12.03.2021

Shanthi Appelö is a registered dietitian and health and wellness spokesperson for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan based in Detroit. Passionate about the science of nutrition and behavior, Shanthi has experience working in clinical nutrition, public health and teaching in the university setting. She earned her Master of Science in Public Health Nutrition from the University of Tennessee and has a research background in maternal and child health nutrition and public health, as well as a Certificate of Training in Obesity Interventions from the Commission on Dietetic Registration. In her free time, she enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, exploring the outdoors, working on art and spending time with family.

3 Budget-Friendly DIY Holiday Gift Ideas

3 min read

The holiday season is a wonderful time to get together with loved ones, but it can also be a period of stress that can ultimately affect mental health. Financial pressure is among the highest on the list of holiday stressors. According to a Lending Tree poll, 13% of those surveyed are still paying off last year’s holiday bills, while 41% expect to go into debt this holiday season.

Whether the financial pressures are contributing to stress or finding a meaningful gift is difficult, we’ve got you covered with a few budget-friendly and thoughtful ideas:

Beeswax candles

Involving children in gift crafting can be a special way to connect. Costing $2 or less each, homemade candles can be rolled from varying colors of beeswax sheets. Found online or at local craft stores, beeswax sheets may be sold separately or as kits with wicks and other decorative elements.

Here’s what you need:

Beeswax sheets (1 8-by-16-inch sheet makes 2 candles)

Cotton string for the wick (8.5 inches long per candle)

Optional — holiday scented essential oils, such as bergamot, cinnamon, orange, or a combination of scents

Decoration, such as eucalyptus, twine, labels

Here’s what you do:

Measure out the length of the wicks by measuring against the beeswax, allowing an extra half-inch. Trim accordingly.

Optional — soak the wicks in a few drops of essential oils in a small ramekin. This will provide a nice scent when the candle is lit.

Trim the beeswax sheet to 8 by 8 inches for a standard candle. If you are looking to fit the candle in a certain holder, use a candle that fits the holder as a guide to how thick to roll your candle.

Place the wick along the edge and start rolling tightly.

Give as a set of 3, 5 or 7 for an attractive grouping. Dress candles with lace, tree stems or eucalyptus. Be sure decorations are removed before lighting the candle, as they may be highly flammable.

Spa scrub

You can never go wrong with a self-care gift. Children can help make these for a spa day with a parent. This cozy scrub of rose salt and sugar is made with just a few pantry staples along with rose petals and essential oils. 

Here’s what you need:

1 cup coconut oil

½ cup coarse sea salt

½ cup granulated sugar

35 drops rose essential oils

2 Tbsp. rose petals

Here’s what you do:

Place coconut oil in a glass bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds, until melted, but not hot.

Add sugar, salt, essential oils and rose petals. Stir until well combined, then place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes for the coconut oil to solidify.

Mix one final time, then add the scrub to gift vessels such as mason jars.

Tea towel recipes

There’s nothing more heart-warming than a sentimental gift. Whether a family member is still with you or their memory lives on, handwritten recipes are special on their own. This gift idea features a handwritten recipe on a tea towel using the iron-on method found online or at local craft stores. Give to several family members if buying a big pack of tea towels, or to someone as a unique gift.

Here’s what you need:

1 cotton tea towel

1 piece of iron-on paper

Handwritten recipe

Camera

Printer

Here’s what you do:

Take a photo of the recipe. Note: Using a scanner phone application, such as Cam Scanner, can help straighten out the image and provide a nice contrast for printing the image.