6 affordable 1940s gift trends people are bringing back this holiday season

Winter holidays generally mean buying gifts for loved ones, but this holiday season, people are looking to yesteryear for affordable gift-giving ideas. People often feel that they have to spend a lot of money on a gift for it to be appreciated, but that's not always the case. As more shoppers move away from traditional commercial shopping, people are getting creative with their shopping plans.

In parenting support groups across social media platforms, many parents are turning to gently used items. But parents aren't the only ones looking for gently used things; across social media, people are doing a "no-buy" Christmas. This year, they're looking to trade things instead of purchasing new, with some even offering up services to exchange.

With more people thinking outside the box on how to gift-give this holiday season, it's no surprise that there's also an uptick in the vintage idea of handmade gifts. During World War II, funds were tight so families tried their best to make the most of the holiday season with less. This included handmade treats, gifts, and other more affordable options to reduce the cost of holiday gifting. Here are some things making a comeback:

1. Handwritten letters

While handwritten letters were more common in the '40s, it was still a treat to receive a handwritten card in the mail. Many people still send out holiday cards, but some are going the extra mile. Instead of just the typical card with a family signature, some may consider writing updates by hand on stationery paper to loved ones they won't physically see this holiday season.

2. Wrapping gifts in paper bags

In decades prior, rolls of brown paper were fairly cheap; nowadays, it's about the cost of regular wrapping paper but you get a lot more per roll. Savvy shoppers are saving even more by cutting up a brown paper bags and reusing brown packing paper tucked inside of delivery boxes. Families in the '40s also saw no issue with wrapping a gift in newspaper. It made the wrapping paper unique, and if you use the comic section, it gives people something to chuckle at before the gift is even opened. Many local papers still sell print copies in gas stations and bookstores if you want to try out newspaper wrapping.

3. Easy and cheap homemade treats

The list of easy and affordable homemade treats is long, but to kick things off, let's share a few. Rice Krispies Treats are almost always a hit. They take very few ingredients, and one box of cereal makes several servings of treats. If you want to make them festive, buy red and green or blue and white sprinkles to top them with before placing them in a holiday to-go container.

Another easy treat is Peppermint Bark. Again, you can count the ingredients on one hand and still have fingers left. You don't even have to have an oven to make it. Just melt down some chocolate, mix in a little peppermint extract, then spread it on a cookie sheet before topping it with crushed candy canes and placing it in the fridge until it's hard. Wrapping a mallet in plastic wrap and whacking it until it's broken into enough smaller parts is a favorite amongst littles.

Cornflake Candy is just one more cheap, easy holiday treat families can make together. A big box of cornflakes, corn syrup, sugar, and peanut butter makes enough treats to spread the love. Some fancy folks like to include festive food coloring. All of these treats are easily found online with clear instructions.

4. Thrifting is good for gifting

As mentioned previously, many people are looking for gently used items to gift. Shoppers can save a good deal of money and likely time by heading to local thrift stores for used items that look brand new. Some hits are vintage picture frames, vases, and serving platters. Oftentimes, items like these can be quickly cleaned up and made into something special by adding a family photo or printing out license-free artwork to place inside the frames. Grabbing a bouquet to put in the thrifted vase or baking cookies to present to the host of the holiday party on the new to you platter makes it feel more personal.

5. Handmade crafts

Maybe you know how to sew or you're pretty good with a crochet hook. In the '40s, hand-making dolls or wearable items not only helped them save money, but they also made the person receiving the item feel special. Scarves, hats, cross stitch, handmade candles, and more are all ways you can combine your crafting skills and holiday gift to brighten someone's day.

6. Offering a Service

Maybe you're not great at crafting, or there's no money in the budget to pick up a gift. Time can be a wonderful gift to provide for a loved one. Presenting someone with a coupon for babysitting one night, helping with a household chore, or offering to run an errand for them can help lessen their load.

People are brilliantly coming up with unconventional ideas to make the holiday season feel special without spending loads of money. Turning to decades past to see how prior generations saved money during financially hard times seems to be the best way to get inspiration without reinventing the wheel.