i know its early but hoiliday gift time tips

[Bear]

Originally Posted by mckimba

Family Gift.... I have done either "Game Night" (board game, munchies, hot chocolate, mugs, treats for pet, even slipper socks for everyone) "Movie Night" (DVD, popcorn, blanket, candy, beverages...I usually do this one in a large popcorn bowls and add in those indivdual popcorn containers)

This is a great tip!! What a great way to dress up a DVD. I bet I could even get the local movie theater to sell me some popcorn tubs cheap if I can't find the large popcorn bowls.

[mckimba]

Originally Posted by Bear

This is a great tip!! What a great way to dress up a DVD. I bet I could even get the local movie theater to sell me some popcorn tubs cheap if I can't find the large popcorn bowls.

I usually find small plastic popcorn container at either the Dollar Store or Target Dollar Bins. I never thought of asking a movie theater for big tubs !!!

[Erika]

We've done lots of no-cost and low-cost exchanges with friends in our homeschool group....

The kids will do a book exchange where they all wrap up a book that they've read and will gift it to another kid of a similar age. Sometimes they include little toys from fastfood restaurants or a dollar store item too. In any case, it never costs more than $1 per kid.

The moms will swap only handmade items...and I suppose this year will include baskets with freebie items.

And we have our annual Re-Gift party on the day after Christmas. The one rule is that nobody can spend any money for the party. Everyone brings leftover food and re-wraps a gift that they received...and think that perhaps it may be better loved by someone else. We do one of those gift exchange games where you can unwrap a gift or steal someone else's until everyone's had a turn. It's probably our most fun party of the year and it's a great pick-me-up on the day after Christmas which can be a down kind of day for some folks.

[Rooster]

This is a great thread! I just wanted to add- I keep 2 lists, one of things I've purchased and for whom. The other list is of ideas that have just come to me or people have mentioned. These are both posted in my "gift closet"...which is slowly becoming a stockpile area for other stuff!!

I have recently picked up 2 remington electric shavers at Rite Aid for 4.99 each & 2 "hot pots" -- instant water boilers-- from meijer for $10 on clearance. I'm always looking for girly things like those snap wallets for cheap too!!

[savingsmom]

i do a list of what gift ideas would be nice for everyone and i also have a grand list

that has down what family it is
what date and time and location of whear the party is
what needs to be brought
then i do a list of who will be there followed by what i will give them (or what 'santa' might give them or put in thier stocking)

the best part of my lists is - i have them on my computer
easy to edit and u always know where it is (my kids are young and cant read so no need to worry about them catching a peek)

[elabrahamson]

There are some great tips in here. It will be DH and my first X-mas together and we are living on one income, so I am a bit worried about the holiday season. I love to cook and bake so I may just do that and I want to do baskets as well.

Most of my friends and I don't really exchange gifts anymore because it just gets too expensive- instead we all do a dinner or drinks out and pay our own way-its our way of having a great time together without spending all of the cash on gifts for the other person.

Secret Santas are also a great plan.

I think the only people I'm going to buy gifts for (not a basket) are my brothers and parents.

[mimomof2]

I too am nearly done with my shopping. I am a big note taker. If during a conversation someone mentions something they would like for a birthday or Christmas I write it down. Much success with this. If I see something that would be great for someone I write it down under their name and watch it for when it goes on sale. I NEVER buy something unless it is on sale, that is the great thing about shopping all year!

[jillynoodle]

the past three christmass have been quite simple for me since my kids are 17 and 18 now so most of their gift is money and some little stuff to open. i have kept it real simple and they laugh everytime they get new socks and underwear wrapped, hey times are tough lol
my younger nieces and nephews i just ask the parents what they are into and go from there...always they get a stocking of little freebies i have picked up during the year(kids toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash, dollar store little toys, etc)
for the ladies of my family last year i found little handbags in different colors so i got like about ten of them and just started to add my little cvs frees and cheaps of lotions and nice shampoos and face clothes wipe things for the ones who i thought would like that stuff, then some were nailpolish ones with all different shades of nailpoloish and all the little things you need for a manicure, with candles i had gotten with coupons or any kind of girly things i could find...i was told they were great gifts because they could actually use the gift!! this year i have been stocking up on the free glade candles and im going to make baskets with those, and the long candle lighters and maybe some pouporri in a nice bowl..something like that

[nerdycoupongirl]

Please help me with a basket?

I've never made actual gift "baskets": I've always used gift bags. I'd like to try baskets, I think they would look nice. I know we talked about this some last year, but that was a year ago! LOL Can anyone please give me some tips? I seem to remember something about buying plastic that you can shrink with a hair dryer but that's all I can recall.

[smo1g]

I love making baskets. I have made the movie ones before. For this one I usually buy the tub from the $1 store which is big enough and add a movie, popcorn, and other snacks.

For actual baskets, if there are decent ones at the thrift store I buy a few and Walmart has them priced decently. I usually used paper bags to stuff the bottom, then I use shredded color paper on top of that, then stuff with goodies. Lastly I use the shrink wrap to cover and tie a little ribbon around to make it pretty.

However there may be and easier way.