With only a couple of days left until Christmas, many people will rush to the stores and waste a lot of money purchasing items that will often end up being useless. Why stress picking out clothes that might not fit, perfumes they might not like, or souvenirs that will only gather dust on their shelves? Or buy expensive electronics they might end up being returned?

Instead, why not embrace the festivities and join in on the real celebration – food? Gift baskets are a wonderful way to flare up the holiday spirit, and you don’t have to spend a fortune to accomplish that goal. Here is a guide to a do-it-yourself-gift-basket.

You will need to find a basket that will have enough room to hold all the items you plan to put in it. Also, get some filler paper or straw, or anything else your creative side may come up with to place at the bottom of the basket. Prepare a ribbon or bow in a desired color, preferably larger for a more premium look. Head to the nearest grocery store, and start picking out the components of your creative and hand-made holiday present.