Stop the Madness! Fiscally Responsible Christmas Gift Ideas

Let's face it, the persistent economic downturn is still pinching many of us, and it's requiring us to do some serious paring down of the number or holiday gifts we will purchase this year.  I've tried to come up with a few ideas that won't cause you to go broke, loose friends, or harm the environment.  Get these money saving projects started now and save yourself time and money, and possibly a few gray hairs this holiday season.

1. Help them get the picture.  Get all of the pictures you have stored in your phone, camera, social networking, sites, etc. and upload them to a photo sharing site such as Flckr, Kodak, or PhotoBucket.  Once uploaded, separate them into folders for different family members and friends and e-mail their personalized photo set with your desired holiday greeting.  Cost:  Free.
2. Decorate and personalize a stocking.  You can purchase a plain stocking and then personalize it by stitching the person's name on it.  To further embellish and personalize, you can also glue or sew on beads and or tassels.  Cost: around $10 at your local craft store, i.e., Ben Franklin, A.C.Moore, etc.
3. Give them the green thumb.  You may have some old clay or ceramic pots that you no longer use.  If so, wash them out, fill with soil, plant a few bulbs, and cover with moss.  Water them a couple of times each week and they'll look great for gift giving at Christmastime.  Cost: around $5 at your local garden center depending of choice of bulbs.
4. Give them a movie:  your first starring role.  Record your own Christmas message, or make your own video diary to give to friends and family.  Cost:  $10 for a 5-pack of DVD-R at local retailers such as Ritz Camera.  Of course, you must already own, or have access to a DVD camcorder in order to make this a bargain gift.
5. Give them the gift of understanding who they are.  Research your family history and family tree and/or family history document to give to everyone in the family.  Cost:  Free.
6. Create a masterpiece.  Frame a child's artwork to create a heartwarming gift for family and friends.  Cost:  $10 or less depending on frame selected at local retailers such as A.C. Moore, Michaels, etc.
7. Shh...it's a secret.  Bring this favorite work holiday favorite home.  If you've got a big family and/or or you're part of a large group of friends, send out an e-mail to everyone suggesting that you each just pick one person to buy for with a price limit everyone can live with.  Cost:  $15 or less.
8. Family Secrets.  The kind you can share with everyone in the form of a favorite family recipes cookbook.  Cost:  $15 or less depending on presentation method.  Creating a digital cookbook would make this project cost nearly  free.
9. Gift certificates.  Make a certificate entitling the recipient to the gift of your time:  a home-cooked supper, an evening of babysitting, painting their living room, etc.  Cost:  Free.
10. Put the family on their mug.  Have a family photo printed on mugs to give to family members:  Cost:  $15 or less.  Walgreen currently does this for around $12, and I'm sure that they and others will have sales promotions between now and Christmas.

If you have some cool ideas to help us all maintain our financial sanity this holiday season, please share them with us.

Poll Question:
Do you plan to put the brakes on spending for gifts this Christmas?