Thrifty Gifts!

**Shell** · 01-02-2003, 07:06 PM

One place I know I have to cut back on is my gifts. If you added up all the gifts you give birthday's, showers, wedding etc. they really add up. Do you have a limit per person? Who makes most of their gifts? I would love to get some ideas.

**guest2** · 01-02-2003, 08:06 PM

I shop year round for gifts and have a rubbermaid tub filled with gift items. I try to buy "generic" type gifts that I know people would enjoy. I'll pick up games, chenielle throws, books, baby items, kitchen items, etc. when on clearance or good deals and then they are ready for giving. One thing our family does that helps is we each draw a couple's name for Christmas each year . We are only responsible to buy a gift for that couple and not for the other adults in the family. We still do gifts for all the children in the family though. I also do a lot of cooking and baking and give those types of goodies for Christmas to friends and family.

Blessings,
DebbieG

**heaven** · 01-02-2003, 08:13 PM

Oh i did the best gifts for under $20 each, I made those wonderful movie baskets of Lori's. the great thing is if you get the movies on sale *which i did* and buy big boxes of microwave popcorn it brings it down even more. The most expensive thing besides the movies were the A&W mugs. at 2.99 each. there are several great ideas, we did a few months ago.
There are bath baskets, too. those can be really inexpensive if you go to the dollar store. there are so many great ideas, i know someone else will come up with some more.
can you tell i do alot of baskets. LOL
throws are a great thing with a book or a GC to the bookstore, maybe a mug with flavored coffee or tea or cocoa. and you can get those inexpensively too.

**simplemom** · 01-02-2003, 08:17 PM

I know!!! When you look at how many gifts you can make in a year...! It can add up! I also stock on gifts all year round when I find bargains and real good deals. But for the coming year, I would *really* like to make all my gifts. It's still the cheapest way and it can be as much valuable if not more.

I plan on sewing Barbie clothes for my neices. I thought of sewing some type of denim organizer for my nephew, with old jeans, using the pockets and zippers and all.

I will try to cross-stitch small patterns and frame them in frames I find in garage sales.

I've often made baskets, but even when I pay little money for the items, it can add up to $10.00-$15.00 when I fill them up....so that's why I also want to find more frugal gifts to make or give.

Lucie

**nealy** · 01-02-2003, 08:46 PM

I try shopping year round after making a list of names I have or want to buy for each year. I carry it with me so if I see something I can snatch it up if it is a bargain! I also find it difficult to design baskets without spending a fortune. 20.00 a person is too much for our budget so we have to really look around for good buys.

Nealy

**homesteadmamma** · 01-02-2003, 09:17 PM

We make all our gifts. I make some, dh makes some and we work together to make some. We get most of our wood for free so the only costs are stain and our time.

I make quilted items, knitted items from wool I pick up at yard sales. Its amazing how much is usually sold when older people are no longer knitting.

We just don't have the funds to purchase a lot of gifts.

I also give gifts of food (homemade jams/jellies, soup mixes, etc.) which have been a big hit.

We stopped giving birthday gifts, anniversary gifts to extended family. We only give gifts to our immediate family and to my mom at Christmas. I don't go to showers and if were invited to a wedding, I give a small gift of money.

Even though we love giving gifts, our gift giving costs us little.

**simplemom** · 01-02-2003, 09:33 PM

CJ...

When you say *immediate family* do you mean your kids only and grandchildren? If you have sisters or brothers, are they included? How about nephews or neices? I am curious, becuase:

we give gifts to our 8 nephews and neices on birthdays and Christmas. They are not expensive gifts but let's say $7 average each twice, that makes $112.00 just for them each year...when my kids go to Birthday parties, it costs me about $6.00, maybe that happens 5 times a year...which makes $30.00...then my parents, dh's parents...$50 a year, our godson, that's $40.00 a year. With all of these, so far it costs us $ 232.00! I haven't counted our 4 kids in there!

I'd really try to cut on gifts or at least on the costs. But I have to admit, I'm afriad that some of my family(the parents of my nephews and neices) will be mad or think we are cheap.

CJ, What are the knitted gifts you make? I would also like to know what you make as wood gifts... Do you have suggestions for kids, teenager's gifts?

Thanks!

Lucie