It's your best friend's birthday but you’ve spent all your money on clothes and music. Don’t worry, a cool present needn’t cost the earth.

Designer Jewellery
Take a look at jewellery in magazines and the kind of things your friends are wearing for inspiration and with these ideas in mind, design and make our own necklace, bracelet or earrings. Mobile phone charms are easy to make too. A lot of the materials are inexpensive and easy to find… For example, you can stick badge pins to the back of cool objects and voila – a cool and funky present!

The Latest Fashions
Get a plain white t-shirt, some fabric paints and pens and get drawing or scribbling! Write a personal message or draw some shapes to make your friend the best T-shirt in the world!

Photo gifts
Go through all your photos of you and your mate and once you’ve found the best one, get it printed onto a mug or a calendar. Then each time she has a hot chocolate or puts a date in her calendar, she’ll be reminded of you!

By substituting your time, energy and creativity for money you can give your friend a personal gift that she'll cherish for a long time and you won't blow your budget.