Giving out little gifts during the holiday season is an excellent way to show someone you are thinking of them and appreciate their kindness. But it is also the time of year when money is tight, and priorities are spoken for. There are ways to give something special out without spending more than you have. Food is always a great way to go. Here are a few of my favorite frugal Christmas gifts for the people I love!
Spreading Joy With Gifts For Neighbors
Every year, one of the highlights of my Holiday celebration is baking small loaves of bread for neighbors and friends. It’s a small, inexpensive and creative way to show people that you love how much they mean to you during the season. I usually start the second week in November baking and freezing these little loaves of yumminess. These quick loaves of bread freeze well and allow me to make a bunch of them. Everyone always loves these frugal Christmas gifts!
My list of friends and neighbors total about 12-14 families as well as others that I randomly see and want to give them to – like my friend Ernie who is a crossing guard or the fellow volunteers at the food pantry.
I usually make about 30 loaves of bread – some I pair with little jars of flavored butter. In past years, I have made maple, cinnamon, and honey butter. This year, I think I am going with maple from my oldest son’s maple syrup business (spoiler alert, friends!!!)!
I got these little jars from Hobby Lobby on sale for fifty cents each!
Past Gift Ideas For The Community And Coworkers
Other years, I have paired with flavored coffees – enough for one pot or two k-cup refills.
Some of the other frugal Christmas gifts I have made for neighbors have been chocolate dipped pretzels or pretzels with Rolos melted on them. These were also a big hit for my husband’s office! Any type of candy like buckeyes (peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate) or fudge never disappoint!
Cookies are always a nice gift – my friend Michelle spends days making plates of cookies and fudge to give away. We always welcome those tasty treats. We love to make the peanut butter cookies with the kisses in them. I like to roll the peanut butter dough in red and green sugar for a festive look.
We may like peanut butter in this house as I see more than one reference to the creamy, yummy frugal Christmas gift goodness!
Low-Cost Christmas Gifts
Showing you love someone does not have to cost a lot of money You can make frugal Christmas gifts for under $15 for nine loaves of bread. Let me show you the breakdown (from Hannaford November 2018).
Flour: (18 cups in 5 pounds) 5 lbs $1.80
Sugar: (one pound of sugar is 2 cups) 2 lbs sugar $1.69
Eggs: 6 count $1.19
Butter: 1 lb $2.45
Imitation vanilla : 8 oz $2.19
4 Bananas: $1.00
Bag of Chocolate Chips: $1.69
Can of Pumpkin: $1.89
Baking Soda: $.59
Total Cost: $14.49 for at least nine gifts, depending on the size of your loaf pans.
The mini loaf pans that are similar to a muffin tin and make eight mini loaves (smaller than my single mini loaf pans) sell for about $10 on Amazon, and you could get many more loaves out of these recipes.
Here are the recipes for my little loaves of Christmas Cheer!
Of all the frugal Christmas gifts I have done over the years, the loaves of bread and the flavored jars of butter are my favorites!
Banana Bread
Prep time 5 minutes
Bake time 40 minutes at 350 degrees
Yield 3 mini loafs
3-4 ripe bananas smashed
1/3 cup melted butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
pinch of salt
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
Mix in a big bowl in order and pour into greased mini loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean
Pumpkin Bread
Prep time 5 minutes
Bake time 40 minutes at 350 degrees
Yield 3 mini loaves
1 cup pumpkin
1/2 cup melted butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/3 cup water
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
Mix in a big bowl in order and pour into greased mini loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean
Chocolate Chip Or Apple Bread
Prep time 5 minutes
Bake time 40 minutes
Yield 3 mini loaves
1 stick of butter, softened
1 cup of sugar
1 egg
1 cup of milk
1 teaspoon of vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups of all purpose flour
1 cup of chocolate chips
Mix in a big bowl in order and pour into greased mini loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean
***You can also change this recipe into an apple bread by adding a teaspoon of cinnamon and substituting a cup of chopped apples for the chocolate chips.
Sara is a wife, mother, and creator of Frozen Pennies. With a degree in English, a former teacher, and a Certified Financial Coach through Ramsey Solutions, there is no better place to learn about debt freedom, budgeting, and overall frugal living.