Instead of spending money on a crazy holiday gift, make a creative and inexpensive alternative in minutes.

Hex nut bracelet

For this simple bracelet, all you need is 20 hex nuts. I stole the nuts from my dad’s garage (don’t tell him).

I used hemp string for the bracelet, but any kind of string will work. Cut three strands of the string the length of your arm span. Knot them, and begin braiding.

The long length provides extra room for your bracelet, so the braid is as long or short as you want. Just make sure your wrist will be encircled.

After 1 inch of braiding, start add the hex nuts to the braid. This step is tricky, so be patient. I had to redo mine a few times just to get the motion correct.

“Keep your thumb at the base of the braid, holding the nut in its place,” according to HonestlyWTF.com. “Before you braid the far right strand over the middle, thread on another nut, push it against the base of the braid and crossover. Again, hold your thumb tightly against the base of the braid, keeping the nuts in place. Thread another nut onto the far left piece and crossover.”

Once all of your hex nuts have been added, continue braiding the bracelet. Make sure the bracelet is the size of your wrist, and knot it.

Personal mug

Any coffee or tea drinker will love this gift. It’s so easy to make because all that is required is a sharpie, mug and oven.

After drawing a cool design on the mug, place it in the oven for 10 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Be careful not to keep it in too long because it will turn your mug an ugly color.

I choose a white-and-gold polka dot design. Make the mug creative and something its recipient will enjoy.