Inexpensive Gift Giving that Doesn't Look Cheap for Parents and Grandparents

This year you can still give great gifts without spending a lot. Gift giving can be cheap without looking cheap. You can save in 2008 with inexpensive gifts that are rich in planning and low in cost.

The key to low cost gift is knowing the recipient. Really think about what they enjoy, and plan the gift from there. Don't think "He only likes expensive gifts, and he won' be happy with an inexpensive one." Think back- haven't some of your best gifts been inexpensive, thoughtful ones? Let 2008 be that year again. You can save money on gift givint.

Think about what is important to the parents or grandparents? Staying in touch is important. Perhaps you can write them an old fashioned letter once a week every week throughout the holiday season telling them how much you appreciate all they have done for you. Talk about the good things that you remember about growing up. Thank your Mom for her terrific mac and cheese, and how it always made you feel better. Or tell Dad about how exciting it was to watch him carve the holiday turkey.

Maybe your family wasn't idyllic. There still should have been some things to appreciate. Tell your Mom that you know how hard she worked as a cashier. Or that you appreciate that even if you didn't have money, that you had her love.

Make a list of the person's likes, for example, classical music, modern art, their grandchildren, visiting the beach, collecting shells. Then think of what you can do with any of those, or a combination of those, that would make a thoughtful, wonderful gift that is inexpensive. How about scanning a piece of their favorite sheet music and putting a picture of their grandchildren on it? Take it a step beyond picking a picture and putting it in a frame. If you can't afford to frame it, just give them the photo and they will be please at your thoughtfulness. Try a site like Enchantedlearning.com for other ideas.

Perhaps a "book" is the inexpensive, thoughtful gift you are looking for. You can build one by hand on your computer with whatever software you already have. It doesn't have to be perfect. If you can afford the $30, you can have one made on one of the photo websites. Otherwise you can print it out and buy a plastic cover at an office supply store for under two dollars. Another option is to have your children draw a story book. Make it a brief book so it doesn't overwhelm them, or have each child draw or write a page or two. On ABCteach.com there are ideas and simple pages to print to be colored..

If your parents like to talk about the past, consider engaging them to write a family history to give together to other families in these tough economic times. You can use

A site like Geneology.com to help you write it.

So spend a little time ot think about what is important to your family, and think creatively to come up with an inexpensive, but not cheap, gift, that will touch their hearts and say that you care in 2008.