need gift ideas for 20 ladies

**Contrary Housewife** · 07-24-2011, 04:13 PM

Ok, at the end of the year (usually early December) before we break for the holiday, my dance class has a little party where we eat a lot of food (potluck), listen to music, dance a little, and exchange small gifts.

The gifts are in no way obligatory but I like to give them.

About 20+ ladies show up for the party so I have to buy in quantity. In the past I have given home made bath salts, small silver pendants, bracelets, and last year I gave earrings. I got them wholesale for about $1 a pair and they were pretty nice. Some of the other girls gave candles, incense, and jewelry.

I'm looking for new ideas for nice, small gifts that I can give. Things I can buy 20 or 30 of at a time without shelling out too much. My budget is about $1.50 per person, a total of about $30. I've been cruising ebay all morning and not coming up with much. Prices have gone up. (of course!)

I appreciate any suggestions.

**TigerGirl1226** · 07-24-2011, 04:23 PM

A cute notepad and pen set would be nice. I've seen them at Tuesday Morning (not sure if you have that store in your area) for about that price.

**SandNOceanGirl** · 07-24-2011, 04:26 PM

Maybe a christmas ornament. Oriental Trading usually has some pretty nice ones that are reasonably priced.

**mauimagic** · 07-24-2011, 04:27 PM

Black and white composition books are available for 50 cents now. You can cover them in fabric or paper and can attach a pen too. If you need directions, please let me know - I give a lot of these.

**Sophia** · 07-24-2011, 04:47 PM

I love the note pads that you hang on the fridge. You can get them for about 1.00 each. That is what I write my grocery list on. Find a nice cup for about 1.00 and put in a flavored tea bag or hot cocoa pkg.Hope this helps. TC

**MaryCarney** · 07-24-2011, 08:26 PM

How about a batch of Puppy Chow mix or a favorite recipe with the spices for it attached?

**Palooka** · 07-24-2011, 09:35 PM

Those mini nail polish bottles are under a buck or purse size hand lotion?

**craftypam** · 07-24-2011, 09:44 PM

Originally Posted by Contrary Housewife

Ok, at the end of the year (usually early December) before we break for the holiday, my dance class has a little party where we eat a lot of food (potluck), listen to music, dance a little, and exchange small gifts.

The gifts are in no way obligatory but I like to give them.

About 20+ ladies show up for the party so I have to buy in quantity. In the past I have given home made bath salts, small silver pendants, bracelets, and last year I gave earrings. I got them wholesale for about $1 a pair and they were pretty nice. Some of the other girls gave candles, incense, and jewelry.

I'm looking for new ideas for nice, small gifts that I can give. Things I can buy 20 or 30 of at a time without shelling out too much. My budget is about $1.50 per person, a total of about $30. I've been cruising ebay all morning and not coming up with much. Prices have gone up. (of course!)

I appreciate any suggestions.

Do you have a Christmas Tree Shop where you live? They have alot of different things and their prices are great!!!

How about gifts in a jar?

Like your idea MM!

**frugalfranny** · 07-25-2011, 01:19 AM

Okay......let me be the 'scrooge' here..........

Maybe not everyone 'decorates' for Xmas......
Maybe not everyone uses nail polish or certain hygiene
items..........
Love the recipe idea but making that many with spices could get expensive....spices aren't cheap.

So..........how well do you know them?

EVERYONE can use note pads.
And EVERYONE can use hand lotion.........

How about travel size lotion with an emery board attached with a ribbon or something?
How about making the small loaves of your favorite sweet bread recipe............wrapped in saran with a ribbon?

Something neutral........is what I am trying to say.

Can you tell I got some gifts this year that I WILL NEVER use???

**zakity** · 07-25-2011, 02:03 AM

I like the travel size lotion idea! What about making homemade lotion? I don't know if that would be in your price range though. But, some nice oil that you scent yourself would be nice. Some of the oils soak in really nice and quickly. I know that I have vitamin E oil that is lemon scented that I buy to stick on a dry spot on my foot or on my hands when they start cracking in the winter.

**Bethgiggles** · 07-25-2011, 02:52 AM

Both Target and Michaels have $1 sections. Michaels has TONS of cute stuff!

**mauimagic** · 07-25-2011, 03:39 AM

When I have a lot of little gifts to give, I usually spend more energy on the presentation. For example, I picked up 25 cent round bars of soap that I'm going to be giving this year - and I'm going to make little boxes out of cardstock paper theat I will decorate - am going for an .....'aw cute' look!!

**Contrary Housewife** · 07-25-2011, 10:11 AM

You bring up a good point FrugalFannie, I don't know most of them except by name because they don't have class the same time as me. But I think it's rude to not have enough to "share with the whole class" during the party, ykwim?

I do know several ladies do not "celebrate" Christmas for various reasons so I like to avoid anything directly related.

I like the idea for notepads, hand cream, and such. I'll keep an eye out for deals.

**Jayne** · 07-25-2011, 10:20 AM

The notepads and pens is a great idea..I know I would like to recieve something like that..The lotion is nice, but I would try to go with unscented if possible, I have made the mistake of giving scented things to people who were allergic...How about a small flashlight or mini tool set, purse size?

**zakity** · 07-25-2011, 10:52 PM

Oh man! Those small LED flashlights are fabulous! I bought my self a nice one, but I also have five or six cheapies that come in handy. We have one in each car, I have one in my "activity" bag (the bag I put some activities in for me to do while I am at the boys' activities), and one sits on my nightstand (great to use instead of turning on lights to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night).