The Perfect Gift

Each year, I feel like I waste so much time poking around and trying to find the perfect gift for each person on my list. It's not that I mind investing time in loved ones, it's that I hate not finding the perfect gift, and buying them some crap that I don't even know if they will like or use. While I appreciate every gift I ever received, some end up taking up space in my apartment and never get used or worn. I feel too guilty to throw it away, but I don't like that thing enough to use it.

In the past few years, I have tried to start giving consumable as gifts--things that can be enjoyed and don't take up space (especially important for my city-dwelling friends or dorm-inhabiting brothers!). Most of the time this is food, but could be notecards, fancy soap, and so on. However, giving someone a gift that is functional takes some pizazz. No one wants to receive a bottle of Softsoap or Windex for Christmas!

So this year, I decided to take a new approach and make edible gifts. I am not super crafty, so I don't think it's wise to make gifts such as picture frames, but if my gift is edible, even if it's not the cutest thing in the world, it will still be usable. I am deciding between a brownie mix that would be gifted dry, and the recipient would add milk, eggs, and so forth, or cheese swizzles. Just googling for ideas is helpful, and I am very excited that finally, everyone on my list will get the perfect gift! The best part is--more love and elbow grease put into the present equals lower cost and more satisfaction.

Have you ever sent out homemade gifts? What did you make? What's your gift-giving strategy?

-Christina is a blogger for The Sorbate. Check out her bio to see where her view comes from.