Christmas Favors on a Budget

Celebrate Christmas with a frugal holiday party, complete with Christmas favors on a budget for guests to take home.

Cheap favors look festive in colorful packaging.

Homemade Christmas favors are an easy way to save money while still giving your guests a commemorative item from the party. Look for easy Christmas crafts that you can make using items all ready in your house. Place the favors next to each table setting for your guests.

Save all of your home's burned out lightbulbs for a few months. Turn them so the top of the bulb is on the bottom and cover in paper mache. Round the top a little big and create a small semi-circle where the threads end on the bulb end. Allow to dry. Paint the bottom part of the bulb like a Santa suit, with the top part as a face. Add each guest's name and the year to the front or back of the bulb.

Glue Popsicle sticks together in the shape of a star and paint with white or yellow paints. Sprinkle glitter on top while the paint is still sticky. Cover with a clear coat of paint and hang with colored ribbon or string. Alternatively, made a sled using Popsicle sticks by arranging five in a V-pattern and then gluing them together. Add runners to the outside edges with sticks glued on sideways. Allow the glue to dry, and then paint them red or green. Personalize with the date of the party or the guest's name.

Make cheap snowglobes using canning jars, cheap plastic ornaments/figurines and a little glitter. Glue the small figure to the bottom of the canning jar lid with a waterproof formula. Allow to dry. Next, fill the jar almost all the way up with water. Add some silver, blue, red or green glitter to the water. Put the lid on top of the jar (decoration will be upside down in water) and glue on. Allow to dry. Flip the glob over and add any ribbons or fabric to the bottom of the jar. Shake to make it "snow."

Even if you are not a crafty person, you can still find Christmas favors on a budget to buy. You just have to polish up your bargain shopping skills. Look for frugal Christmas gift ideas for stocking stuffers that could also double as party favors.

Ideas include:

• Holiday sticky notes and pens
• Chocolate candies in red and green wrapping
• Christmas coffee mug
• Christmas ornaments
• Magnets for the refrigerator
• Cookie cutter with recipe attached
• Cheap holiday socks

The place you choose to purchase your favors will have an impact on your budget, too. Buy favors from retailers like Oriental Trading, which offer large quantities for a low price without having to buy in bulk. Another place to shop for cheap Christmas favors on a budget is a dollar store. Finally, remember to check clearance bins at a craft store and discount drugstores for items that are just a dollar or two.

Dress up a small Christmas favor with a little creative packaging. Save leftover scraps of wrapping paper to use as a favor tag. Tie and curl ribbon in festive colors around the favor for some added decoration.

If you plan to give out decorated cookies as favors, place them in red or green cellophane and tie the top with a ribbon. Alternatively, you can wrap it using the cellophane and then use a sticker to seal the wrap.

Finally, remember that you can always fold your wrapping paper or holiday scrapbook paper into an origami box for holding the favors. Making a box takes a bit of practice, but guests will enjoy the creative but cheap favor packaging.

Even when you are hosting a tight budget Christmas party, you can still send guests home with a small token of your appreciation at the end of the evening. Budget friendly favors are a great way to express your thanks.

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