| Cheap and thoughtful Christmas gifts
Posted: 12/1/2006 4:38:25 PM | | Ok- money is tight this year and I need some cheap and thoughtful Christmas ideas for my mom, dad, bro & gf etc... Any ideas? | |
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| Cheap and thoughtful Christmas gifts
Posted: 12/1/2006 4:51:44 PM | Check out all the dollar stores in your area. The ones around here are full of great gift ideas for a few dollars.
One classic idea is the gift of a portrait... well with the technology available to us now you can make your own digital pictures and print a 5x7 for around a dollar at WalMart or a similar store... and if you can get a nice frame at a dollar store for a buck or two, there's a thoughtful gift for around $3. | |
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| Cheap and thoughtful Christmas gifts
Posted: 12/1/2006 5:10:00 PM | Gift of time is always a good idea. Certificate gifting the receiver with your time to assist with some chores, massage, whatever might be needed.
Gifts from the kitchen, really cool to make up some mixes that you can tie a recipe to and they can whip up by adding this or that. One year I gave people a sun-dried tomato recipe for a pasta sauce, beer herb bread mix and caesar salad dressing recipe. They got a meal in a box (of course they had to add some items, I did provide the beer though....). It was affordable and greatly appreciated. | |
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| Cheap and thoughtful Christmas gifts
Posted: 12/1/2006 6:04:20 PM | ^^^ agree with u on that one JF^^^^
It's the thought that counts, if u have any hobbies, skills and talents only u can do then that to me is the best present ever!
I am not in favour of buying something materialistic, last minute gift with no thought process involved. I like so many things. If u made I will love and cherish it for the rest of my days.
I love my kids drawings and reminisce (sp) about the stories behind them, the way their eyes light up when u ask them to tell u about what did they etc.
Good thing I am good with my hands and know how to make alot of things. Some are quite time consuming which I am not happy about as it's a hobby I like to do.
It's all about the touch and the flair for the pauche! | |
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| Cheap and thoughtful Christmas gifts
Posted: 12/1/2006 6:12:17 PM | I had one of those lean years when I was younger..
I wanted to get something for both my sisters, so I sat down at my computer and searched out all their favourite guitar songs/chords and printed them out. Bought cheap binders and those plastic sleeves to put them in..
paper $5-
sleeves $3-
binder $1-
there years of sitting down together and playing out of those same "guitar" books... priceless!!
so use your imagination and you will be amazed at what you can come up with! | |
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| Cheap and thoughtful Christmas gifts
Posted: 12/1/2006 6:17:16 PM | Here's one for the guys: If there is a special lady that you are just starting to see... Give her a Christmas card that entitles her to: (ideas below)
a romantic candlelit dinner cooked by you...
(for those "handymen"), a home repair(s) done by you 
something special that she would enjoy that is made by you...
To me it is all about the thoughtfulness and planning that went into it, not about the money..... | |
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| Cheap and thoughtful Christmas gifts
Posted: 12/1/2006 9:25:19 PM | | Homemade coupon books are great ideas... I've got some for free babysitting, doing the dishes, dinners, etc... all made for me last year by my then roommate, who also happened to be my sister. It's such a thoughtful gift, and it lasts all through the year. | |
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| Cheap and thoughtful Christmas gifts
Posted: 12/1/2006 10:26:38 PM | | there are tons of stuff you can make that are great gifts. Homemade liquers, candy, gifts in a jar. I 've got recipes for lots of things. I even made homemade mustard last year and a great beer bread recipe | |
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| Cheap and thoughtful Christmas gifts
Posted: 12/1/2006 10:29:21 PM | | there are tons of stuff you can make that are great gifts. Homemade liquers, candy, gifts in a jar. I 've got recipes for lots of things. I even made homemade mustard last year and a great beer bread recipe | |
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| Cheap and thoughtful Christmas gifts
Posted: 12/1/2006 11:45:11 PM | I find gifts from the kitchen always make great Christmas and hostess gifts. Everyone is so busy at Christmas and adds to what can be served for guests when socializing during the festive season.
I made jars of antipasta one year and they were a huge hit. I made homemade fudge in really attractive tissue and gift boxes from the $ store the first year my ex-partner and I celebrated Christmas - it was well received by his family (I only had a step sister living in BC at the time).
Calendars that can be created on the computer (a different picture of a family member for every month) are a thoughtful gift and a reminder every month of the generosity of the giver. Your family will love you for it.
I have also saved really fancy brandy bottles for home-made kahlua, baileys or GM, with the recipe neatly written on cardboard and ribboned around the neck of the bottle.
Another suggestion is home-made wine but if you make it this late in the year you have to add a note saying not to open until ________.
If you have kids, get some brown kraft paper or newsprint and make your own designs from potato stamps. Geez that brings back a lot of memories.
I used to be a Big Sister and we made gingerbread sleighs filled with bulk-purchased Christmas candies and no one could believe we made them. My Little Sister insisted on having pink icing to decorate the outline. We had such a blast making them.
Services for babysitting are always appreciated by young parents who never get out for an evening alone.
A mixed CD of their favourite music is another suggestion. | |
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| Cheap and thoughtful Christmas gifts
Posted: 12/2/2006 1:09:20 AM | I had done one year baked goodies, brownies, cookies, rum balls, and chocolates. I picked up the small boxes at the dollar stores and got colour clear wrapping paper, and it was a hit.
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| Cheap and thoughtful Christmas gifts
Posted: 12/2/2006 8:21:45 AM | I take pics with the digital camera all year long, and print the ones that I like the best, my son does that too... buy some picture frames and include a nice bottle of wine or a box of chocolates. It's around 30.00 all together.
A gift card to Starbucks...always appreciated by the coffee lovers.
Buy sand and glass rocks from the pet store, large glass vases from Fields or the Dollar store and a large candle. Alternate sand and rocks decoratively in the vase, put the candle in the center and fills with more rocks and sand to make the candle sturdy. Some ribbon and viola a nice gift.
A pretty container, ebson salts...cheap, cheap, and some ribbon...a soothing soak for tired muscles. | |
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| Cheap and thoughtful Christmas gifts
Posted: 12/3/2006 3:18:59 AM | Movie gift certificates, or for concert venues, plays, etc. Usually not really very expensive but can very valuable.
Or what you could do is make and wrap your own gift baskets; picking and choosing as you go. Jams, crackers, Japanese oranges, walnuts etc for your Mom, another one could be one stocked with shaving gear,soaps, shower stuff etc
Good luck | |
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| Cheap and thoughtful Christmas gifts
Posted: 12/3/2006 8:54:43 AM | I agree with the previous posts regarding creating a coupon book for things you can provide yourself like: babysitting, walking a dog, gardening, painting, snow removal (lol) etc.
I have a large number of co-workers that I enjoy making gifts for every year so I have to be frugal. I have purchased tea light candles and various colored decorative glass rocks and set them in wine glasses. When wrapped with cellophane and some ribbon they look pretty. All items were purchased at the dollar store.
I have a book of Spa items you can make yourself such as bath bombs, soaps, bubble bath etc. E-mail me if you would like me to send it.
Cheers | |
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| Cheap and thoughtful Christmas gifts
Posted: 12/3/2006 9:00:02 AM | I have a book of Spa items you can make yourself such as bath bombs, soaps, bubble bath etc. E-mail me if you would like me to send it.
^^^^ Dame diva, I am interested in the book of spa items, I can't email you because of your restrictions. Please contact me.
I also love the idea of candles in wine glasses with glass rocks - they have become very popular. | |
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| Cheap and thoughtful Christmas gifts
Posted: 12/3/2006 9:16:32 AM | I make these candles with my girls, sort of like a tradition... IT MAKES A BIG MESS... so cover as many things as you can with an old sheet.. tarp.. whatever lol
I could explain how to make them but I found a link to help you out...
I like to put scents into mine.. and if you are in Nanaimo Micheals would be the place to hit for the smelly part... Buy the round candles at the dollar store, and as many of the other things as you can... this is cheap.. and FUN! hehe ... We also like to make chocolates, but thats a little bit more expensive (they sell bernard callibaut chunks @ superstore for about 98c per 100g...BARGAIN! ) the ones with the booze inside are good too!! Or you can go undercover and steal some pictures... edit them and blow them up... frame them and bring those too!!! Frames are cheap at Walmart.. try Micheals too, you can have anything blown up... If you have pics on disk.. I know someone who is a graphics and photography whiz hehe COUGH COUGH.. ehem.. OOOOO and you can get the photo coasters set... which is 4 frosted square coasters with a place on the back to slide your photo's into... those are fun.. and dont have to be the sentimental normal pics.. sort of a funny gift for friends... you could put pics of policemen's butt in them... or pictures of candy.. chocolate... or Xmas even...
Any gift that comes from the heart is the best gift by far
http://www.onestopcandle.com/candle/snowballproj.php
PS.. I dont know what the hell Vbar is but I'm SURE you don't need it lol
sometimes we lightly dust the tops with fine silver sparkles.. but if the candle is lit it sparks when the glitter hits the flame..... so its totally up to you... Those bark wrapped candles are easy to make too!!!
 
If all else fails.... give BOOZE!!!!! heh | |
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| Cheap and thoughtful Christmas gifts
Posted: 12/3/2006 10:26:38 AM | | Spending quality time with the people you care about is the greatest gift of all (handing them a card/letter about you ideas of what makes that person special would be icing on the cake). | |
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| Cheap and thoughtful Christmas gifts
Posted: 12/3/2006 3:53:32 PM | | HamNPineapple that's a thoughtful idea. One year I wrote poems inside blank cards explaining why I find them so special to me. Same idea, except it took more time and I have never done it again. LOL. | |
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| Cheap and thoughtful Christmas gifts
Posted: 12/3/2006 5:01:49 PM | Baking is always a nice gift and appreciated by almost everyone, especially since it means less treats for them to have to bake! hehe
Gift baskets can be cheap and easy. Baskets are dirt-cheap at thrift stores, add a package of dry spaghetti, wooden pasta holder, nice jar of sauce and wrap it in a nice new tea towel inside the basket. Or do a pancake breakfast basket with mix, maybe special syrup and a spatula for flipping? I used to do a lot of these for between $5 and $10 depending on what I was putting in and they were always well-received. Yes, you can do male-oriented ones, too ;-) | |
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| Cheap and thoughtful Christmas gifts
Posted: 12/3/2006 11:07:50 PM | Dollar stores ALWAYS have great things :)
Candles, their favourite candies,
heck I'd love lotto tickets.
Or a basket of their favourite junk! | |
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