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Some of my favorite gifts aren’t expensive.

They’re the ones that look like you put some thought into them.

That’s why I love the idea of creating gifts from the kitchen.

Over the next few months, I’m going to share some simple ideas for homemade and assembled gifts that you can make without spending a fortune. Some will come straight from your kitchen, some will use things you may already have, and some may start with an inexpensive thrift-store find.

And we’re starting with one of my favorites:

A teacup and saucer.

Look for the Treasure

The next time you’re at a thrift store, keep an eye out for pretty teacups and saucers.

You don’t need an expensive china pattern.

In fact, part of the fun is finding something unusual or especially pretty that makes you think of the person you’re giving it to.

Maybe you’ll find a floral cup for someone who loves flowers.

Maybe you’ll find a beautiful vintage cup for a tea lover.

Or maybe you’ll find one that simply makes you smile.

That’s the kind of thing I’m looking for.

And because you’re shopping at a thrift store, you may be able to find something lovely for very little money.

Turn the Teacup Into a Gift

Once you’ve found your cup and saucer, you can build a little gift around it.

Start with tea.

You could add a few of your favorite tea bags, or you could make your own tea mixture if you have dried herbs and ingredients on hand.

I especially like this idea because a homemade tea blend makes the gift feel much more personal.

You can put the tea mixture in a small food-safe bag or jar and add a simple label with the name of the blend and instructions for making a cup.

Then add a little something from the kitchen.

That could be:

• Homemade cookies
• A small loaf of bread
• Biscotti
• Homemade granola
• A muffin or two
• A small jar of homemade jam
• A favorite homemade treat

You don’t need all of these.

Choose one or two things that make sense with the person you’re giving it to.

Add Your Own Dried Herbs

If you grow and dry your own herbs, this is another place where you can make the gift personal.

A small jar of dried herbs can be tucked into a kitchen-themed gift along with a recipe or a suggestion for how to use them.

You could even make a simple herb blend and give it a name.

Something as simple as a homemade seasoning mixture can turn an inexpensive thrift-store find into a gift that feels completely unique.

Just be sure that anything you’re giving as food is properly prepared, packaged, and labeled.

It Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect

This is one of the things I love about homemade gifts.

They don’t have to look like they came from a fancy gift shop.

In fact, I think they’re often better when they don’t.

A pretty teacup, a little bag of homemade tea, a few cookies, and a handwritten note can be a lovely gift.

You could wrap the cup and saucer in tissue paper and tie it with ribbon.

Or place everything in a small basket or gift box.

You could even use a pretty kitchen towel as part of the wrapping.

Look around your house before you buy something new. You may already have something that would make the gift even more special.

Think About the Person You’re Giving It To

The best part of putting together a gift like this is that you can make it personal.

Think about the person.

Do they love tea?

Do they enjoy baking?

Do they like trying new flavors?

Do they love old-fashioned things?

Would they enjoy a little breakfast basket?

You can let those answers guide what you put together.

For someone who loves tea, you might choose a beautiful teacup, a homemade tea blend, honey, and a few cookies.

For someone who loves cooking, you might use the cup and saucer as part of a larger kitchen gift with homemade seasoning or dried herbs.

For someone who enjoys a quiet morning, add coffee or tea, a homemade treat, and a little note encouraging them to take some time for themselves.

The gift doesn’t have to be expensive when you’ve made it personal.

A Little Gift Can Go a Long Way

One of the reasons I wanted to start this Gifts from the Kitchen series is because I know Christmas can get expensive.

There are so many people to buy for, and it can be easy to think that every gift needs to be something big.

It doesn’t.

A thoughtful little gift can mean just as much.

And when you combine something inexpensive with something you’ve made yourself, you can create a gift that feels much more special than the price tag would suggest.

That’s strategic shopping in a nutshell:

Look for what you need. Use what you have. Make what you can. And give with thought.

Start Looking Now

If you’re planning to make homemade gifts this Christmas, don’t wait until December to start thinking about them.

Start watching for those little treasures now.

The next time you’re at a thrift store, look at the teacups.

You might find the perfect one for someone on your Christmas list.

And if you already have dried herbs, tea ingredients, or homemade treats in your kitchen, you may have the beginnings of a wonderful gift without realizing it.

That’s what we’re going to explore throughout this Gifts from the Kitchen series.

Simple ideas.

Homemade touches.

Thrift-store finds.

Things you can make yourself.

And gifts that don’t have to cost a lot to mean a lot.

What would you put in a thrift-store teacup gift?

Get Christmas the 12 Months of Christmas

Start Planning Your Christmas Now

Homemade gifts are much easier when you aren’t trying to make everything in December.

If you’re ready to start thinking about Christmas, my book Christmas with Strategic Shopping: The Twelve Months of Christmas is designed to help you spread your Christmas planning throughout the year.

It includes ideas for planning, shopping, saving, and getting ready for Christmas without leaving everything until the last minute.

A little planning now can make the holidays feel much more manageable later.