Great Christmas Gifts Cheap

Okay, times are tough and budgets are tight. Everyone needs to know what you can do on a dime, though the dime of 2008 has shrunk greatly as compared to other years. Here is a list of five great ideas for general gift giving. Often it is the gift of caring and love that lasts and means the most to us in the long run. When you can create a gift from the heart it keeps on giving for a lifetime. I want to share with you five simple, cheap and perfect gifts:

For the adventurous 4 -10 year old:

A super great gift for younger kids and one my grand children love year after year is a simple flashlight with batteries. You can pick one up at Wal-Mart for under $3.00 and the kids will have fun for days. This is an inexpensive gift that will keep them entertained for hours while they read and play games by their own little lights.

For your office buddies or teachers:

For the bigger kids on your list head down to your local dollar store and pick up inexpensive coffee cups. You can fill them with hot chocolate and sugar mix; coffee of any variety along with creamer, sugar or sugar substitute in a snack pack bag; or candy of any variety such as strawberries or any wrapped candy. You can add that final touch by painting on your own decoration or simply adding a ribbon the handle. This gift will be received with great joy.

For mom or aunt who like to cook:

For the cook on your list you can pick up a pack of large, plastic kitchen utensils and a utensil holder. A plain holder at Wal-Mart is around $5.00. Total gift price even with buying paints to add your own personal touch to the container will be under $10. Another wonderful gift for the cook at heart is a new muffin tin with a couple packs of muffin mix. I've received this one a time or two and find it a wonderful gift. Muffin tins are always wearing out (sticking) and a replacement is nice to have but something they may not purchase for themselves.

For a special man on your list:

For the man on your list, you can always resort to the favorite way to his heart. Nowadays, fresh homemade anything will be sure to bring a smile and a sense of being loved to this special man in your life. You could bake up a batch of homemade cookies or bread or even fix up homemade chili or soup to help fill his tummy when there's no one home to do the fixing for him. He'll love the thoughtfulness and greatly appreciate the good taste. To add a little extra add in a redeemable coupon for a batch of the goody later on as long as redeemed by next Christmas.

For a sentimental mom:

Now for the greatest gift for the moms on your list: one they will appreciate probably more than anything else you could give them. I'll give you a couple of ideas here because both are absolutely precious beyond words. You can make and decorate redeemable coupons for household chores for mom. Things like dishes for a week, vacuuming, cleaning the bathrooms or even cooking dinner for her. Of course, one of the greatest of all time is a simple picture drawing or a poem to tell mom how much you love her. She'll treasure these forever and her heart will be touched by the expression.

Whatever you decide to give, just remember it truly isn't the money...it is the thought. Even though we may think we want this and that and some of those wants cost a lot of money, the ones that endure and are remembered the most are the ones created and given out of love. These are the true treasures of Christmas of love and of the heart.

Happy giving to you all.