We have so many people on our shopping lists to already think about. And then we realize that we still have neighbor gifts to give. Since money is tight for many of us, we have to get creative and come up with neighbor gifts that don’t cost much or don’t cost at all.
I know I have a TON of really creative and frugal readers out there.
What are some really cute and inexpensive or Free Neighbor Gift Ideas you are doing this year or have done in the past??
john and jessica knight
Im doing dish soap it was free i wanted to make a dish cloth with it but i have ran out of time so im thinking of a cute sayingto go on it and a bow simple but works for a neighbor gift
Lindsay
Making microwavable rice bags (heat pads) out of dish cloths. Easily $2 or less.
Jenn
I am going to make chocolate covered oreos with sprinkles and put sticks in them to make like suckers. I got my oreos back when they were on sale for $1.50!
katiel
Box or Bag of muffin mix (.44 cents) "You're Getting "Muffin" for Christmas.Bottle of room freshening spray (.50 cents w/ coupons)"Merry Christmas. Hope it doesn't stink."Peppermint Bark–one pound of vanilla almond bard ($2.47 at Walmart) and 1/2 c. crushed mints ($1 for bag at Walmart or Dollar Tree). Melt the bark for 90 sec., stir, melt another 30 seconds. Add crushed mints, spread on waxed paper to cool. When firm, break with rolling pin and package. You can make about 4 gifts out of one batch.
KiwiAtHeart
Every year I make cinnamon rolls for all our neighbors and friends.
Stewart & Ciera Stout
I'm doing sweetened condensed milk made into caramel (just put the whole can, unopened, in a crockpot for 8 hours covered in water on low). Then putting a cute saying on it. Canned caramel that shouldn't go bad! Yummy! (I got my milk from Macy's when it was 0.99 a can!)
Nicholle
I love getting all the treats and I usually make a sweet treat. But this year I opted for something different and used an idea at ourbestbites.com and did the Chili Spice mix. They had a cute tag and everything. Of course, I went to Winco and used their bulk spices so it made an inexpensive thoughtful gift! And best of all, I got it done ahead of time and don't have to be hustling making a bunch of stuff the week of Christmas. Here is a link to the post they did for holiday gift ideas: https://www.ourbestbites.com/2009/12/holiday-gifts-from-kitchen.html
Bridgette
I got Pillsbury cookie dough last week for $.65 a tube. We're going to say, "We wanted to give you some extra "dough" for Christmas, but this was the best we could do." Or something like that.
Jinjer
I usually give a thing of bath and body works soap (that I buy in bulk during the semi-annual sale and combine with a coupon code). We put "we wash you a merry christmas" on them.
The Seeley Family
Last year I bought cany cane cookie cutters for .05 cents. So this year I will make them a batch of cookies and tie the candy cane with some raffia and a cute poem to go with it. Pretty simple and cheap!!!
Katherine
I made some apple pies that I froze before I cooked them. They are great because you can cook them frozen if and server if an unexpected guest arrives.
MamaX5
Our neighborhood agreed to do a cookie exchange and canned food drive this year. That gets me off the hook for neighbor gifts and we're contributing to a good cause (with food that I got for cheap!)I also have done Chex mix in past years.
Denae
I bought some of the live poinsettias that were on sale for $.98 during Black Friday. I picked up some poinsettia ribbon last year at Walmart during their 75% off sale after Christmas and tied it around the base. For about $1.20 a piece they were pretty inexpensive and I have gotten them delivered before the 22nd of December (which is usually when I'm scrambling trying to think of what to bake!)I think it's something fun for the families to have around the house during the holidays, and then they can get rid of it when they are done. We did this for both neighbor gifts and gifts for my husband's work.
the unruhs
My next door neighbor has a HUGE apricot tree. We make about 5 dozen jars of apricot syrup and have it done in July! I just add a cute bow and tag!
Jami Berry
It's always homemade treats from us! This year, I decided to make big batches of the three cookie recipes that people are always asking me to make. Then I'll buy the holiday ziplock containers (they're cheaper than the holiday tins and people can reuse them) and give a few of each cookie. It'll be my own "Most Requested Cookie Variety Pack" to give to neighbors and co-workers.
The Mechams
Instead of spending money on each other, our neighborhood has an open house at someone's home, where cookies and cider are served. A charity is chosen each year and everyone is welcome to donate to that charity instead of spending money on each other. Everyone loves this! You don't have to come up with any ideas and together you are helping those who are in need. In the past we've had everyone donate new socks, or coats, or money. It depends on what charity is chosen that year and what they are in need of.
Clever Costume Maker
Last year, I did plates of brownies from when the brownie mix is on sale with coupons that make it about $.33 a box. To make it more special, we took the kids to a park up in santaquin canyon where they collected pine cones (there were MILLIONS) adn I used left over fabric scraps and things to make them into little snowman ornaments.
Liz - Whimsy Floral
I grab rolls of holiday wrapping paper from the dollar section at Target. I remove the wrapping paper from the plastic and tie ribbon around it accented by a couple of cheap, small glass ball ornaments (that I purchased last year on 90% clearance) and a gift tag. Its a useful gift, it costs about $1.25 per home, it only takes seconds to put together, and it always turns out adorable! I did it last year, and since I moved this year, I get to do it again for my new neighborhood!
Lyndee Lloyd
We have a huge apple tree so this year I made small jars of apple butter to give out it only cost me the price a the jar easy and so yummy!
Amber
Homemade white bread and jam! So many people give out sugary sweets that it's nice to get something different!
~Krista~
I just posted an idea on my blog, check it out!https://itsalwayscrafttime.blogspot.com/2010/12/neighbor-gift-idea.html
Andrea Campbell
I am printing 12×12 pages from Heritage Makers and you make 4 6×6 inch tiles out of them. (Here's a preview: https://www.heritagemakers.com/projectBrowserStandAlone.cfm?projectID=1556532&productId=64) They are way cute! They end up about $2.00 each. http://www.foreverstorybook.com (ordering through me is cheaper!!!)
Laura
I like buying things in the clearance after Christmas sales and use it for the next year. Last year's find (to use this year) was cute white ceramic Christmas tree shaped plates – originally about $10 each – on sale for 75 cents! If I get really ambitious, I'll make cookies to go on them.
Meredin
My mom typically cans small jars of jam in the fall to give to neighbors, its cheap when you are using the fruit you already have sitting around your house.
marcihite
I got 15 mini sparkling cider bottles for free with my coupons & then just bought 15 more for only $1 each. So I am giving out those with some of my delicious homemade fudge & of course all wrapped up nice & cute! Should come out to cost just less than $1 for each neighbor–which is what I shoot for every year!
Erin
I was in line at the dollar store the other day and the lady in front of me was buying roles of wrapping paper. She said she was giving her neighbors a role of wrapping paper this year for Christmas. What a great, cheap neighbor gift that everyone can use.
kristengabriel
We like to make these cute little Christmas mice, using marachino cherries with stems, Hershey's chocolate kisses, sliced almonds or peanuts, and melted chocolate for dipping. A good website for reference is https://christmasnotebook.com/2007/12/15/christmas-mice/I always include a note saying "'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring not even a mouse." This is very cheap, cute and you will get a lot of compliments on these mice.
Schiess Clan
So excited to be hosting a bond fire/ charity/ hot cocoa and cookie exchange. We are asking people to donate money to the road home in leau of what they would have spent on neighbor gifts.
Kellie
My husband and I make homemade caramels and put some in a cute little Christmas bag and tie it up with ribbon. One batch of caramels easily makes 8-10 bags! Pretty cheap and yummy!
Lauralee
Last year our neighbor gave us a cake mix and frosting with a note that says – "Roses are red Christmas is sweet we're so busy- you'll have to make your own stinkin' treat". I loved it – I thought it was funny and cute and it probably was not very expensive!
Chalene McGrath
A friend of moine gave some TP and said, "Hope Christmas doesn't "wipe" you out! I think I might do that this year!
ScrapinOrchid
this summer my husband and I made little jars of plum and apple jelly and are going to give those with a homemade loaf of bread.
Laurel and Justin
We are giving Hand sanitizers in a little cello bag with a card that says We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Healthy New Year. Shopko had Hand Sanitizer on clearance for .75 and I got some of the 5 for 5 handibac from Bath & Body Works.
The Keele's
I just did this for a few neighboor gifts- it's a humorous one 😀 You take a roll of TP put a ribbon through the tube and tie it off so it hangs. Take a paper with the following poem typed up on it and wrap it wround the tp. Here is the poem…… The house is decorated with Christmas cheer, to celebrate this time of year, what better place to hang a wreath, than in the room that grants relief! SO cute and funny! You can decorate it as much as you want!
~Ruth
I live in Florida so I knit and embroider cotton holiday dishcloths for my neighbors but I make scarves and cowls for my northern friends.
marcie
Last year i gave my family brownie mixes i got really cheap with coupons and put a note with it that said "CHRISTMAS IS JOLLY, CHRISTMAS IS SWEET, I'M REALLY TIRED SO MAKE YOUR OWN DANG TREAT!" They got a kick out of it
Diana
"Cookies in a jar" is a favorite of mine (all the dry ingredients for a batch of cookies plus instructions for how to make them), or I just bake bread and wrap it in cellophane and deliver it by hand. I like doing this because it costs less, is more personal and is something they'll actually use rather than some knick-knack that will sit on a shelf and never do anything except collect dust.
Keith, Heather and Carsen
We go to the dollar store and buy whisks and then get Hershey kisses and fill up the whisk and print out a little tag that says "We whisk you a merry Kiss-mas!" and take it to them. That or we make a bunch of white chocolate covered popcorn and put it in little cellophane bags.