LIMPOPO – As the festive season approaches, many residents are already getting into the holiday spirit.

With tough economic times, people are finding creative ways to celebrate through affordable gift-giving, with some presents costing less than R100.

Rhulani Mashakeni, a resident of Mageva Village in Giyani, shared that she enjoys shopping for budget-friendly gifts at Pep Stores, where she looks for inexpensive yet thoughtful items such as diaries and uniquely coloured pens.

“It’s not about how much you spend, but the thought behind the gift,” she said.

Mashakeni also suggested using paper cups to package sweets such as candies, chocolate, and homemade flowers with ribbon as a gift for the children.

“I find this gift very exciting for children, more especially when you use colourful paper cups,” she said. “Such a gift can also work for elderly people with unique colourful papers.”

She further said sometimes she creates bracelets, hats, socks, and jackets from the old things she has at home, such as old clothes, old damaged products with pearls for bracelets.

Several influencers have also shared ideas for simple, low-cost gifts that can bring joy without straining finances.

Their suggestions include small mugs, fuzzy socks, hand creams, hand sanitisers, and even mini-Christmas hats, perfect tokens of appreciation that show festive cheer on a modest budget.