friends and loved ones during the holidays creates lasting memories that other types of gifts just can’t match. Schedule special outings, plan a holiday cookie decorating party or just hang out. It’s the time spent together that counts!
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