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The holidays can be a stressful time, especially financially. Canada is feeling the pinch of inflation and the soaring costs of everyday essential items is making even financially comfortable Canadians uneasy. Short on cash this holiday season? Here are some holiday gift ideas that won't break the bank.

DIY gift ideas

You can save a lot of money by making your own gifts this year. They're also incredibly thoughtful! Here are some DIY gift ideas:

Gingerbread cookies

For many, the key to winning their heart is through their stomach, so delicious edible gifts are a great idea. Gingerbread is the quintessential flavour of Christmas for many people, so homemade Gingerbread cookies are always a fun and they make a great gift. Brush up on your cookie decorating skills to make your homemade cookies look professionally made. 

Truffles

If you have a chocolate lover or two on your list, homemade truffles make a wonderful and delicious gift. They can be shockingly easy to make, so why not make a big batch, buy decorative boxes at the dollar store and give them away this year.

Cable knit blanket

Knitting is a great skill to pick up at any age, and a homemade cable knit blanket makes a fabulous gift for a home decor lover. This tutorial walks you through how to make one without knitting equipment!

Stuffed animals

You might be surprised to learn that you can make your own stuffed animals yourself! It's so easy that it's sometimes taught in elementary school. This tutorial shows you how to make a stuffed bunny rabbit yourself, and this one shows you how to make a stuffed puppy dog yourself. 

Affordable kids’ gift ideas

When it comes to kids' gifts, it can be easy to get sucked into buying whatever the expensive and trendy gift or toy of the moment is, but you don't have to. Ever notice how many kids like the box more than the gift, no matter what they get? Kids are blessed with vivid imaginations and can make magic out of very little, so why not treat them to affordable gifts that are designed to unleash their creativity? For this we love art supplies. A big pad of paper and some washable paint can make a great affordable gift for a budding artist. Crayons, markers, pencil crayons, kids stickers -- there's a lot to love. Amazon and Walmart have a ton of affordable kids gifts. Visit their online store and search “kids gifts” and set the search filter to your ideal budget -- you'll be amazed by the results!

Affordable teen gift ideas

Teens can be really hard to buy for -- especially on a budget! They may either request something really expensive or just not tell you what they want at all. When it comes to affordable teen gifts, it pays to be thoughtful. Gift cards are perfect because they give your teenager control, and what teenager doesn’t love to make their own choices? If they're a coffee drinker, a modest gift card for their favourite café will make mornings a little sweeter. If they're into makeup, a Sephora gift card or Shoppers Drug Mart gift card is a great idea. Bookworm? An Indigo gift card or a Kindle gift card is golden. Movie buff? A Cineplex gift card is a great present. Visa gift cards are pretty great too because your teenager can use them pretty much anywhere. If you'd prefer to give physical gifts, Amazon and Walmart are great places to hunt for affordable gifts for teens -- just search “teen gifts” and set the search filter to your ideal budget.

Affordable adult gift ideas

When it comes to gifts for adults, it may be worth abstaining from buying gifts altogether this year to focus on the kids if money is tight. If that's not going to work for you and your crew, you have many options for thoughtful yet affordable adult gifts. You could give handmade cards, make DIY gifts like the ones we covered above, give hilarious coupons for things like hugs and dog walks. Another approach is to give affordable host-style gifts like bouquets of fresh flowers, a bottle of wine or whiskey, a box of chocolates etc. There are many affordable gift options for adults that will be much appreciated. 

We hope these affordable gift ideas help you get through the holidays with your wallet in one piece. At the end of the day, the people close to you just want to know you care about them. You can't put a price tag on love.

Looking for an apartment to call home and make your own? Panoramic Properties would love to welcome you home. Please visit our website to browse our available apartments.