budget friendly gift giving: pampering in a jar

This year we’re all about budget friendly giving and homemade gifts. We’ve been hit with some pretty hefty medical bills lately so other spending has taken a back seat. Isn’t it amazing how all the bills come in right before the holidays? UGH!

Anyway, I’ve been thinking more creatively this year about gifts that could make someone smile but don’t break the bank and are easy to ship! I also love mason jars. Enter: gifts in jars.

The first one I made, and I made a few of them, was pampering in a jar. It was super easy, total cost was about $6-7 each – I shopped sales and used coupons and also had some items in my stock pile already – and they’re small and easy to ship. Here’s what I included in the jar:

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I had hand cream (2 kinds), lip balm, nail file and buffer, nail polish, polish remover and fuzzy socks.

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I shoved it all in the jar, literally shoved. It was a tight squeeze. I used a muffin tin liner to cover the top and tied it with a ribbon. Lastly, I put a small label on the top. That’s all and it’s ready to ship!

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I’m not saying who’s getting one of these, but I hope it brightens their day when they get it. Just something small to say I’m thinking of you at the holidays.

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The other jar I made was Energy in a Jar and it included beef jerky, protein bars, 5 hour energy, nuts and seeds. Not saying who that’s for either!

What are you guys making or gifting this year for small gifts?