KEY POINTS:
* Home-made decorations: buy plain baubles and decorate them. Or turn wooden pegs into santas or Christmas fairies with a little felt, tulle, tinsel and pipecleaners.
* Glasses or crockery from op shops: you can pick up some quality pieces for next to nothing. Try adding your own personal touch with paints or stencils.
* Baking: try shortbread, cookies or melt quality blocks of chocolate and pour into Christmas-themed moulds (available from craft shops and some supermarkets) to create home-made chocolates.
* Favour vouchers: if you lack painting, baking or handcraft ability why not offer your practical skills? Write up a bunch of vouchers the recipient can redeem for a car clean, or home maintenance.
* Gift of knowledge: offer someone a few hours of lessons in something you are good at.
* Home-made stockings/boxes of goodies: Instead of buying ready-made stockings or mini-hampers, make your own and fill with goodies on special at the supermarket. Decorate a plain box with paper, collage or photos or a decorate a sock or pillowcase.
* Words: write each recipient a box of meaningful quotes, phrases or reasons you appreciate them. If that's not your style write some funny things and put them in a small container or decorative box.
* Undivided attention: make a memory out of your Christmas gift and offer your precious time to go on a picnic, a shopping trip or a car trip with someone you wish you could see more of.
* Make a CD, print a photo: use the files on your computer and create a CD of songs with a stylish cover, or print one of your digital photos and frame it.
* Fruits or flowers from the garden: give the fruits of your labour - plant a clipping from your garden in a funky pot or give a basket of fruit from your garden.
