The perfect gift for each person on your list doesn’t always spring right to mind, so we’ve assembled a few quick and easy ideas that don’t cost a lot of money, but are oh, so thoughtful. (Go ahead and tell your family and friends you thought of them yourself!)

First, the tried and true. You probably have a no-fail recipe for a baked treat that always pleases – banana bread, sugar cookies, gingerbread men – anything sweet and homemade will work. Mix up an extra-large batch, then put your goodies in festive packages. Nut breads look cheery in a colored plastic wrap garnished with a sprig of holly tied up in a bow. Or you could package homemade biscotti in a colorful gift bag with your favorite coffee beans, a mug, and a magazine or book. Voila! Instant coffee break.

Before we turn off the oven, the dog lovers in your life might like some homemade dog treats paired with a chew toy or two.

Creating food gifts doesn’t always mean baking and cooking yourself. There are lots of quick and easy recipes for jars. Use mason jars as your container, layer the ingredients and top off with a festive bow. Beautiful and quick! Try these recipes for Friendship Soup Mix or Oatmeal Cookies to get you started.

Infused oils are another welcome gift at holiday time as they make a lovely addition to any formal meal. This recipe for Italian Infused Olive Oil is a classic and is sure to be well received.

Another great gift you can make: buy a blank notebook, some glue, ribbon and pretty fabric. Cut the fabric to fit the book, glue it in place, then cover the edges with ribbon. Fill the book with favorite recipes, poems and jokes, or just leave it blank.

Fans of wine always welcome a good bottle. Make it even more special with wineglass charms you make yourself. All you need is some thin-gauge wire and beads or trinkets. Mix and match different colors and trinkets, making each one unique and easy to identify (after all, it’s about reuniting drinker and wineglass). Turn the wire into a circle an inch or two across, string on a few beads, then, with needle-nosed pliers, bend a hook on one end and a loop on the other for easy fastening around a glass stem. All of the supplies can be found at a craft store.

Finally, one of the simplest, most lasting gifts you can give is a flowering plant. Nothing brightens up a room like a lily or a miniature rose bush in bloom – and there’s no wrapping required. Great as a last-minute gift, these can be picked up from the floral department at your local store on the way to the party. Or, place your order with Fresh Flowers, direct to your door.

Once you’ve got your gifts wrapped up, the finishing touch is a seasonally-themed gift tag. We have a selection of tags that are simple to download and print out. And best of all, they’re free!

Armed with these no-fuss ideas, you’ll be able to give yourself a terrific gift as well: more time to enjoy the holidays!