Making a gift by hand is a great way to save money on your gift budget while giving a gift that shows you really thought about the recipient when you made it. The internet is a great resource when it comes to finding homemade gift ideas for anyone on your gift list. The Disney Family Fun web site has a comprehensive list of homemade gift suggestions, divided by recipient. They’ve got gift ideas for teachers, family and friends, kids, and even pets.
When it comes to giving a thoughtful gift on a budget, there’s probably nothing more “personal” than a personalized gift. You can buy any number of things for any interest that can be engraved or painted with a name, date, special event, or some other memorable moment. The ability to tie into our memories is what makes personalized gifts so meaningful, and they can be easily found for less than $20. Check out the Santa’s Mall blog for some personalized gift ideas.
Many Americans are trying to “go green” in many areas of their lives to save our country’s precious resources. If you’d like to be a little greener yourself, there are some changes you can make in the gifts you give and the way you give them that are more friendly to the environment. For 10 green Christmas ideas, watch this video:
If you’re planning on making more Christmas gifts yourself this year, you might have already considered a basket of baked goodies for some of those relatives and friends who seem to have at least one of everything. This week, the Christmas Goodies blog has a cookie recipe to share that would be an excellent addition to any gift basket or care package.
Teenagers can be one of the most difficult groups to buy for, because their wants and needs can be so fickle and ever-changing. There are, however, some gifts that nearly any teenager would like, as well as some effective strategies you can employ for finding the “perfect gift” for any teen.
Most teenagers would love to receive an MP3 player. You can spend a few hundred dollars on an iPod, or $50 on a “memory stick” USB player that holds a gig or two of songs, depending on your budget. Regardless, teens love music, so an MP3 player is probably a great gift. You can also find MP3 players that have advanced capabilities, such as playing video, calendars, or even the ability to go online and surf the web via WiFi.
Technology gifts will also be a big hit with most teenagers, who have grown up with technology and see it as integral to their everyday lives. Digital cameras, video games, and LCD televisions would fall into this category, and would probably appeal to just about any teen.
If you’re looking for a gift that’s more personal, you’ll need to think about what your teen’s particular interests are. Do they love to read? If so, a book or a gift card to Barnes & Noble would be a great gift. Athletes might love some sports equipment, athletic wear, or a gift card to a store like Dick’s Sporting Goods. Do they love art or take art classes at school? Art supplies (or a gift card to buy some) would surely be appreciated.
If you don’t live with the teenager you’re buying a gift for, ask someone who does-they should know what they’re into. Find out their interests, and buy a gift that appeals to those interests.
This video from Six Minute Style offers several great gift ideas for any budget and any person on your list. Enjoy!
Save some cash this Christmas by making some of your own gifts. It doesn’t matter if you aren’t crafty – anyone can throw some dry ingredients together in a jar to make a cookie mix, or stir together some bath salts. What you’ll end up with is a thoughtful gift that doesn’t cost a lot of money. UniqueGiftsOnline.org has a featured article this week on how to create jar gifts anyone will appreciate.
If you’re trying to get ahead of the game on your Christmas shopping this year but don’t know where to start when it comes to finding the hot toys for 2009, the Christmas Toys Blog might be a helpful resource. They’ve provided several suggestions of toys that are expected to gain popularity or remain “hot” during the holiday season, so you can beat the rush and avoid having to take a beating to get your hands on that “gotta have it” toy.
Find the perfect gift for the technology-lover on your Christmas list at the Christmas Toys Blog this week, which is featuring a list of unique gifts for “geeks.” The selection of fun gadgets at their featured site, ThinkGeek.com, seems to be endless. It doesn’t have to be hard to buy the right thing when it comes to your family’s gadget guru-why not buy them a staple-free stapler instead of mulling over the exact, perfect digi-whatever this year?
If you know someone who likes to sneak a bite or two off of someone else’s plate, let them know they’ve been caught with the Freeloader Fork. The folks over at Unique Gifts Online have found this beauty — surely one of the most unique gifts out there. How many 21″ telescoping forks do you have? The fork itself looks normal, but telescopically extends to a length of 21″ so you can steal some food from across the table without ever leaving your seat. However, it could be difficult to not get caught when you’re using this fork. Either way, it’s a fun gift for the sly snacker on your Christmas list.