#cheap present

Cheap Present - Presenting

This is a submission for the doctor Who fondest Christmas memory contest, but it's also something that I wanted to post on here anyway. Win win!

Christmas always comes at one of the most stressful times of the year, especially for students. Everyone is running around and trying to study and in all that they forget that Christmas is coming soon, a time for good will towards men, and the true season of giving. Christmas is my favorite holiday, so I wanted to make some people happy a little early. All of my room mates and one of my best friends were all stressed (it was obvious by the lack of talking and facebook statuses.) I decided they needed some holiday cheer. So, I created:

EDIBLE CHRISTMAS IN A BAG!

It was fairly simple, and fairly cheap. When all was said and done each gift cost about $5 and with a little candy left over for me. I encourage others to do this too! Go to your local wal-mart, hy-vee, walgreens, mom & pop store, pretty much anywhere you can buy candy. Or, if you're super crafty, feel free to bake things. But whatever you do, head to the seasonal aisle where they keep all the chocolate Santas and candy canes. My suggestions: buy cheap. Don't go buying candy or things that you don't think will be very good, but the more you get for the less money, the more people you can make smile. Then, head to the gift wrapping department and find cheap bags. (Mine were all paper sacks with happy Christmas characters or drawings on the side. Only cost about 75 cents.)

With candy and paper sacks in hand I rushed home and closed the door to my room. I divided things evenly amongst the 5 bags that I made (the good news: most of the things came in groups of six, so I got one too! However, if you have 6 or more people, feel free. You don't have to keep any candy for yourself if you don't want to.) I texted my friend and told her to come over, and called all my room mates into the living room. They each got to pick a bag with a picture or character on the side. Inside the bag, right on top was a little note. This is what it said:

Inside everyone got at least 1 of every thing. Now, I bought an entire bag of butterfinger jingle bells, so everyone got 4 or more of those. They all were given several gobstoppers as well and at least 2 candy canes, as well as many other numbers of different goodies. The Money was really chocolate coins, the coal was chocolate too. The Santa was hershey's chocolate and the tree was reece's. The ginger bread cookies were from Pepperidge farm. Everything else is self-explanatory. Not only did it make them happy to have a little extra happy sugar, but it made me happy knowing that I could make them all smile.Other ideas that I had: I considered buying some ribbon and tying them onto things like Lindour chocolates and calling them ornaments. You can also buy white or brown paper sacks and color and decorate them yourself to make it more personal, or if you have a little one who wants to help. Be creative! It's Christmas, and the more thought you put into it personally, the better it will be.

If you decide to do this, it doesn't have to be all edible. You can get little stuffed toys, and you can change it to fit your style. This is perfect for those $5 presents around school, or office, or family, too. They make great secret Santa gifts, and even good for white elephant exchanges.