By Amanda Butler, Staff Writer
The Holiday season is just around the corner and has always been a time of giving and sharing; now it can be a time of saving! Shoppers’ wallets do not need to get paper – thin for friends and family to enjoy the festivities; here are five great gift ideas that will save shoppers money and are suitable for almost anyone!
- Holiday Gift Baskets
A basket or a bucket with a picture of a snowman or wintery scene is a beautiful addition to any holiday décor. Filling it up with cards, body lotions, and other small items allows one to give multiple gifts at once. Many small gifts together equal one large gift of love – not to mention the receiver can use the basket to keep things in later on.
2. Clothes
Many department stores offer sales during the holiday season; and this could be a great reason to get a cute shirt or outfit. If the giver has a knack for knitting or a craft for crochet, socks, gloves, scarves, and hats are only a tiny glimpse of the mountain of possibilities one can do with a few needles and a bit of yarn.
3. Food
They say food is the closest way to one’s heart. Chocolates, candy canes, and peppermints are only a few of the traditional holiday foods, but one can make even more! Grab a cookbook and get out a mixer; a batch of brownies, cake, or cookies is a great gift idea for those friends who love to eat. Get creative with pastries and make cookies shaped like Christmas trees, or pile three cupcakes atop another to make a snowman! Baking supplies would be the only cost, and one could split up the batch between two, three, or even four people!
4. Photo Album
Small, medium, and large photo albums are available at almost any department or clearance store. Pay five dollars or less for one of these convenient books and gather memorable pictures! One can even use various social networking sites to gather past pictures of friends as well! Hide a little note or message inside and here is a gift that is marked with personalized friendship.
5. Mix CD
Music is something everyone can relate to. Everyone has a favorite genre of music, be it pop, jazz, show tunes, or metal. Two different directions can be taken with making a mix of songs; the first being a specific genre a friend enjoys. Surprise a friend with a playlist of songs similar to what they already listen to, but he or she may have never heard of before. This way one doesn’t risk giving something they already have. The second type of a music CD is a playlist of songs that remind the giver of them. One has more freedom with this option, using any type of genre created. A playlist of fifteen songs is a comfortable size, and each song is like a miniature present in itself.
Are any of these ideas inspiring? If not, think of the person receiving the present. Do they like photography? Picture frames would be a great way for them to show off their prize work. Try a notebook for those who like to write, use puffy paint and personalize their name on the cover. Think of a relative or friend’s hobbies or interests, and incorporate them into a shopping list. Holiday shopping doesn’t have to be a financially stressful event –use some imagination and come up with even more creative ways to save money this winter season! With a little over a month before the holidays, go forth and have fun saving money!
