Frugal is a tough word to describe because it has so many connotations and it means something a little different to each person. To us, having a frugal holiday doesn't necessarily mean spending as little as possible, it means spending with thought and making each gift something people will enjoy and appreciate.

Here are our ideas:


1. The first thing we are going to do is cook and bake items that we know family members will enjoy. Cooking something delicious is almost always appreciated because your friends and family know you put time and thought into the process, and they can enjoy whatever you create right there. Just make sure you know if the person you're cooking for likes the items you have planned. The last thing you want is to make someone awesome almond cookies and then find out they are allergic to nuts...

We were fortunate enough to have an over abundance of tomatoes in our garden at the end of the growing season, and were able to can several jars of salsa. We plan on giving a gift basket with a jar of salsa and some other related items like a bag of baked scoobable chips. Canning isn't as hard as it sounds, as long as you watch the acidity of the foods you are using and have a good way to remove the jars from the boiling water when you are done. We just used a silicone oven mitt rather than buying a canning rack, and it worked well enough.

Another recipe that makes a lot and would be a good gift is granola bars. Even if you don't have the ingredients on hand, you can buy them in bulk and make enough to provide healthy snacks for many people; the recipe I use easily makes a few dozen bars. Wrap them up in nicely decorated cling-wrap, and pair with a few other related items to get a great edible gift basket.

2. In addition to making homemade goodies we plan on donating to charities in our families local areas, and in our family members names if possible. Nothing huge, just a small contribution to local food banks or organizations we know share our family's values. We will be spending a little more here, but we feel it is worth it to help those who really need help to get back on track. After donating we will find some way to share that with the person we made the donation for. If the charity sends a thank you note we will gift that, but if they don't we will print out a confirmation or make a card to deliver the news. Our families live in different states, and we are going to make sure we find local groups who will be able to have the most direct impact.

Frugal holidays are about value - and there many thoughtful ways you can give this year. Just sit down and think about what each person will really enjoy, whether it's a homemade cookie, hand knit scarf, charitable donation, or even a store bought sweater that they've been eyeing for a while and will wear every week. (If you do end up buying things online try to find a site that offers free shipping - no reason to spend more than is needed.)

For more ideas check out the Frugal Gift Idea posts from other members of the College Money Network:

• This Writer's Wallet
• Poorer Than You
• Broke Grad Student
• College Finance 101