The Gift Cupboard
My main frugal theme is 'What's in your hand,' that is, what do you already have on hand that you can put to good, frugal use. It also helps to plan ahead to be sure you have things in your hand.
Because we go to a congregation with a lot of young people, I can guess that I will have at least a couple of baby showers and wedding showers (not in that order) to go to each year, and because I have an 11 and 14 year old I know I'll probably be called on for a couple of birthday parties each year as well.
I keep my eyes open when shopping for nice bargains on items that will make nice gifts. Today I was at a grocery store that is closing out their dollar aisle items, so they were marked down to a quarter. Here are some things I bought, remember, for just .25 cents each:
a number of packages of paper plates and napkins in an Easter bunny theme. We don't do the Easter bunny, but we entertain at least a couple of times a week, and I don't mind using these plates and napkins for that purpose. I have used Christmas napkins at fourth of July parties because they were on sale. I am working on building and maintaining my reputation for eccentricity.=)
a lacy pair of baby socks that an be used for a cute gift bow or gift basket for a baby girl
a nice refrigerator magnet and two sets of really cute coasters that would make part of a nice gift basket for a college grad or newlyweds.
Some cute pony tail holders that would be nice in my 14 year old's stocking at Christmas
gel window clings in cute, bright colors- daisies and butterflies which most of my 14 year old's friends would love
insulated holder for a soda can, with footballs over it for the 11 year old's friends
A couple of really nice large sponges (huge, really) that would be great as part of a newlywed or high school grad off to college gift- I could pack them in a bucket with a couple other cleaning supplies, and some dusting cloths
For baby showers I like to give the book Honey for a Child's Heart
, along with a couple of suitable children's books. This makes a nice family gift for us because my Progeny often go in on it with me and they will each choose a children's book of their own to give as well. I watch at Amazon and buy Honey when it's on some sort of special, using my swagbucks to pay for three or four copies at a time.
In my gift stash (a shelf in my closet), I also have:
Several candle holders, still new in the box, picked up at thrift shops
some new children's books on sharks, also found at a thrift shop
several pairs of Handmade baby booties crafted by an online friend and purchased at a discount
I always look closely at new, still in the package items at thrift shops and yard sales just for this purpose, because I have found that being caught flat footed by an unexpected wedding, baby shower, graduation invite, or birthday party invitation can really throw the budget off. By building up and maintaining my stash of things suitable for gift giving (and baskets to put things in), I save money over the long run.
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7 Responses to “The Gift Cupboard”
May 28th, 2010 at 7:01 am
Just curious. Why don’t you do the Easter Bunny?
May 28th, 2010 at 7:51 am
Wow, what great ideas! I normally do the same thing, but I don’t normally plan so far in advance. That’s what I need to concentrate on more. Perhaps I will need to get a little closet organizer or clean out my smaller one to make room for these little gifts. I’m sure DH will be just thrilled that I’ll be bringing in more stuff to our already cluttered home lol
May 28th, 2010 at 9:45 am
I too pick up discounted items as I find them, and usually at the grocery store which is the only store I’m in regularly. Ours has large toy, electronics and seasonal housewares departments. Last fall I picked up patio dishware and picnic gear at the end of season sales. Those were given recently at Mother’s day and a wedding shower. When my daughter is along I have her pick out a few sales items for future BD party invites. When she isn’t with me I scout for items for her BD and Christmas. I’m not a rabid shopper so as much as possible I try to get all my shopping done while doing my groceries and erands. If I can avoid shopping completely in November and December I’m a happy camper. I try to have all my Christmas shopping done by October.
I keep a spreadsheet of everyone I shop for. I add gift ideas as I think of them, including hints people drop either intentionally or not. Once I’ve bought the gift I record that as done. After Christmas all the unused suggestions become the starting point for the next year. For adults a suggestion one year is probably still suitable the next. For kids things can change year to year, particularly for babies and toddlers as they develop. On my list I include the age of each child and adjust up a year when I create the new list after Christmas.
Not only does an ongoing list allow me to keep an eye out for appropriate gifts year round, it lets me check back to prior years and make sure I don’t repeat a gift. I’ve also gone back to prior years to look for ideas. If two individuals have similar interests, then the gift you gave A three years ago may also suit B this year. I have several sets children to buy for who are the same age but in different cities and on different sides of the family or just close family friends (three 4yr olds & three 9yr olds). I often buy them identical gifts when I find a great deal. They’ll never know I also gave it to another child so the “specialness” isn’t diminished. Last year the 9yr old girls all got a boxed set of fairy books plus fairy earings. The 4yr old boys all got puzzles and Tshirts from the movie “Cars”. Some of my favorite kids gifts to have on hand in the cupboard are kids cookbooks/aprons; mini garden tools, gloves and seed packages; activity books/markers, and craft kits (Tshirt painting, beading, sun catchers).
I realized over the weekend that I’ve used up my stash of teacher gifts, so I’ve added a reminder to my grocery list for Saturday. School is winding down here in a few weeks and I don’t want to be scrambling the last week.
People accuse me of being insanely organized, but the truth is there’s nothing I hate more than a crowded mall or needed to find a gift on a short deadline. If picking things up here and there (and having a list to organize it all) makes it possible to avoid panic shopping or going near a mall at Christmas then I’m all for it!
May 28th, 2010 at 3:41 pm
There is only one problem with “gift boxes” as I see it. Since the items tend to be general gift items (and not purchased with a specific person in mind) they are less meaningful as gifts. In my mind, there are only so many candles and candle holders one needs…after a certain point, it is all just clutter. I prefer a system like JKM’s where she tracks people’s needs/wants and picks up items that match those qualities. At least that way, when a gift is given, its something that the recipient has expressed an interest in. I’m not trying to be disrespectful of the OP, its just that the over-consumption of goods is something that I’m trying to steer clear of so unless I know that someone really wants something, I try to not buy it for them (and clutter up THEIR lives). I do accept that for some, buying gifts that are items the recipient “needs”, is seen as inappropriate (my mother’s family frowned upon giving needed items as gifts as it was seen as impersonal).
May 28th, 2010 at 7:08 pm
An idea that I borrowed from a wonderful friend and sadly now deceased sister-in-law was the idea of a devoting a closet or specific area for “holiday” items and when items went on clearance from the holiday season or toys or clothes that might fit and/or the recipient like on their next birthday to buy it and put it in the closet.
I also like to craft things for people from items on hand for special occasions and some good sites to check out would be http://www.cutoutandkeep.net or http://www.craftster.org for ideas.
May 29th, 2010 at 11:54 am
I too have a giant ‘gift closet’. In past years i have stock-piled it so heavily with bargains that i have not had to purchase a gift in over 2 years, (b-days, x-mas, wedding, etc).
I am actually more leaning towards giving gift cards in the future (i just think that these are something that people can use more of than just another thing) so i have curbed the re-stocking and while i have plenty to get me through another year i am planning to abandon the gift closet altogether. (although it was wonderful while it lasted)….
Great bargains you found!
June 21st, 2010 at 2:35 am
I learned to do this from my grandma – she keeps a gift box, but not of just general items… When you find something at a great price that you think a special person would like you buy it and put it in the box. Just before birthdays or in October she goes through the box and sees if she needs to putchase anything else.
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