Comments on: Be thoughtful with secondhand gifts http://www.frugalvillage.com/2009/10/04/be-thoughtful-with-secondhand-gifts/ Frugal Living by Sara Noel Sat, 11 Feb 2012 03:26:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Wendy http://www.frugalvillage.com/2009/10/04/be-thoughtful-with-secondhand-gifts/#comment-29657 Wendy Sun, 08 Nov 2009 05:57:26 +0000 http://www.frugalvillage.com/?p=1997#comment-29657 Gift baskets are the way to go when you don't have a lot of money to spend. I made a gift basket for my cousin in college which included a nice mug plus teas and hot coco mix I already had for those late study nights. I also included a nice pen and a journal notebook, which didn't cost much at all. Placed them in a decorative box I already had that she could use for extra storage. She LOVED it and it was so inexpensive and so useful! I go to the post-holiday sales specifically for gift basket items for the following year! Gift baskets are the way to go when you don’t have a lot of money to spend. I made a gift basket for my cousin in college which included a nice mug plus teas and hot coco mix I already had for those late study nights. I also included a nice pen and a journal notebook, which didn’t cost much at all. Placed them in a decorative box I already had that she could use for extra storage. She LOVED it and it was so inexpensive and so useful!

I go to the post-holiday sales specifically for gift basket items for the following year!

]]> By: Sara Noel http://www.frugalvillage.com/2009/10/04/be-thoughtful-with-secondhand-gifts/#comment-28929 Sara Noel Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:40:51 +0000 http://www.frugalvillage.com/?p=1997#comment-28929 Mary, the pet food/treats gift is an awesome idea. Gift baskets are a great if you're a smart frugal shopper. I don't suggest it for some people though. It can be too easy to overspend trying to fill the containers. Mary, the pet food/treats gift is an awesome idea. Gift baskets are a great if you’re a smart frugal shopper. I don’t suggest it for some people though. It can be too easy to overspend trying to fill the containers.

]]> By: Sara Noel http://www.frugalvillage.com/2009/10/04/be-thoughtful-with-secondhand-gifts/#comment-28928 Sara Noel Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:27:28 +0000 http://www.frugalvillage.com/?p=1997#comment-28928 I made chocolate dipped spoons last yr for my kids. I had been meaning to make them for years. Anyway, my kids loved them. I simply melted chocolate candy melts, dipped the spoons, rolled them in sprinkles and cookie sugars and stored them into the freezer. My kids loved chocolate dipped pretzel rods, too. I made chocolate dipped spoons last yr for my kids. I had been meaning to make them for years. Anyway, my kids loved them. I simply melted chocolate candy melts, dipped the spoons, rolled them in sprinkles and cookie sugars and stored them into the freezer. My kids loved chocolate dipped pretzel rods, too.

]]> By: Michelle S. http://www.frugalvillage.com/2009/10/04/be-thoughtful-with-secondhand-gifts/#comment-28927 Michelle S. Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:19:22 +0000 http://www.frugalvillage.com/?p=1997#comment-28927 I second the gift basket idea. First because everyone loves the basket itself and also because the ideas are almost limitless if you plan throughout the year. You can always get great baskets at the dollar store and then just make custom baskets. If your friend is a crafter, fill the basket with craft items you get on sale at Michaels or the dollar store. For coffee or tea lovers--find a pretty mug and then put in some home-made cookies and coffee, tea, hot chocolate. You can even melt chocolate and dip some spoons (from the dollar store, a flea market or even plastic ones) in it for a nice addition. Book lovers--There are endless places to get cheap books and you throw in some homemade cookies and a bookmark (also easy to make) and it's another great gift. For friends who like to pamper themselves: some shower gel, lotion,a pouf, and a candle all can be bought on sale or at the dollar store. Anyway, some effort and your not-so expensive gift looks like an incredibly special gift, which it is. I second the gift basket idea. First because everyone loves the basket itself and also because the ideas are almost limitless if you plan throughout the year. You can always get great baskets at the dollar store and then just make custom baskets. If your friend is a crafter, fill the basket with craft items you get on sale at Michaels or the dollar store. For coffee or tea lovers–find a pretty mug and then put in some home-made cookies and coffee, tea, hot chocolate. You can even melt chocolate and dip some spoons (from the dollar store, a flea market or even plastic ones) in it for a nice addition. Book lovers–There are endless places to get cheap books and you throw in some homemade cookies and a bookmark (also easy to make) and it’s another great gift. For friends who like to pamper themselves: some shower gel, lotion,a pouf, and a candle all can be bought on sale or at the dollar store. Anyway, some effort and your not-so expensive gift looks like an incredibly special gift, which it is.

]]> By: mary http://www.frugalvillage.com/2009/10/04/be-thoughtful-with-secondhand-gifts/#comment-28904 mary Mon, 05 Oct 2009 04:22:58 +0000 http://www.frugalvillage.com/?p=1997#comment-28904 Another idea for inexpensive or free, but thoughtful gifts, is items acquired through coupons. This past year, I collected free dog and cat food and treats throughout the year using coupons and sales. I had enough to give very large gift boxes to three of the in-laws. I was really worried about how it would be received. I put a lot of effort into the acquisition and hoped it would not be seen as chinchy. They were thrilled and had lots of questions about how they could do the same thing. Another almost free idea is to use your coupon acquired free or almost free items and make a gift basket. Free pasta and sauce can make a great Italian food gift when put in an inexpensive pasta bowl (from the thrift store is new enough). The variations on this are endless. I also re-gift if appropriate and I think the person would really like it. And food gifts are cheap and really well received (if you bake!). Another idea for inexpensive or free, but thoughtful gifts, is items acquired through coupons. This past year, I collected free dog and cat food and treats throughout the year using coupons and sales. I had enough to give very large gift boxes to three of the in-laws. I was really worried about how it would be received. I put a lot of effort into the acquisition and hoped it would not be seen as chinchy. They were thrilled and had lots of questions about how they could do the same thing.

Another almost free idea is to use your coupon acquired free or almost free items and make a gift basket. Free pasta and sauce can make a great Italian food gift when put in an inexpensive pasta bowl (from the thrift store is new enough). The variations on this are endless.

I also re-gift if appropriate and I think the person would really like it.

And food gifts are cheap and really well received (if you bake!).

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