Christmas is right around the corner, and for those last-minute shoppers who are feeling the pinch of this recession, I came across these great low-cost to no-cost gift ideas. The following were sent from Wondertime editors and their readers:

1. Specify a theme for each night of Hanukkah. One night is family gift night, so the gift is a family game. One night is educational, so give a book or something related to learning. The third night, everyone go to the store together with the money you would have spent on gifts, and let the kids choose toys to donate to Toys for Tots.

2. Choose one Saturday a month in September, October, and November for Family Christmas Craft Day. Children love giving gifts that they’ve helped make. It cuts down on the expense and lets you spend time together.

3. Slip a piece of paper in your child’s stocking that serves as a coupon for a day out with Daddy or Mommy. Then take them off to spend a day with them alone, doing whatever they choose. That gift is usually the only one they’ll remember come February.

4. Get a takeout holiday dinner so that mom can spend the day with her children and husband rather than being tired in the kitchen.

5. Start a year-in-review poem. Each year dad or mom can put on a Santa hat and read a poem they have written about his family’s adventures from the last year.

Any other suggestions for low-budget gifts which you have loved to give or receive?

To see how Steals & Deals blogger Karen Deer “shopped her home for gifts,” click here.