Ok, I admit I’m guilty of falling victim to the trend of preparing for the holidays before Thanksgiving, but when you’re giving DIY gifts, you have to start early. Spending a day making gifts for loved ones is a pretty satisfying way to wind down on a weekend as well. WIth that in mind, here’s the roundup, DIY style.

  • I first found this site over the summer when it was featured on Miro, and am finally attempting to make a collection of cutting boards for various family members as gifts. The instructions are easy and thorough so if you have some tools and time, he has some impressive looking projects from start to finish. (The Wood Whisperer)
  • If you’re doing projects in general, Get Rich Slowly has some ideas as to what is easier to do yourself, and what you should higher out. My theory is generally if it’ll cost more to fix if you screw up, get a pro. If not, give it a try. (Read it at Get Rich Slowly)
  • If you need ideas for what to cook for Holidays, while Serena will probably be posting some wonderful ideas, another resource is Cookstr. Joining the myriad online recipe databases, Cookstr looks promise and can be sorted by famous chef, style, regional cuisine and cost. (Cookstr)
  • Probably my favorite economic rule is the Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility. It’s the rule that says that the first sandwich is delicious, but the second is less so and so on. Trent at The Simple Dollar notes that treats become less fun when they’re more frequent, but it can regain its special status. (Read it at The Simple Dollar)
  • I’m picky about clothes, so when I find something I really like, I try and make them last. Getting the longest life you can out of your clothes is almost a guarantee they’ll be worth what you paid. Andrea has some great tips for this. (Read it at Wisebread)

Queercents Flashback: My friend has a puppy and I’m always amazed at how many chew toys Colt goes through in a week and how quickly the cost of the toys add up. To that end, Andrea has some suggestions to minimize the cost by making DIY pet toys.