• Scrapbook gifts preserve family memories for future generations.Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images
  
  Moms and dads are the glue that hold many families together, and finding the perfect Christmas gift to express your gratitude for all they do can be hard when working with a limited budget. Fortunately, there are a few low-cost Christmas presents you can give to show mom and dad that you care.
  
  

Scrapbook

• Create a scrapbook that chronicles your parents' lives, from their youth, to their marriage and through the birth and lives of their children. Ask grandparents and other family members for photographs that you can make copies of, and include small items like report cards, wedding invitations and birth announcements. Scrapbook materials can be purchased from your local craft store, or for a more personal touch, line the pages with old scraps of cloth, jewels and other small mementos from around the house. For large families, ask everyone to create one page of the scrapbook, then gather them together, along with a few group pages, for the finished product.
  
  

Small Vacation

• Vacations don't have to be expensive or even far away. Parents who live in a warm climate and love the outdoors might enjoy a camping excursion close to home. Reserve a campsite at a local primitive campground, and place the reservation papers in a card. Pack up the necessary supplies such as tents and sleeping bags, and surprise your parents with some time away from home.
  
  Those living in colder climates can plan a 'staycation' for parents. Book a hotel room for a night, and gather brochures for local attractions, such as theaters, museums and zoos. Book hotel rooms and campsites far in advance to get the best rates.
  
  

Family Get-together

• A free and meaningful Christmas gift for many parents is to have the whole family together during the holidays. In the months leading up to Christmas, contact aunts, uncles, grandparents and other extended family members, and plan a get-together. Prepare any spare rooms in the house, and make reservations at a local hotel to handle the overflow. Plan for family members to conveniently start showing up Christmas morning to give your parents a holiday to remember. Make sure to buy enough food and drinks for everyone in advance, or Christmas dinner might be more stressful than joyous.
  
  

Meal

• For parents that take the time to cook and clean all year round, a night off might be the perfect gift. Gather recipes from family members, cookbooks and magazines, and plan a large family meal on or around Christmas night. If your culinary skills aren't up to par, order the main course or meat from a local deli or caterer, and concentrate on preparing the side dishes. Stick to classics like mashed potatoes, green beans and baked macaroni and cheese. Include your parents' favorite dessert, along with a card, flowers or other small gift.