D-I-Y Christmas

By Terri Lane

Holiday shopping will be a grim experience this Christmas for both producers and consumers. With the current state of the economy, many people cannot afford to spend a lot of money this Christmas, like Vickie Llorente from Newark who said she as going to be “super cheap, cheaper than any Christmas before.” So how can someone get their loved ones gives without breaking the bank?

One frugal and sentimental way to give presents is to make them. Photographs can mean more to a person than an over-priced electronic gadget or piece of expensive clothing.

“For my mom, I am just going to take a picture of my daughter, print it at home, buy a nice, inexpensive frame then give it to her for Christmas,” said Jeremy Lane of Hayward. “She loves pictures of her grandkids.”

But who says gifts need to be material? If you’re on a budget, give the gift of time spent visiting family and friends.

“I am giving the gift of my presence,” said Onario Tolantino from San Leandro. “My presence with my aunts and uncles will hopefully be more than anything I could buy.”

For people who want something more tangible for Christmas, there are some solutions for someone who is pinching pennies. Many department stores have slashed their prices in anticipation of a bad profit year with many items at half price or 40 percent off. The closer we get to Christmas, the more we will see prices being reduced.

So this holiday season may not be the most materialistic, but that shouldn't put a damper on your holidays. Maybe you’ll find that making gifts and spending more time with family brings you a lot more of that elusive “Christmas cheer” than watching your credit card bills pile up.

Do-it-Yourself Gift Ideas:

Bake something. A delicious batch of cookies or a hot apple pie may be the sweetest treat this holiday season.

Create a themed gift basket. Fresh fruit and little holiday memorabilia like ornaments and candy canes to may just be the present someone is looking for.

Create a personalized calendar. Photos of someone's favorite memories, animals, travel locations, etc, in the form of an always-useful calendar is a gift that keeps giving all year.

Make candles. The highest cost for this gift will be the wax, but several candles can be made with one pound of wax. Add some fragrance and dye to make the candle more unique. Though this gift idea may require some skill, www.Michael.com offers a walk-through of how to make a candle.

Write a poem. For creative writers, put your love and care into words. Print it on homemade stationary and the recipient will be touched by the simple notes of love.

Offer to do chores. Make coupons for household chores or other favors. Little chores can save a person a lot of time and will greatly appreciated.

Redeem credit card rewards. For certain credit cards, points can be used for restaurant or movie gift cards, which make great gifts.