Frugal but Thoughtful Gifts

1. Plant A Gift - Planting an herb garden, or a spring pot, can be a wonderful gift to receive. The cost of seeds and a pot is much more inexpensive than the cost of flowers. It is a gift that you will find others appreciate.

2. Create a Memory Album - For those that are close to you a memory album of photos is a great gift. You can write short stories to go with the photos, or you can use quotes to emphasize the photo. You can have the photos copied fairly inexpensively. Not only will you find this gift inexpensive to make, but also it is one that is enjoyable to make!

3. A Care Basket - If you have someone who is young and has just moved into his or her own place, or someone who has just started a job, a wonderful gift is a care package. You can purchase a wicker basket at a second hand store and fill it with items that they will need. For example, for a new job, a basket filled with tea or coffee and homemade cookies will be received with thanks. A new home care package may consist of different themes. For example, emergency basket could have Band-Aids, tea light candles, flashlight and batteries. Or, a bathroom basket could be soap, toothpaste, Band-Aids, facecloth and hand towel. You can be as creative as you desire when putting together these care baskets.

4. Dinner Certificates - If you enjoy cooking, give the person a dinner certificate to your home. The certificate can be almost anytime as you indicate, and, is one that others will appreciate anytime of the year.

5. Reminder Book - This gift is especially appreciated by those who are unorganized. Purchase or make an expensive month book. Then, handwrite important dates, birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions. Or, for those just moving out, do a book of frequent phone numbers of their relatives. It is amazing how many younger people have numbers of all their friends, but don't have the numbers of their relatives.

6. Meal Ingredients - This is a gift we have given to our children. We used our family recipe for their favorite cookies. In a glass jar, we layered all the dry ingredients, along with the recipe. They ended up with an useable jar, a recipe they can use again, and the ingredients for some great cookies!

7. Frozen Dinners - A frozen dinner is appreciated by everyone, young, old and middle age especially if they are working. Make frozen dinners for them. They can keep the dinner in their freezer, and will think of you the night they don't have to prepare their own dinner!

8. Puppet - This is one for the younger children in your family. Using old mismatched socks and old buttons, make some puppets. You will be amazed at the delight this simple gift brings to children.

9. Favorite Poem or Quote - Many people have a favorite poem or quote. You can handwrite or print from a computer, then frame it. The other option is to find a poem or quote that suits the occasion. For example, Mother' Day…there are many wonderful quotes on mothers; find the one that suits your mum, or write your own. Or, for birthdays, there are great quotes. For example, "don't count your years….make your years count!" Do some research. I think you will find many motivational or inspirational quotes and poems that will suit any occasion.

10. Monthly Do Cards - You can write 12 cards offering to do one thing a month for the next year. It may be something as simple as: Jan - cook dinner one night, Feb - shovel snow one day, Mar - clean house one day, April - do yard work one day, May - plant a bag of tulips, June- picnic lunch. Depending on the person, you can personalize each month to suit the likes of that person. You will find gifts where you have used or offered your time mean so much more to people

Implement frugal but thoughtful gifts into your gift giving. You will find people will not only appreciate the time and effort you personally put into their gifts, but you will save yourself money by being frugal - getting more for less money!