Thrifty Ideas for Gift Giving

I try to keep these items on hand in my closet, great for last minute presents, as I don't own a car and our winters here are brutal so I try to pick up small things at a time. I look for sales on marked down items, and shop at Amazon and stockpile items from there site when they mark down toys and offer free shipping. I have also found some cute items at my local dollar store and at my local thrift store I have found items in new condition with the tags still on them.

Items look really great presented in a gift basket, add shrink wrap and ribbon (you can find baskets at your local dollar store or thrift store)

Perfume/cologne-gift sets for men/women

Socks

Toys-board games-Barbie dolls.

Coloring books and crayons -Not only do these make great little gifts as a stocking stuffer, they also come in handy when family/friends come over that have kids, as I have no little kids in my house and these keep them busy and something to do.

Craft kits

Health and beauty items.

Movies-Horrors, science fiction, romance, drama, adventure.

Decorative notepads, stationary sets, pens, magnets.

Word search books.

Cool t-shirts.

Books for all age groups-My favorite books to give to teens and up are the chicken soup for the soul books.

Hand made goodies, baby blankets, hats, scarves, potholders.

Slippers- Knitted or crochet so they will stretch to fit several sizes.

Fleece throws blankets (Found these at the dollar store for $5.99 per throw)

Soup mugs-You can find recipes on line for cake in a mug and all kinds of cute recipes cooked and served in them.

Scrapbook- You could start it and add pictures in there, add cute stickers and items to get them started on creating a great book.

** You can also use your freebies you got in the mail, like trial size shampoo/conditioner-deodorant etc.(I use these for new mom pamper baskets, or great to give to someone going on vacation, or for kids going away to college.

If you are a crafter or love baking, you can make up tins of cookies etc to give as gifts, people love home made stuff as it comes from the heart and thought was put into it.

You can mix & match items for any of your gift needs...here some examples of how I use the above items.

Get well-Add stationary, pens, slippers word search books. I like to add chicken soup for the soul books and add packages of dry chicken soup mix, and a nice soup mug if they are at home i like to add a funny or inspirational movie too.

Movie night-Add a couple movies, fleece throw blanket, packages of popcorn, hot cocoa mix(winter time),for summer months i add the small 20 oz bottles of pop. You can also add movie tickets if you like.

I like to go through my closet about once a year and if i have multiples of stuff, i make up baskets and donate to food pantry's, women's shelters, family shelters, anywhere that i know items could be used, i figure items that have been in my closet for 1 year are moving too slow and like to give them a new home.

I hope you find this article useful, you can adjust the list based on what items you know your family, friends would like to get. I keep a list posted to my closet door of my inventory so I know what I have and what I could use.