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(page #1) There are many ways to save money on gifts. The very first step is to plan ahead. Plan birthday gifts a month in advance and have next months birthday presents out of the way this month. This gives you time to order over the net, wait for sales, or make the gift yourself. Start buying Christmas gifts early in the year. We have a very large family and Christmas can be very expensive. So, I start buying presents in June and spread the gift buying out over 6 months rather than trying to buy them all in one month. Usually, my shopping is done by the first of December which allows me to enjoy the holidays rather than run around fighting the crowds. Check out the Crafts page for gift ideas you can make yourself (I will be adding new crafts from time to time so be sure to check back).
For folks that are in another state, a magazine subscription is a nice idea. Did you know that there are web sites where you can order subscriptions for a fraction of the normal cost? When you order a subscription as a gift, a gift card will be sent in your name. Click here for MagazineCity.net Ordering over the internet is another good idea for faraway friends and relatives. You can place your order and the gift will be shipped directly to your friend. You don't have to repackage it and mail it yourself (I like this feature).
Another option is to utilize all the "free" stuff you can get over the internet. There are tons of gifts to be had and you only pay the shipping and handling. Manufacturers sometimes offer these programs as an incentive to promote their products. 3000-Free-Goodies.com Hint: There are a bazillion links on this page, so, before you go skipping off into cyberspace, you need to bookmark this page (beam me up Scottie). |
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Here are some practical gift ideas divided into helpful headings:
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Wedding/Anniversary Gifts Photo Albums; Either a blank photo album for wedding pictures, or an album filled with your own shots of the wedding. How about an album filled with photocopies of all the wedding couples you can find in both of the families? Or, fill it with photocopies of the couple's baby pictures. This makes a great keepsake. Picture Frames; Great for a framed picture of the couple. If available, a tri-fold frame with the wedding pictures of both sets of parents and the wedding couple makes a great gift. Bibles; An engraved family bible is a nice gift. Even nicer is if you can get the minister to complete the marriage certificate inside the front of the Bible. There are many specialty bibles just for newly weds.
Collector Coin Sets; A complete proof set of coins dated the year of the marriage is a great wedding or anniversary present. These coins can be displayed in a shadow box frame and makes a wonderful gift. An engraved brass plate inside the frame with the couple's names and the date would set it off nicely. The best place to get coin sets at a reasonable price, is to do a search on eBay. (this makes a good baby gift also)
Cross Stitch; My favorite wedding present is a framed cross stitch that has our names and the date of our marriage (with flowers around the sides). If you like cross stitch, this is a great present. Go to joann.com
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Baby Gifts
Buying gifts for newborns is easy. Every new mother can use all the usual stuff; clothes, crib sheets, blankets, night lights, car seat covers, etc. Click here and SAVE BIG on Clearance Items @BabyAge.com If however, you'd like to give something unique, here are a few ideas. Newpaper; Buy a local newpaper on the birthdate of the baby and vacuum seal it in clear plastic. Or, take a clipping of the birth annoucement from the paper and frame it with a picture of the newborn. Another idea is a copy of the world almanac for the year of the baby's birth. The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2002
Coins; A framed set of proof coins minted in the year of the birth with a baby picture is also a nice keepsake gift. The cheapest way to pick up a set is to go to Find hard to find items on eBay! Storage Tins; Take a set of used cookie tins and make a great place to store all those little baby items that mothers need (thermometers, pins, nail clippers, etc.). Cover the tin with a nice baby fabric (I use baby blankets from the thrift store or a yard sale). Trim the edges with a decorative trim. Then hot glue little baby toys to the lid. You can also use wooden baby blocks (cut in half) to spell out the word "BABY" or the baby's name.
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Gifts for Women/Moms
Moms are amoung the most overworked group of people today. What could be better than a gift that would help her relax? Someone recently gave me a bottle of wine and a tube of bubble bath. Now that's relaxing!
Wine Lover's Gourmet Picnic
Music; Or, for more relaxation, try a tape or CD with soothing nature sounds. The Natural Sounds Of The Wilderness,... or Nature's Relaxing Sounds: Tropical Rain... Coupons; If you have a close friend expecting a baby, print up a coupon book with household chores that you would be willing to help with when the baby and mom come home from the hospital. Click here for some examples.
Jewelry is always a safe bet for women. Sometimes, the best gifts women receive are the ones they buy for themselves {smiling}. So, shop around on some of these links and have fun.
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RCA DirecTV Universal Remote Control
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Gifts for Men/Dads There are two words that you want to remeber when buying gifts for men; Electrical, Mechanical. For some reason, men love things with buttons, knobs, and moving parts!
Electronics & Gadgets @ CatalogCity.com fs Universal Remote; We all know men love remote controls. Instead of having 5 different remotes, one is better. Electronic Organizers; Now here's a gift with LOTS of buttons. Certain to keep a man happy for hours. Palm m100 Handheld Electronic Voice Recorder; For busy men, a voice recorder is the perfect way to make personal notes without having to write everything down. A great way to stay organized. Olympus VN-90 Digital Voice Recorder Tools; Men love tools of all kinds. The more powerful the better. They don't nessecarily have to need the tool to really enjoy receiving them as a gift! Power Tools
Magazines; Did you know that there are web sites where you can order subscriptions for a fraction of the normal cost? When you order a subscription as a gift, a gift card will be sent in your name. NBAF Magazine Subscriptions: |
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