If you love giving gifts as much as I do, you’ve learned to take advantage of all of the inexpensive gift ideas you can come up with. After all, the point of giving a gift is to tell a friend or family member that you’re thinking of them on their special occasion. No one expects you to blow your family’s budget on a gift. Giving a thoughtful, but inexpensive, gift is always a better idea than spending a ton of money on a gift you can’t afford.
Inexpensive gifts don’t have to be cheap, though. You can learn to get as much bang for your gift-giving buck by carefully selecting the items you choose to give. Here are some of my favorite ideas:
Tiny Luxuries – I’ve found that many of my girl friends don’t regularly treat themselves to the little luxuries in life. By shopping at discount places like TJ Maxx or Marshall’s, I can buy small treats like high -end chocolates, name brand perfumes, or decadent lotions.
The Gift of Creativity – Kids love anything that allows them to get their creative juices flowing. A smattering a stickers or a foam craft kit are both great gift ideas for youngsters. You can find both for a dollar or two at craft stores like Michael’s or Hobby Lobby. When all else fails a coloring book from the dollar store and a new package of crayons are sure to elicit a smile from the gift recipient.
Gadgets – If there’s one thing the men in my life can never get enough of, it is gadgets. Inexpensive things like a LED flashlight or a talking tire pressure gauge always make nice gifts. Tasty rubs or seasonings for use at a cookout or a six pack of assorted beers (the best ones are at World Market) are always popular, as well.
Gifts for the Impossible Recipient – No one is harder to shop for than teenagers. Teens have their own tastes, and they change their minds faster than anyone I know. A few gifts, however, always please the teenagers in my life. An assortment of eye shadows in a fun zipper bag can be a great gift for a teenage girl. I make the bag myself from scraps of fabric left from other projects. Jewelry or hair accessories are great for younger girls, too. Boys might enjoy a DVD of a recent action flick or an accessory for their mp3 players.
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
When I was young, as well as my brothers and sisters, obviously, we were too young to “buy” gifts for Christmas for our parents. Therefore, we had to improvise.
This improvisation will go a long way in this day and age in my opinion, regardless of how old you are.
Do you know how happy my mother was when she got a handwritten “coupon” saying that I would clean the bathrooms for two weeks wothout being asked (and without it being part of my weekly chores)?
My wife enjoys these more than just about anything I buy for her.
Gifts from the heart are remembered much longer than gifts from the wallet.
Handmade gifts are another great idea and it really shows the recipient that you put some thought and effort into their gift. If you’re crafty, you can make something that they can use around the house or some decorations. I’m a woodworker and will be making some nice cutting boards and candle holders as gifts this year. If you don’t have the skills to do this, another option is to put together your own holiday gift baskets, you can save substantial money by making them yourself and you can customize them to the recipient.
This year we are making some homemade gifts for family and friends like some bath fizz, bath salt and cookies. We are also not spending money on wrapping papers. I have sewn some gift bags and we are going to use that to put in the gifts.
I found this to be a good gift idea for any woman in your life. They are relatively inexpensive and priceless for what you get. What woman wouldn’t want to show off their necklace that tells a story?
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