Comments on: Frugal Gift Giving: Gift Ideas

By: Abby

Abby — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 17:12:36 +0000

Thanks for the comment on my site. So far, we've already gotten two other comments about gift-giving and, since I'm doing a giveaway, I'm expecting at least a few more. Abby's last blog post..Frugality can be great exercise!

By: Abby

Abby — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 16:54:46 +0000

Times are definitely tight for my husband and I this year — he’s on unemployment, I’m on disability — so homemade gifts will be popular in my category. I’m working on a few beading projects. Perhaps if I find a good crocheting/knitting project I’ll take one or two (small) ones up.

Homemade gifts always seem to go over well because people are touched by your effort. Heck, I’ve given crocheted scarves to people who knit, and they gushed.

Personally, what matters to me is the thought. I will always be polite and thank someone for any gift. But I’d rather have one present that was really thoughtful and sweet than a bunch of stuff clearly picked up on the run. So homemade gifts are great! My aunt and uncle have a standing birthday present for me of homemade pesto and jam plus a nice card. And every year I’m thrilled.

I know for a fact that many of my mom’s gifts are either free-to-her (via rebates or MyPoints for gift cards) but they’re still useful and great to receive.

Honestly, the whole thrift store question is a bit of a conundrum, though. You said if it “obviously” came from a thrift store. This to me means it’s obviously worn or used. If it looked like someone ran into a thrift store, closed their eyes and pointed to find the gift… well that would kind of suck. If it were still useful and/or thoughtful, I wouldn’t care.

But then I am planning on going to Value Village’s big 50% off sale tomorrow to see if there are any great gift finds. So clearly the source of the present isn’t as important to me as the thought behind it.

Abby’s last blog post..Frugality can be great exercise!

By: Big Winner

Big Winner — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 13:58:20 +0000

I really like giving food for gifts, whether it’s taking someone out to dinner or giving them a box of chocolates. That way I can share the experience with them, and the recipient associates me with positive feelings.

By: Denise

Denise — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 13:17:59 +0000

while out camping last weekend, I suggested to my family (mom, dad, brother, sister) that we all list 5 things that we would like to receive for Christmas. Just like kids! My mom has bought us gifts from the thrift store just "for fun" yet we still didn't need those things and we end up donating them right back. Denise's last blog post..mama's home alone

By: Kelly

Kelly — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 22:23:40 +0000

@Holly,

I think one of the reasons I have stopped sending people gifts is because of the outrageous shipping charges. Not to mention, as you pointed out, the packaging and time constraints!

By: Holly

Holly — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 22:08:33 +0000

I have received several gifts from thrift or antique stores, and I love them! One friend rounded up a big stack of magazine back issues that she knew I would enjoy and bundled them all together for a very attractive gift. It was great!

Now that I have children, making both time and space even more precious than ever, I really appreciate gifts that are both practical and consumable. “Experience” gifts are fantastic. Last year my husband gave me tickets to The Nutcracker and arranged for a babysitter. It gave us both an evening out and a beautiful cultural experience, and it didn’t take up any space in my house.

I have given donations to Heifer and other places as gifts in the past, and these have always been tremendously well received.

The other great thing about these sorts of gifts is that they typically require very little packaging (saving time, money and natural resources) and they cost very little to ship. My husband and I realized last Christmas that, with family all over the United States and overseas, we were spending nearly as much in shipping as we were on the gifts themselves. We’ll be simplifying our gift-giving tremendously this year.

Holly’s last blog post..How To Make Mama’s Day

By: neimanmarxist

neimanmarxist — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 20:10:14 +0000

at christmas we bake everyone pumpkin bread in these cute loaf pans (little ones ) that we get for $1 at michael’s craft store. we wrap them up pretty with green cellophane so they look nice and take them to holiday parties and to the annual family xmas celebration ,which usually has abotut a dozen families. I make about 16 loaves of pumpkin bread for about $10 in ingredients, cellophane and ribbon , and $16 in loaf pans, so 16 gifts for $26! A good deal, and nice- looking and tasty so it isn’t like we’re being cheap.

how would I feel if someone gave me a thrifted gift? i think fine, if it were well-chosen. I think once you’re grown up it truly is the thought that counts. We don’t need anything so i am happy to just get people’s christmas letters

neimanmarxist’s last blog post..Filing Joy

By: Lucie

Lucie — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:09:33 +0000

I love getting gifts from thrift stores! Those have been some of the best gifts I have received.

In terms of boring gifts I also really appreciate whenever people give us gift cards to somewhere like the grocery store. Huge help!

I have found “service” gifts are a great bet also. One of the best gets we ever got was a gift certificate to a restaurant with an offer to babysit. You can also give your wife “coupons” offering to clean the kitchen, cook dinner, etc.

Great post!

Lucie’s last blog post..Getting Back in Shape – Find Your True Inspiration