Homemade Christmas hamper ideas on a budget

Luxury gifts can be great for Christmas, but they’re often expensive. A pre-made hamper from a shop can set you back around £50-£100, making it a no-go for lots of us.

We want to help you spread some Christmas joy this year. Affordable but thoughtful, these Christmas DIY hamper ideas will bring joy without breaking the bank.

Hampers can get expensive quickly if you don’t stick to a budget. Here are some top tips to keep the cost down: 

• Look in charity shops for Christmas items like mugs, festive accessories, vinyls or books to jazz up your DIY hamper.

• Choose a smaller box or basket so that you don’t spend too much money trying to fill it to the brim.

• Swap out a hamper basket for a cardboard box and wrap it in Christmas paper.

• Get creative. A hamper is all about the thought behind it, not the cost. See if you can craft or bake any items yourself to add an extra personal touch.
  

If you’ve ever made a food hamper for someone, you’ll know that the price can spiral out of control pretty quickly. To cut costs, you could make a mini hamper in a small box with cheese, crackers and homemade chutney.

For people who love to bake, create a DIY Christmas hamper full of ingredients to let them enjoy the Christmas festivities. You could include:

• Plain flour

• Icing sugar

• A cookie cutter

• A Christmas cookie recipe card

• A Christmas apron
  

With winter well underway, create a cosy, warm feeling for a loved one with a snow day hamper. It’s a great cheap Christmas hamper option, and you can fill it with:

• Hot chocolate sticks

• A pair of fluffy socks

• Marshmallows

• Gloves

• A handmade knitted scarf or hat

Life can be busy, and it can be difficult to actively pause, reflect and take care of ourselves. For someone who needs a wellbeing boost this festive season, fill a hamper with:

• A colouring book or free printable colouring sheets

• Handwritten positive affirmations

• Home-grown lavender to use in a bath

• Herbal tea

• A free spring wellbeing calendar

• Their favourite chocolate 

Looking for a fun and affordable way to spend quality time together as a family? A DIY family hamper is the perfect solution! The great thing about this Christmas hamper idea is that if you’re on a budget, you don’t have to buy a gift for each family member, helping you save some cash.

Filled with games, snacks, and cosy comforts, these hampers will help to create lasting memories. You can include:

• Popcorn

• A blanket

• Their favourite snacks 

• A board game

• A free Christmas activity pack

Whether you’re gifting a DIY Christmas hamper to a seasoned gardener or a budding plant enthusiast, these ideas will bring joy and inspire people in springtime:

• A pack of seeds

• A small plant pot, hand-painted by you

• A pair of gardening gloves

• Personalised plant markers using wooden sticks and paint

• A gardening book or magazine

As we turn to the next chapter in our lives in the new year, give a fellow bookworm the ultimate gift with a book-themed hamper gift. You can include:

• A book

• A journal to track their reading progress

• A handmade bookmark 

• Tea bags

• A knitted Kindle or book sleeve

Cutting costs doesn’t mean that you can’t compromise on the Christmas spirit. To decorate your Christmas hamper on a budget, get extra crafty and creative. Ideas include:

• Christmas stars made from paper

• Dried orange slices 

• Pine cones and berries 

• Handmade tags

• Crochet decorations