Budget Conscious Gifts for Significant Others

magazineaddict77 · November 7th, 2008, 04:06 PM

Here's the issue: Too many people we love...to little $$ for special gifts.

Anyone have any ideas?

PoohsBigSister · November 7th, 2008, 04:33 PM

hand made!

Last year, I made my daughter a blanket and pillow set and my son a pillow with a special covering (fleece). I made them both coupon books for things like getting out of a chore, extra time on the internet, and a free "get out of jail" card for a small infraction - to be used only with my agreeance.

they loved those!

I made a quilt for my mom, and i bought my sisters gift - a set of silicone baking mats - that's the only thing she asked for.

I spent about $200 total on christmas last year for everyone - and about 90 hours of actual work sewing and cutting and stuff.

But the delight on their faces ...totally worth the time!!

HUGS!

rjsfeminist · November 7th, 2008, 07:00 PM

Homemade always works. I almost always send along homemade cookies and fudge, blankets, and candles.

IRISH_EYES_99 · November 7th, 2008, 08:15 PM

I really need to get busy. Used to make candy wreaths when my girls were in the drill team.. The other day I met a woman who was needle pointing a pillow case. Thought what a great gift. She was doing a grey mouse, a house, and the words ... Twas the night before Christmas... It was for her granddaughter.

How about a "box" of good wishes. A small box decorated with pretty paper & ribbon. With a note.. box not to be open.. but held to get the good wishes.

If you have young kids have them make mom/ nana a jewelry box ....
Get a box the size cigars come in... use different shapes of pasta (bows etc) glue them on the box. Have an adult spray paint the box silver /gold... put a piece of felt on the inside of cover & a small mirror turned so it looks diamond shape. Also put the felt around the mirror ( to cover any sharp edges).

Good luck with it all.

I love the idea of the coupon book.

Have a friend that we don't exchange gifts. Instead we get together after Christmas and we go out to lunch at one of the restaurants. We toast to our friendship. No expense to either of us ( dutch treat). It's a good time. We don't live near each other so this is a special treat for us. Our gift is the gift of friendship & time together.

DLC55 · November 8th, 2008, 04:29 PM

I just picked up a photo collage from Wal-Greens I had made for my daughter. It's pretty easy to do on their website. You upload pictures to an album, then pick 20 for the collage. They choose the placement but you can do several and pick which one you like better to print.

I chose ones of the baby from his ultasound pic, pics when Jen was pregnant up to when they took him to the pumpkin patch. I did the 8x10 size. Now all I have to find is a frame.

The cost of the collage was $2.99! Not a bad deal for a neat picture.

IRISH_EYES_99 · November 9th, 2008, 06:13 PM

((((((((((((DLC55)))))))))))))))))))),

She'll love the collage. It will be a forever keeper. Great idea.

magazineaddict77 · November 10th, 2008, 12:55 PM

Wow these are amazing ideas!! I love the coupon book, box of good wishes, and the collage they are so thoughtful =]

What are you getting your boyfriends/husbands? Mine keeps stealing my pillows cuz they are better so I was thinking of getting him his own =] hehe I loved the idea of making a customized pillow case but I've never made one before...

PoohsBigSister · November 10th, 2008, 01:13 PM

i am giving my guy a key to my house... and a framed picture I took of him and his son having fun being goofy, and I am working on a quilt for him for those naps on the couch on sunday afternoon.

magazineaddict77 · November 10th, 2008, 01:27 PM

ooooh nice!

the key is a good idea, i'm no sure how my roommate would feel if i did that... hehe...maybe I'll try that later on in my life =]

DLC55 · November 10th, 2008, 09:07 PM

Is that a Shiba Inu hiding under those covers? What a beautiful furkid!

TammyWOW · November 11th, 2008, 05:33 AM

That definitely looks like a Shiba under those covers.

rjsfeminist · November 11th, 2008, 07:21 PM

Ooohh, thank you, PBS. I've got a photo I took of my daughter and granddaughter when they came to visit. Granddaughter was 1 y.o. at the time...9 years ago! But it's a beautiful photo. Daughter is kissing granddaughter and their faces take up almost the entire pic. That'd make a great framed pic.

PoohsBigSister · November 11th, 2008, 09:52 PM

awesome RJ!!!!

I love giving and GETTING photos as presents.

I have a gift card for office depot and I'm waiting for them to put a digital frame on sale...that's what I want to give my mom for christmas this year..

and... i'll use my gift card, so I can afford it... LOL!

smichell · November 24th, 2008, 11:41 AM

Hi
My favorite for family is photos. Also if you are good at the computer why not put a slide show together and burn onto a CD or DVD. This makes a great gift.
Have fun and enjoy the memory

Tiffin · December 5th, 2008, 01:33 AM

Every year I do a lot of baking for gifts. Started tonite in fact! Then for next few days will do about 5-10 different cookies or desserts. Trying a few new ones this year. Red Velvet Whoopie Pie's is the new one this year OMG the red velvet looks really awesome...they are cooling as I type!

So family and friends get yummies and also will be receiving some of my handcrafted items.

I love Christmas! Decorated the house yesturday. Wooooohoooo even though Griff & I really don't do much on holidays for each other; we kinda do it all year.

November 7th, 2008, 04:06 PM	#1
magazineaddict77 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 6	Budget Conscious Gifts for Significant Others Here's the issue: Too many people we love...to little $$ for special gifts. Anyone have any ideas?

November 7th, 2008, 04:33 PM	#2
PoohsBigSister Long Live WOW!! Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: CO Posts: 1,791	hand made! Last year, I made my daughter a blanket and pillow set and my son a pillow with a special covering (fleece). I made them both coupon books for things like getting out of a chore, extra time on the internet, and a free "get out of jail" card for a small infraction - to be used only with my agreeance. they loved those! I made a quilt for my mom, and i bought my sisters gift - a set of silicone baking mats - that's the only thing she asked for. I spent about $200 total on christmas last year for everyone - and about 90 hours of actual work sewing and cutting and stuff. But the delight on their faces ...totally worth the time!! HUGS! __________________ "Life is a flower of which love is the honey." Victor Hugo

November 7th, 2008, 08:15 PM	#4
IRISH_EYES_99 Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: in the state of confusion :) Posts: 3,524	I really need to get busy. Used to make candy wreaths when my girls were in the drill team.. The other day I met a woman who was needle pointing a pillow case. Thought what a great gift. She was doing a grey mouse, a house, and the words ... Twas the night before Christmas... It was for her granddaughter. How about a "box" of good wishes. A small box decorated with pretty paper & ribbon. With a note.. box not to be open.. but held to get the good wishes. If you have young kids have them make mom/ nana a jewelry box .... Get a box the size cigars come in... use different shapes of pasta (bows etc) glue them on the box. Have an adult spray paint the box silver /gold... put a piece of felt on the inside of cover & a small mirror turned so it looks diamond shape. Also put the felt around the mirror ( to cover any sharp edges). Good luck with it all. I love the idea of the coupon book. Have a friend that we don't exchange gifts. Instead we get together after Christmas and we go out to lunch at one of the restaurants. We toast to our friendship. No expense to either of us ( dutch treat). It's a good time. We don't live near each other so this is a special treat for us. Our gift is the gift of friendship & time together. __________________ Smiles are contagious. It's ok to pass them on. *

November 9th, 2008, 06:13 PM	#6
IRISH_EYES_99 Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: in the state of confusion :) Posts: 3,524	((((((((((((DLC55)))))))))))))))))))), She'll love the collage. It will be a forever keeper. Great idea. __________________ Smiles are contagious. It's ok to pass them on. *

November 10th, 2008, 01:13 PM	#8
PoohsBigSister Long Live WOW!! Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: CO Posts: 1,791	i am giving my guy a key to my house... and a framed picture I took of him and his son having fun being goofy, and I am working on a quilt for him for those naps on the couch on sunday afternoon. __________________ "Life is a flower of which love is the honey." Victor Hugo

November 7th, 2008, 07:00 PM	#3
rjsfeminist Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: west central Florida Posts: 1,564	Homemade always works. I almost always send along homemade cookies and fudge, blankets, and candles.

November 8th, 2008, 04:29 PM	#5
DLC55 You owe me for this! Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: The animals allow me to live with them Posts: 342	I just picked up a photo collage from Wal-Greens I had made for my daughter. It's pretty easy to do on their website. You upload pictures to an album, then pick 20 for the collage. They choose the placement but you can do several and pick which one you like better to print. I chose ones of the baby from his ultasound pic, pics when Jen was pregnant up to when they took him to the pumpkin patch. I did the 8x10 size. Now all I have to find is a frame. The cost of the collage was $2.99! Not a bad deal for a neat picture.

November 10th, 2008, 12:55 PM	#7
magazineaddict77 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 6	Wow these are amazing ideas!! I love the coupon book, box of good wishes, and the collage they are so thoughtful =] What are you getting your boyfriends/husbands? Mine keeps stealing my pillows cuz they are better so I was thinking of getting him his own =] hehe I loved the idea of making a customized pillow case but I've never made one before...

November 10th, 2008, 01:27 PM	#9
magazineaddict77 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 6	ooooh nice! the key is a good idea, i'm no sure how my roommate would feel if i did that... hehe...maybe I'll try that later on in my life =]

November 10th, 2008, 09:07 PM	#10
DLC55 You owe me for this! Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: The animals allow me to live with them Posts: 342	Is that a Shiba Inu hiding under those covers? What a beautiful furkid!

November 11th, 2008, 05:33 AM	#11
TammyWOW WOW Forum Coordinator Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 271	That definitely looks like a Shiba under those covers.

November 11th, 2008, 07:21 PM	#12
rjsfeminist Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: west central Florida Posts: 1,564	Ooohh, thank you, PBS. I've got a photo I took of my daughter and granddaughter when they came to visit. Granddaughter was 1 y.o. at the time...9 years ago! But it's a beautiful photo. Daughter is kissing granddaughter and their faces take up almost the entire pic. That'd make a great framed pic.

November 11th, 2008, 09:52 PM	#13
PoohsBigSister Long Live WOW!! Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: CO Posts: 1,791	awesome RJ!!!! I love giving and GETTING photos as presents. I have a gift card for office depot and I'm waiting for them to put a digital frame on sale...that's what I want to give my mom for christmas this year.. and... i'll use my gift card, so I can afford it... LOL! __________________ "Life is a flower of which love is the honey." Victor Hugo

November 24th, 2008, 11:41 AM	#14
smichell Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 2	Hi My favorite for family is photos. Also if you are good at the computer why not put a slide show together and burn onto a CD or DVD. This makes a great gift. Have fun and enjoy the memory

December 5th, 2008, 01:33 AM	#15
Tiffin Mistress of HandCrafted Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Alaska Posts: 100	Every year I do a lot of baking for gifts. Started tonite in fact! Then for next few days will do about 5-10 different cookies or desserts. Trying a few new ones this year. Red Velvet Whoopie Pie's is the new one this year OMG the red velvet looks really awesome...they are cooling as I type! So family and friends get yummies and also will be receiving some of my handcrafted items. I love Christmas! Decorated the house yesturday. Wooooohoooo even though Griff & I really don't do much on holidays for each other; we kinda do it all year. __________________ Keeping out of trouble is my main goal in life - So I craft!!