For those of us that give gifts to girlfriends, relatives or a neighbor- here are a few great gift ideas that will cost you next to nothing but look great and will make a big impact.
It is about looking for a deal and thinking creatively so that you can give a great and thoughtful gift without breaking the bank.
Consider shopping at TJ Maxx, or another discount store. Check Target's under $5 section, look at clearance sections in the book store, Craft store, Grocery Store and even try the Dollar Store for Gift Bags, cards and tissue paper.
Here are 10 Gift Ideas for Your Girlfriends- these gifts are great for women, but can easily be adapted for men or easily adapted for a guy to give to a girlfriend, wife, or friend.
1. Recycle with Style Gift Bag
Pick a Bold Color, Colors or patterns and find items to give that can go together. Here we are suggesting you give a gift of items that your friend will love because of the stylish elegance and because the gifts help save the Earth too. A mug for coffee and tea, instead of paper or plastic that we found for a dollar. A cute Reusable Tote, which we have seen at the check out counters of many stores for 2 or 3 dollars. And a pack of note cards made from recycled paper that were only a dollar. So for under $10 dollars we have a striking gift. You can always add more, but the idea is to find things that can go together by use, theme or color.
2. Decadent Goodness Gift Bag
For your friend or sister who enjoys cooking but could still use some cookware. Search for attractive cookware that is on sale or clearance at TJ Maxx or Tuesday Morning. We found these great baking dishes at a Thrift Store for $1.00 each (but no one has to know).
Pair the baking dishes with a cooking or kitchen utensil or tool and a cake mix- you can probably find all of those things at a Discount Store for under $10 dollars.
3. Curl Up on A Rainy Day Gift Bag
Give a friend or loved one the gift of books. Check out the book selections in the front of Barnes and Noble or a bookstore's clearance or buy paperbacks. Pick a few books based on the genre your friend enjoys (classics, mystery, biographies, cooking, etc...). Or you can even get a book of poems, short stories, humor about motherhood or a book from childhood (if you knew her then) that she loved. Pair the book/s with unique bookends or a special memento to display with her books. It does not have to be actual bookends, just find something that will go with her decor or fits her interests and has some weight to it.
4. Delight in Little Pleasures Gift Bag
If your girl friend loves food like sushi or good Italian bread with dipping sauce- find bold, attractive small dishes and pair it with chopsticks or a sauce for sushi or buy a loaf of french bread and dipping oil or spices to go with it.
5. Let her Heart Bloom Gift Bag
Do you have a friend who loves to garden. Buy her items to start a herb garden indoors or out, or new gardening items. Those of us who enjoy gardening or cooking will enjoy this gift.
6. Wake Up and Smell the Coffee Gift Bag
Do you have a friend who is addicted to coffee or tea? Give them a gift bag with a nice coffee mug, a bag of coffee and tea bags and a nice stirring spoon or some other coffee related items. If she likes Cafe Mocha give her the items to make her own and she will save tons of money over the year.
7. Everyone Needs to Wine a Bit Gift Bag
For your friend that enjoys wine-find a recommended bottle that is 5 or 10 dollars and pair it with a personalized wine glass. A store bought wine glass may be $15-25 dollars and up but you can buy a nice wine glass or a set of them at a discount store and use one to decorate for your friend. Go to a Art and Craft Store and purchase paints that can go on glass. The gift will be personal, special and be remembered for years to come and you will have made it for a few dollars. Even the nice Wine Glass or a set without the bottle of wine is a great gift.
The last few are gifts you can make yourself or find on sale.
Do you need to figure out a affordable gift to give to your friends or family members without breaking the bank?
Want something they can use and that you are happy to give them? We have a handful of easy to make gifts that cost you next to nothing to make and give to loved ones.&
8. Stop the Wining-Charming Gift Bag
Wine Charms are very easy to make and they are very affordable. You will need to purchase beads and wire rings.
www.beadland.com/wine.htm - $16.00 for 144 Wine charm Rings
www.etsy.com and search wine charm rings - $18.50 for 100 Wine Charm Rings
You will need to purchase the beads online or at a local store but you can probably buy the rings and beads all for under $25.00 and you can make tons of gifts (sets of 6 or 8) for friends and family or for a Holiday Party Favor.
9. & 10. Make a Wine Tasting Party Set or Wine Table Place card Holders Gift Bag
Do you have a friend or family member that loves wine? Well if you are a wine drinker you probably have old corks in a drawer or you could go to a local wine shop and ask if they have used corks you can have. Take 6-8 wine corks and exact o blade and cut off the a think strip of the length of each of the corks (approximately 1/10 of the cork)-just enough to get the cork to sit flat on the table. Now cut a thin v shape groove across the length of the top of the corks (just big enough to fit a piece of paper in the groove). For Wine Place card Table Settings, put the cut wine corks in a cute box or bag, along with small blank place cards and a nice note about the Place card Holders.
If you want to give a Wine Tasting Set- put the wine corks, place cards, or square note cards, along with a set of pens and 8 notepads in a lined box or a bag with instructions for hosting a Wine Tasting Party. Another option is to include 4 wine covers and stencil a number on the cover that go above the label of the wine to hide what type of wine it is, but most people can vote and comment on each wine, even if they see the label. Red Envelope sells a nice Wine Tasting Set but it is $70.00!!!!
