Handmade presents that won't go in the bin?

[prezzz]

I'm not working at the moment, so I have more time than money. Christmas and gift-giving is important to me, and I'd love to give people some useful and thoughtful presents that won't bankrupt me. I also love crafting and DIY, but am well aware that a lot of handmade presents can actually be a bit crap.

Is two months too short a time to learn how to crochet or knit something that's actually nice and/or useful? I did a bit of both about ten years ago, so I'm not a complete novice, but definitely still a beginner...

Any other ideas?

I need presents for a range of ages and both for men and women.

What about a 'prezzz' gift voucher?

Let people know what you are good at. Paper crafts, DIY, baking/cookies etc and make some vouchers they can redeem in the next year. That way you're not under pressure to make a lot of items all at once.

Eg someone might want a batch of cookies for a birthday treat or some hand made cards for special occasions.

Really good point. I wouldn't appreciate any home made item except food...jam, chutney, cake. I have very different taste to most people and I'm afraid it would be a waste of your time. That's why I dont do gifts except dh and dd

I do candied nuts
Hot chocolate truffles (that you melt into hot milk, much better then hollow chocolate with powder in it)
Crochet woolly hats you can do in 2-3 evenings if you choose a quick pattern. You tube taught me.

I blend salt with homegrown herbs with my kids. They decorate the jars and salt is hardly going to be unsanitary. If it gets chucked, it wasn't expensive to begin with. They are always ludicrously expensive to buy.

I remember making ginger wine when we didn’t have much money ( bringing up 2 kids and not working) we collected wine bottles from friends added whisky and labelled it anti-freeze , and with a message on it don’t drink and drive everyone loved it

I’m also thinking now of making this

Salt is pennies in shops, even B&M does fancier salt with seasoning for less than £2, where have you seen ludicrously expensive salt?

I don't live in the UK. A fancy salt can cost you 4 euros.

Not really handcrafted but I have always done photo calendars of all grandchildren, children etc for parents and in laws each Christmas.
I was quite pleased years ago when my in laws banned all gifts in the extended family except for godchildren gifts and the photo calendar.

I take it you never eat out, or worked in hospitality

I always make Scottish Tablet for Halloween but this year i was asked to make it for Daughters wedding favours it went down a treat so make that you only need like an 1” square or 2” if it’s me

I do both (I'm not who you were asking though) and would not eat stuff from people's house.
What does eating out or working in hospitality (20 years) have to do with people's questionable personal and kitchen hygiene in their own house?

Kimchi or something else fermented if they like that kind of thing. I saw a really nice cider vinegar the other day being made.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPjjBt-CNnY/?igsh=bTQ4MDd0eG51MTNm

Go to Temu, but some green 4,6,8,1 beads, some glass tube beads in green, some plastic gold beads in mixed sizes. Get some 0.6mm wire. And some cheap craft media noise pliers. Find little cheap pots and make beaded plants. I make these for my church fairs to raise money for the free coronas meals and they go brilliantly. I use old polystyrene for filling the pot then put cardboard over it and use a glue gun to secure the strands. Then fake moss to cover the glue.

If you can knit or crochet, a mug cosy would be useful

I work in other people's homes in a domestic help role and some people's kitchens defy belief 🫣

Can't afford to eat out I'm afraid.

OP is presumably planning to give the gifts to people who actually know her and therefore will be aware if she has a hygiene issue.

I would question whether it's reasonable to use the kitchens of people who by the sound of it are quite vulnerable and need help maintaining themselves in their own home as a yardstick for the hygiene of your friends' kitchens, though.

@smallglassbottle But you need to do or not do what's comfortable for you - I just think maybe you don't need to be quite so cautious

Not RTFT but microwave wheat bags are super easy and so lovely. Or on the same theme, hot water bottle covers. Cosy and every single bed time they will have happy feet thanks to you.

Baking.
Xmas decorations for tree or wreath of given early.

At least goat buying has gone out of fashion

I've bought cheap charity shop cup and saucers and made them into candles.