{"id":12726,"date":"2012-12-06T22:53:19","date_gmt":"2012-12-07T03:53:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/crankymouse.com\/?p=12726"},"modified":"2012-12-07T23:44:45","modified_gmt":"2012-12-08T04:44:45","slug":"eat-well-and-spend-less-on-edible-homemade-gifts-for-the-holidays","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/crankymouse.com\/index.php\/2012\/12\/06\/eat-well-and-spend-less-on-edible-homemade-gifts-for-the-holidays\/","title":{"rendered":"Eat Well and Spend Less on Edible Homemade Gifts for the Holidays"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ideas for edible homemade gifts for the holidays from baking mixes to cupcakes to ingredients for everyone on your list. <\/em>
\n\"Edible<\/a>
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There are certain times of the year where I start to feel as though we are bleeding money. The beginning of the school year is a great time for this feeling, with new backpacks, school clothes and shoes, supplies, fall sports payments, field trip forms, and everything else that comes along with having four kids. Then right after we’ve recovered from that, Christmas hits. The real issue with the holiday season is that I truly enjoy the gifting, and my heart is always bigger than my wallet.
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Between work colleagues and the kids’ teachers, neighbors, aunts and uncles, a cousin here or there, the number of small gifts we send out to the holidays can add up quickly. In an effort to curtail the spending associated with the holiday season, we look at taking things the homemade route instead by pooling money and ingredients into easy gifts that the whole family can help get together.<\/p>\n

Things to think about when making homemade gifts:<\/font><\/h3>\n
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  1. Do it en masse<\/strong>. Buying a case of jars is cheaper than buying them individually, and the same goes for ingredients, gift tags, and ribbon. If you can purchase larger quantities, you’ll often end up saving money over buying individually.<\/li>\n
  2. Choose something with a shelf life<\/strong>. When gifting foods that are meant to be consumed try to choose ones that can stand around for a few days so that you don’t overwhelm the recipient. Sure, if your brother loves cheesecake and you really want to bestow one upon him, I wholeheartedly approve, but perhaps let him know so that he can save room in the refrigerator and his gut for your gift.<\/li>\n
  3. Make it something that will be used<\/strong>. Sending mixed nuts to a family with allergies is not a great idea, but something like homemade vanilla extract would be well received. At the same time, vanilla extract for your aging aunt who lives alone and doesn’t bake probably isn’t the best gift, but a small container of cookies or other baked goods will be appreciated.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \"Edible<\/p>\n

    What to gift:<\/font><\/h3>\n