Editor’s Note: The holidays are coming, but that doesn’t mean you’re any less broke than usual. The Daily Lobo compiled an idea guide for low-cost gifts that require minimal effort but guarantee maximum appreciation from the recipient.
Calendar
A personalized calendar could include sentimental photos, or you could make it more humorous with pictures of famous people doing awkward things (i.e. Rick Perry eating a corndog — Google it). “Campus Cuties” anyone? Just don’t get caught taking pictures of babes without their permission.
Materials: paper, scissors, pen, hole-puncher, string.
Instructions: Choose 12 photos and print them out. Arrange them face-down with your December picture on the bottom of the stack. Punch two holes in the top and connect the pages with string. Punch one hole in the bottom. Flip your January picture over, and outline the days of the first calendar month on the back of the February picture (don’t use a pen that bleeds). Do this for each month.
It’s a little tedious, but worth it in the long run. As you are writing in the days and dates, add in birthdays and important holidays, such as National Pi Day on March 14. Hang it with a nail through the punched hole.
Hand Warmers
Warm hands and hearts with personalized, handmade hand warmers.
Materials: pie weights, cloth, thread.
Instructions: Cut two squares of fabric, each 4 1/4 inches wide, and pin them together with the bright sides facing each other. Sew 1/4 of an inch around until you are 2 inches from where you started. Turn the pocket inside out, fill with pie weights, and sew closed. Put the hand warmer in the microwave for a few minutes to heat.
Ugly Sweater
A lot of horrible things come out of the holiday season, one of which is the ugly sweater. These are really easy to find at thrift stores for a few dollars, and the recipient is guaranteed a good laugh. Give them a chance to use the sweater by including an invitation to your sweater party where the person with the ugliest specimen wins a prize.
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There are lots of other corny, seasonal treasures to be found at thrift stores, like mugs decorated with cheesy sayings about friendship. Who knows what hidden treasures you’ll find?
Irish Cream Liqueur
Better than Bailey’s, this homemade liqueur is bound to be popular among friends. But don’t get too carried away — this drink has a lot of dairy, and is therefore more likely to make you puke, which would certainly put a damper on the evening.
Materials: 750 milliliter bottle of Irish Whiskey, 8 3/4 ounces of milk chocolate, two 14-ounce cans of sweetened condensed milk, two 12-fluid-ounce cans of evaporated milk, 2 1/2 cups of heavy cream, 1/4 teaspoon of instant coffee granules.
Instructions: Pour a little bit of the whiskey into a mixing bowl. Melt the chocolate, stirring until it is smooth, and then pour it into the bowl and mix with the whiskey. Gradually add the sweetened condensed milk and evaporated milk, and then stir in the rest of the ingredients, including the remaining whiskey. Pour the mixture into glass mason jars and refrigerate.
The drink is better if you let it sit in the fridge for a few weeks, so you should make it as soon as possible if you want your recipient to enjoy it for the holidays. Compiled with help from allrecipes.com
Duct Tape Cell Phone Case
This is perfect for people who lose their phones all the time because it has a carabineer you can clip to your keys or belt. If you’re a superficial freak and are embarrassed to be seen with a friend who has an old flip phone, then a cell phone case hides the phone, and your friend thinks you made him or her a thoughtful gift. Everyone wins.
Materials: colored duct tape, carabineer, paper, ruler, pen, scissors.
Instructions: Make a duct tape sheet by laying strips of duct tape over both sides of a piece of paper. Cut out the exact dimensions of your cell phone from the sheet, and then add a strip of duct tape to the short ends. Make a strap for the carabineer and attach it. Fold the duct tape sheet in half, and tape the edges, finishing the cell phone case. For more detailed instructions with pictures, follow the QR code.
