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Holiday Gift Challenge Ideas
Hi ladies!
My internet has been out AGAIN since last Thursday and just got fixed today (I pity the poor people who work customer service that had to deal with me). I'm catching up on all the happenings around here and procrastinating laundry and other misc. things I should be doing before leaving town for the holiday tomorrow.
My question: My family is trying to keep the gift giving on the frugal side this year and I've been trying to think of a fun way to make a "challenge" out of it. A few things I've thought of are to give practical, needed, and useful things that fit in the stockings (like dress socks, gift cards, cheap fashion jewelry), or make things (hello Pinterest!) that would cost more if you purchased it in the store.
Anyone have any other fun or original ideas to make the gift giving experience more unique while not breaking the bank?
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Re: Holiday Gift Challenge Ideas
One year I gave everyone on my list a carbon monoxide detector. It's not the most fun gift, but none of them had one and it's really important/useful. I shopped around and was able to get a good price.
I've bought people web domains as a gift. The people I did this for were creative/entrepreneurial types, so they really appreciated the idea of owning their domain in case they ever needed it. It's kind of a fun, cheap gift.
I asked for and received one of these last year. Peace of mind far outweighs the cost of it.
I found this list on pinterest a while back. I'm not sure who you are shopping for (gender, ages, etc) but this list has a variety of ideas for adults and kids, practical and fun....
1. $5 gift cards (Starbucks, McDonalds, Amazon, Borders etc).
2. A favorite candy
3. Decorative cupcake liners (I found some great ones here)
4. A favorite magazine
5. Camera strap cover (like the one I gave away here) - note, that giveaway is closed!)
6. Packets of flower or herb seeds for planting
7. Personalized stationary
8. Slipper socks
9. Silly putty (another thing I always got as a kid)
10. Rubber coated paddle attachement for a mixer
11. Monogrammed iPhone Case
12. Nail polishes
13. Sharpie Pens
14. Chapstick
15. Hair bands
16. Small crosswords puzzle book
17. Crayons
18. Body wash
19. Piggy Bank with coins
20. Personalized M&M's that say Merry Christmas
21. Clip on book reading lamp
22. Measuring spoons or cups
23. Cute wine stopper
24. Scarf
25. Stickers
26. Monogrammed coasters
27. Lottery tickets
28. Deck of playing cards
29. Rubix cube
30. Loofa
31. Hair clips
32. Cuticle set
33. Jewelry
34. Batteries
35. Cooking extracts - vanilla, mint, orange etc.
36. Mittens
37. Scented candles
38. Bookmarks
39. Fishing lures
40. Knitting or Crochet needles
41. Lotion
42. Play Dough
43. Golf tees or balls
44. Matchbox cars
45. Memory card
46. Cd's
47. Tools
48. Wash/Dish rags
49. Diaper genie refills (you laugh, but I would love those in my stocking!)
50. Specialty olive oils
51. Eyeshadow
52. Unusual pastas like this red chili linguini
53. From the Kitchen of labels
54. Gardening gloves
55. Tickets to the aquarium
56. Address book
57. An orange - to shape out the toe of the stocking!
58. Ice scraper
59. Small digital camera
60. A teasing comb
61. Cookie cutters
62. A good book
63. Retractable ID or key holder
64. Makeup bag
65. Nice wooden spoons
66. Gift card to go see a movie
67. USB Drive
68. Small photo frames
69. Wallet
70. Personalized water bottle
71. Speciality teas
72. Garden markers (for herbs etc)
73. Scented antibacterial kitchen hand soap
74. Pumice stones
75. Travel sized games (connect four, uno, etc)
76. Gourmet spice mixes
77. Small sketchbook
78. Fridge magnets
79. Stencils for crafting
80. Tickets to go see a musical performance
81. Kid paint set
82. Extra Wii controllers
83. Small calendar for your purse/backpack
84. PJ's
85. Wristlet to hold a small digital camera
86. Wine glass charms
87. Freezable teether's
88. Osis Dust It
89. Monogrammed onesie or tee
90. Money clip
91. Set of markers
92. Gourmet hot chocolate
93. Ring holder
94. Wine aerator
95. Cufflinks
96. Pedometer
97. Personalized purse mirror
98. DVD's
99. Cell phone car charger
100. Child sized harmonica
101. Luggage tags
102. Personalized coffee cup
103. Travel alarm clock
104. Baby legs
105. Personalized mom bracelet or necklace with children's birthstones
106. Perfume/Cologne
107. Speciality chocolates
108. Mini tripod
109. Cute umbrella
110. Earbuds
111. Flower bulbs
112. Monogrammed baby wipes case
113. Passport holder
114. Raw honey
115. Small digital picture frame
116. Webkinz
117. Snow cap
118. Digital luggage scale
119. Chalk
120. iTunes giftcard
121. Digital measuring tape
122. Bubbles
123. Watch
124. Wine thermometer
125. Tickets to the zoo
126. Speciality coffee
127. Bath toys
128. Monogrammed burp rags
129. Makeup brush set
130. Binoculars
131. Barbies
132. Child "character" flashlights
133. Jewelry box
134. Recipe cards
135. Swiss Army knife
136. Belt
137. Small lint roller
138. Key chain
139. Baby rings to attach toys to a carseat
140. Coloring book
141. Birthstone earrings
142. Throwback candy - Pez dispensers, pop rocks, nerds, fun dip.
143. Kindle
144. Scrapbooking supplies
145. Personalized fortune cookie
146. Universal remote
147. Hand sanitizer
148. Silly Bandz
149. Family Christmas ornament
150. A handwritten note from Santa