DIY Christmas presents that won’t make you look like a total tight-ass
As per tradition, Christmas is a time when all people of faiths and persuasions come together to sacrifice their paychecks on the altar of consumerism.
As heart-warming as the sentiment is, as a student, it can be pretty rough trying to balance gift-giving with other stuff like, you know, food and shelter. And if you’ve left your shopping a little late this year, the challenge is only compounded by the nightmare that is shopping malls in mid-December.
So, to spare you both the money and the hassle of fighting over parking spaces with soccer mums, here’s some thrifty gifts you make on your own.
DIY coasters
A super inexpensive gift that’s easy to make, homemade coasters can be personalised to reflect your friends’ favourite patterns, movies, or BDSM-themed erotica (though it might be a challenge to fit all fifty shades onto one little coaster).
Here’s a guide for making coasters out of cork, or, if you’re feeling fancy, ceramic tiles.
Personalised mugs
“No more mugs – I have too many!” Someone said this once, and they were promptly declared insane, put in the stocks and leeched. Well deserved, if you ask me.
For this gift, all you need is a plain ceramic coffee mug, some oil-based Sharpie paint pens (easily found on eBay), and the moral fortitude to not draw dicks on everything.
Adorn the mugs with a design of your making, bake at 180° C for 30 minutes, and allow to cool inside oven. Boom – hand-painted, dishwasher-safe coffee mugs.
To give your mugs the monogram treatment, follow this guide.
Cat treats
Got a cat-lover on the cards? Surprise with them with this super-thoughtful gift that can be made with simple household items. Some recipes call for catnip, but you can totally ignore that – most Australian cats don’t respond to catnip anyway.
(Fun fact: when my foody hipster of an ex-housemate found out I was preparing gourmet meals for an animal, he became so indignant that he exploded in a fountain of goji berries and smashed avo. True story.)
Tablet case
Just because we live in an era of ubiquitous high-tech, it doesn’t mean you can’t make a relevant gift with your own two hands. Using some adhesive cork sheets, an old t-shirt and a little sewing, you can give the gift of iPad security this Christmas without stepping foot in the Synagogue of Steve Jobs – I mean, the Apple Store.
Handmade soap
For neat-freaks, homebodies or people who just like to feel clean, homemade soap can be tailored to specific tastes with essential oils.
Just remember to wear gloves when making this gift, as it invariably involves the use of caustic soda. Practice safe soap, kids.
Caramel sauce (maple-bourbon optional)
This one requires a little courage in the kitchen, but if there’s anyone on your Nice List with a sweet-tooth, they’ll love you forever. This sugary elixir goes great with pancakes, ice cream, and just about anything that comes at the end of a Christmas dinner. Put the sauce in a spare jar, jazz it up with some ribbon and holly, and you’ve got yourself a thoughtful, delicious holiday gift.
If you want to make the boozy version, you’ll need to spring for a bottle of maple bourbon – but one bottle should net you around five or six servings of sauce. Recipe here.
Happy Festivus!
Joel Svensson
Business major, journalism minor and freelance writer, Joel pretends to be clever at La Trobe University in Melbourne.