^ This. Also, look at these:

• Open When letters: zero cost, very personal.
• Snack box: easy, just lacks flair. Both work way better than expensive DIY fails.

I tried the whole Pinterest aesthetic last year for my cousins birthday and honestly it was a total disaster. Most those simple projects are not as good as expected because they require tools most people dont have lying around. Unfortunately, I spent nearly 50 bucks on specialty glue and glitter that just ended up making a mess. Its frustrating when tutorials claim to be for beginners but actually require a steady hand I definitely dont possess. Since you are on a tight budget and need something that actually looks decent, here are a few things I found that worked after my initial failures:

• The Memory Jar. Get a standard mason jar from a dollar store. Instead of hand-writing notes which looks sloppy, type out 30 memories and print them on colored paper. It looks way more professional and costs maybe 5 bucks total.
• Personalized Survival Kit. Go to a discount store and grab their favorite snacks, some Advil, and a cheap face mask. Labels on these kits are usually overpriced if you buy them pre-made, so just use a basic template from Share Product to print your own at home.
• Photo Timeline. Print 30 photos from a pharmacy kiosk (usually around 30 cents each). Use some twine and tiny clothespins to make a hanging display. I had issues with expensive frames falling apart in the past, so this simple method is actually more reliable and way cheaper. Basically, skip the paint and the glue guns. They never turn out like the pictures and you just end up wasting money you dont have. Stick to printing and assembly... it is much harder to mess up and wont leave you crying over a glue gun.

Jumping in here because i feel your pain. Like someone mentioned, those pinterest aesthetics are a total trap for your wallet and your sanity. Honestly, I had issues with trying those easy projects last year and they were just not as good as expected... ended up with a glue-covered table and zero actual gifts. Since you're on a budget, dont overcomplicate it. A 30 years of memories jar is basically foolproof. Just buy a cheap jar and write down 30 memories on scraps of paper. If you want to spend that $40, maybe grab a few small things for a 30s survival kit. Think ibuprofen, a nice coffee mug, and some snacks. It looks like you put in effort but requires zero artistic skill and you wont feel like screaming at a glue gun. TL;DR: Skip the complicated crafts. Go for a memory jar or a curated survival kit to save money and stress. You should check out Walmart Wishlist Creator if you're tired of the official Walmart app crashing when you try to view your lists.