Neat Gift Basket Ideas for the Holidays

People are complaining that they can't afford too many gifts this year for Christmas as times are hard. Most families can't afford the large gift items that our families have grown so accustomed to. There probably won't be a lot of big screen televisions, and Ipods being given this year. But don't let financial problems ruin your gift giving this year. Shop at your local dollar store and put together unique gift basket. Here are some ideas.

1) For children, think of a theme. For my oldest grand child, who is six, I am putting together an art basket. In the basket, will be placed paints, paint brushes, coloring books, crayons, and poster paints, all from the Dollar Tree. For my youngest grand child, I am putting together a baby basket. She is merely one , and the store has bottles, rattles, t-shirts and booties.

2) Think you can't find anything for your teenager at the Dollar tree or your other local dollar stores? Think again. Our local Dollar Tree has small am/ FM radios, ipod covers, ear phones, and blank Cd's and CD cases. I am putting together a technology basket for my teen age daughter.

3) this was a gift idea I gave my Mom for her birthday this year. I decided on the theme of purple. I focused on bath items. Her gift basket included a back scrubber, a cloth shower head cover, a plastic back scratcher, fuchsia soap , and fuchsia bubble bath. I placed a couple of purple votive candles in the center of the basket, and found a couple of purple flowers to go in the basket. When she received it, she asked at what department store I had bought the gift basket because it was beautiful. I told her it was our local dollar store.

4) Handy man basket. My oldest son loves to work on cars. He is always needing tools and other work items. This year, he is receiving a gift basket, full of items such as car rags, car wax, a small tool kit, and a car tarp. To be cute, I placed a couple of metal cars in the middle of the basket.

5) Wedding baskets. I know people find this hard to believe, but many local dollar stores have wedding items. My oldest son is getting married in 09, so his finances will e getting a wedding a basket. The local store has wedding announcements, a ring bearers pillow, wedding bubbles, cute bride and groom covers for their toasting glasses, and even a garter. Her theme is red, so I bought some red flower to go in the middle of the basket.

You can purchase everything you need at the dollar store, including the basket. They also have shredded colored grass to go in the basket, large gift bags, and ribbons to tie on the baskets. They have baskets from weaven ones to plastic ones. They had a metal bucket, that served well for the car gift basket. And what is the price for putting one of these baskets together? Basket included, I didn't spend over 12 dollars for any gift. How is that for Christmas giving on a budget.

Don't be discouraged about gift giving this year. With a little creativity, you can put together beautiful gift baskets, and the recipient will think you spent a fortune. But don't give your secret away. What they don't know won't hurt them.