Christmas is creeping up and the time is here to buy gifts for friends and family. Being a high school student on a budget, it can be hard to think of presents that won’t break the bank, but you can get creative this holiday season with DIY gifts for family and friends.

Music Playlist

Giving the gift of music is a great choice if you and your friend have similar tastes.

“There’s so much music in the world and everyone has a different taste in music that reflects their unique personality,” senior Riley Kloostra said. “Trying to capture that with music…is a really heartfelt and personalized gift.”

If you are stuck on what music to choose, consider picking one genre and picking only one song per artist to make a list of around 16 songs; Spotify and Apple Music have great features to find similar styles of music. Then, compile them into a playlist—or go “old-fashioned” and burn a CD—that any friend would appreciate.

Overall price: $0

Monogramed Mug

Good for any coffee or tea drinker, a monogramed mug is personal and inexpensive, and Instructables.com has an easy way to create a mug that looks professional.

Go to Target or Michaels and buy a large mug in any color of your choice ($2-$4 for a porcelain white mug at Target), scrapbook letters ($3) and oil-based Sharpies ($5). Stick the scrapbook letter on and apply Sharpie marker in a design around the letter so when you remove the sticker after the marker dries, there is an outline of the initial.

Let it dry for 24 hours, then bake the mug at 350 degrees for 30 minutes and let it cool. The mug is now complete and ready to give to a friend.

Overall price: $10

Ornaments

It is the holiday season, so what better gift than an ornament? Stemming from childhood Christmas craft parties, this idea is one for all ages.

“I made them when I was younger and I always thought it was something simple that kids especially can make from the heart but on a budget,” junior Lindsey Hohlt said.

One way is to get a box of clear, round ornaments ($6 for 9 set at Target). Take the top off to fill it with floor wax (around $6 at Walmart, seems strange but Staci Ann Lowry’s blog about DIY gifts swears by it) and swish it around, putting the excess back in the bottle. Then put glitter ($2) in the ornament and mix it around the same way as the wax.

Now, let dry and reattach the cap with a little glue. You can add stickers to the outside to make it more festive or leave it plain.

Overall price: $14

Cookies

While probably the most basic idea, plenty of people only make chocolate chip or sugar cookies this time of year, but there are many different types of cookies. Easy and inexpensive, cookie-making is something many families enjoy and is a delicious gift to give friends or family.

“[Cookie making] really shows how much time and effort someone is willing to put into a relationship, without spending a whole bunch of money,” sophomore Sophie Schaefer said.

Cookies can be made in the shapes of trees using pretzels as stumps and icing as snow. Snickerdoodles and gingerbread cookies can spice up the assortment as well as cinnamon and sugar cookies in the shape of candy canes.

Overall price: $0 depending on ingredients at home

If you are on a tight budget, some of the most appreciated gifts are just kind words. Take the time to tell your friends how much you care about them, and maybe throw in a small homemade gift, this holiday season.