Best Personalized Gifts Under $5

inflation rate 41-year high, you may not have much (or nothing) left in your annual budget to spend on holiday gifts for friends and family. If so, and if you haven’t already, it would be a good time to talk to the loved ones you usually exchange gifts with and reach some agreement on restrictions, at least this year.

Whether it looks like a Secret Santa or White Elephant arrangement, or a gift price tag, use inexpensive picture frames and creativity to create personalized, hearty gifts for under $5. It is perfectly possible to give someone a present. Here’s what you should know:

what to put in the frame

This gift involves framing a specially tailored photograph, print, image, or other artwork or ephemera for that person you know (or at least suspect). With so many choices, it can be hard to know where to start. Below are some suggestions.

what you already have

Depending on who you’re gifting to, you may already have something at home that’s perfect for framing and giving, from obvious photos like family photos to more creative ones. Some other examples are:

• Children’s artwork (perfect for grandparents, aunts/uncles, etc.)
• Ephemeras from that person’s life that you have saved (e.g. their wedding program, the petals of the bouquet you carried as a bridesmaid, photos of you and the recipient from years ago, etc.)
• travel postcards

what to download and print

Gifts can also be very personal if they feature (or at least refer to) something you know they enjoy and/or mean to them. With public domain images, art, and designs available for free download, you have a lot to choose from.

Search or browse public domain databases such as the one below, find one you like, download it to your local pharmacy, big box store, FedEx Office, or print it if you have time. , through one of many online services (although you may need to place more orders to get the lowest prices).

Examples of public domain databases are:

• of Art Institute of Chicago Database of high resolution art
• Photo of roadside america Taken between 1969 and 2008
• of Collection of the New York Public Librarysession of public domain images
• of Library of Congress has thousands of images that can be viewed individually or through one of 28 collections. WPA PosterYear city ​​mapand countless charming old photos
• sites like unsplash, Pixabay When pexels We have tons of free downloadable images, illustrations, and designs (no, not all cheesy stock images).
• of public domain review has a huge library of image collections that you can browse and download, Early 20th Century Spirit Photographypose photo 19th century baseball starIllustrations from , and german fairy tale book From 1919.

How to find frames

The first place to look is your home. Do you have a box of framed photos in your basement or attic? Or do you have at least one that you have a talent for but haven’t used yet? Take an inventory and see what you can find.

Next is a recycle shop and a 100 yen shop. As with anything, thrift stores can be hit or miss, so if you’re short on time, we recommend heading straight to a 100-yen shop or other discount retailer. Dollar Tree usually has frames in various sizes in stock, all for $1.25. No, they aren’t exactly high quality products, but they get the job done and the price is right.

prepare

If you have a specific piece in mind for a gift, take measurements to find a frame that works. Don’t be afraid to get a frame with larger dimensions than what you need. This is usually easy to fix. (More on this below.)

Adjustments can be made as needed

Don’t be fooled by frames that already have pictures or art in them. As long as you can open the frame and replace the contents, what matters is the price.

Also, if you come across a frame decent shape But consider buying cheap paint in horrible, neutral colors (either at the dollar store or in cans of spray paint at home improvement stores). If you have time, you can easily transform it.

How to summarize

Sometimes it’s as simple as putting a piece of a photo or ephemera into a frame and wrapping it. Also, it may take a little more effort to put the entire gift together.

Quick DIY Mat

Cut a piece of black construction paper (or any color really) to fit the frame, center the piece, and hold it in place with a glue stick or double-sided tape.

memo

In some cases, the recipient of the gift may not immediately know what they are looking at or why it was framed. If you think that might be the case, please include a quick note to help guide you.