Thursday, December 1, 2011

Budgeting, Homemade and even Re-Gifting….The New Chic

With our wallets getting a bit thinner, and our budgets getting tighter, this holiday season, its trendy to look at gift giving with our budgets in mind; it is now “chic” to be frugal and “re-gift,!”

Unleash your creativity at home by making wonderful crafts or baked goods, turning them into adorable goodies worth gifting. From handcrafted hair bows, to handmade jewelry, soaps, handmade candles, the possibilities are endless.





Chances are you may not even have to purchase these items from the store. About eighty percent of these items may be “hiding in plain site” in your home.

Take a look around. Didn’t you notice that satin ribbon “fraying” from your beautiful summer dress that is so “ten seasons ago!” Rip it off and turn it into a bow! Adorn a piece of handmade soap with it, or attach a pendant and make a necklace out of it.

Perhaps you have too many mugs in your kitchen and too few people to drink from them! Grab one and give it a make-over. You can decoupage it, paint it, or even cover it in fabric! This can make a great teacher gift to be used as a pencil holder!
Billion of dollars are wasted every year purchasing, wrapping papers, gift cards, plastic ribbons, tapes etc., and these items are then generally turned into landfill, becoming environmental waste.

Instead of spending money fancy wraps, search your house for items that can be used as gift wrap. Use recyclable shopping bags, then the wrap becomes a second gift! You can find some great frugal and green gift wrap ideas, go to www.bowdabrablog.com

Another excuse for your to get together with friends, have a “re-gifting” party! Tell all of your friends to bring one gift they have had in their closet, perhaps that worst gift, might be perfect for your to give to your mother-in-law!