10 Cheap Homemade Gift Basket Ideas

Having trouble coming up with a good gift idea for your Secret Santa, a coworker, or your child’s teacher? These cheap and easy ideas for gift packages are a fun way to give something that’s both thoughtful and useful. When it comes to homemade gift basket ideas, it helps to get creative.

Making homemade gift sets is a great way to give something thoughtful even when your budget is tight. I love picking out items to include and putting them together in a nice way.

Choose a theme to help you select the items and give your gift set a cohesive feel. Cheap gift packages can be dressed up to look lovely, so don’t worry about it coming off looking low-quality. Choose a simple basket, bin, mason jar, or even a gift bag or box to arrange the items in.

You can find most of the items for these gift baskets at the dollar store, so it doesn’t have to cost more than $5-$10 to put together something really nice! Here are 10 easy, practical ideas for cheap homemade gift basket ideas that the receivers will love:

Homemade Gift Basket Ideas for Him

Car Kit

Car kits would be appreciated by anyone who drives. Grab items like an ice scraper, tire gauge, flares, first aid kit, emergency blanket, and a flashlight. You could also toss in a gift card for a gas station or convenience store. It’s a perfect gift for anyone who recently started driving or got a new car. It works for Father’s Day, Sweet 16, Christmas, and more!

Ideas for items to include:

• Ice scraper
• Steering wheel cover
• Sunshade
• Sunglasses clip
• First aid kit
• Flashlight
• Phone charger cord
• Flat tire fix
• Flares
• Tire Gauge
• Emergency blanket
• Car washing soap
• Car wash sponge
• Microfiber towel

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Handyman Kit

This cheap homemade gift basket idea is great for new homeowners or anyone who lives on their own. It makes a nice housewarming gift. It’s also great for Dads or anyone moving out on their own for the first time. Put together a little set with handy items like a tape measure, work gloves, small tools, a flashlight, electrical tape, etc. The best part? Many of these basics are found in the dollar store.

Items to include:

• Tape measure
• Flashlight
• Small Level
• Extra drill bits
• Electrical tape
• Small screwdriver set
• Wrench
• Small hammer & nails
• Bucket
• Work gloves
• Plumber’s tape

Homemade Gift Basket Ideas for Everyone

Baking Kit

This gift package is perfect for anyone with a sweet tooth or a passion for baking! It works well for teachers, Mother’s Day. Christmas, and more. To make a sweet baking kit, pick out a box of baking mix- whether it’s cupcakes, cookies, or brownies. Add in a cute spatula, measuring spoons, cookie cutters, and a pair of oven mitts. It’s perfect for anyone who likes to bake and has a sweet tooth.

Items to include:

• Baking mix
• Spatula
• Measuring spoons
• Measuring cup
• Brown sugar, powdered sugar
• Flour in a cute package
• Sprinkles and icing
• Cookie cutters
• Baking sheet or cake pan
• Cooling rack
• A favorite recipe

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Cold Care Kit

Nobody wants to come down with a cold, but it’s almost inevitable during the winter. Put together a little care package that will be ready when the receiver needs it. You could include throat lozenges, lip balm for chapped lips, tissues, tea bags, vitamin C supplements, and bath salts.

Items to include:

• Chicken noodle soup
• Teabags
• Throat lozenges
• Lip balm
• Tissues
• Vitamin C supplements
• Bath salts
• Redbox movie code

Kitchen Kit

For this kit, you can have a lot of fun with kitchen accessories. Grab cute tea towels, colorful sponges, a slotted spoon, your fave recipe book, a cute kitchen timer, and anything else that would come in handy when cooking and cleaning up. This would be ideal for someone who has just moved out on their own, or anyone who likes to spend time in the kitchen.

Items to include:

• Cookbook
• Oven mitts
• Favorite recipes
• Measuring cup
• Meat thermometer
• Kitchen towels
• Kitchen timer
• Fancy dish or hand soap
• Spatula
• Slotted spoons

Hair Care Kit

Great for teen girls, this gift package can include items like hair ties, headbands, a brush and comb, cute clips, and travel size hair care products like shampoo, conditioner, etc. I don’t know any young girl who wouldn’t find this both fun and useful.

Items to include:

• Scrunchies
• Colorful hair ties
• Headbands
• Wet Dry brush
• Comb
• Travel size shampoo and conditioner
• Hair chalk
• Cute clips
• Bows

Travel Kit

Sure, you can buy those pre-made toiletry kits, but what’s the fun in that? Make a mini-travel size care package with a random assortment of toiletries and other items. Those TSA approved plastic bottles are helpful for anyone who flies. Add in luggage tags, a stylish passport holder, and a neck pillow.

Items to include:

• Luggage tags
• Toiletry bag
• Neck pillow
• Beach towel
• Sunscreen
• TSA-approved luggage locks
• Sudoku or crossword books
• Passport holder
• Toothbrush holder
• Cute travel-size toiletries

Sweet Tooth Kit

Who wouldn’t want to receive sweets?! Pick up holiday candies, a few packs of hot chocolate with cute straws and a mug, nuts, and popcorn. If you’re not sure who’ll be receiving this, add in some sugar-free candy options, too. Be sure to add a warning if it contains nuts. For those who have to go sugar-free, you can find a lot of sugar-free options today, too.

Items to include:

• Mug or coffee tumbler
• Truffles
• Mixed nuts
• Movie-theater style candy boxes
• Cookies in a cute package
• Hot chocolate mix
• Colorful paper straws
• Popcorn

Stationery Kit

Great for teachers or anyone who likes writing, journaling, or sending notes. Put together a little package with pretty stationery, note cards, cute pens, a journal, and other little office items like paperclips, push pins, etc. I know I’m always eyeing up cute journals and cards, but I rarely buy them for myself. This would be another fun present to give or receive!

Items to include:

• Notepads
• Pretty cards with envelopes
• Pens
• Journal
• Planner
• Push-pins & paper clips
• Paperweight
• Pen holder

Kids Kit

Kids are so incredibly easy to shop for, and bonus- they’re really easy to please! Crayons, coloring books, crafts, stuffed animals, stickers, and odd little toys are all easily found for a buck. If you’re a parent, you probably don’t need any advice coming up with a great gift pack for kids.

Items to include:

• Stickers
• Coloring books
• Crayons
• Highlighters
• Markers or colored pencils
• Holiday or themed craft kits
• Puzzles
• Travel bingo
• Card games

With so many nice gift bags and boxes to choose from today, a gift package is a really simple and fun present to give. Think of the types of little items that you would like to receive, and head out to the dollar store. The next time you’re involved in a Secret Santa or gift exchange, you won’t have to stress about what to get. These cheap homemade gift basket ideas are great for any holiday, or just because!