since budgets may be tight for many people, whats your ideas for gifts

My Mom raised me with a belief that the true value of any gift lies within how much love, care and thought went into the choosing of it. So with that idea in mind I scout the dollar stores for lovely, unique items that portray my feelings for the person...or align with their interests, hobbies and favorite things. For example one gal pal loves teddy bears. So no matter where I am all year I pick up items with teddy bears at dollar stores, thrift stores or garage sales. As long as they are ain good shape and do not look like 'seconds' my thought for her is always seen when I gift her things. Another one likes cows..I use the same approach with her and she is always thrilled at my 'thoughtfulness.' I also start my Xmas shopping right after Christmas. I have a big box up in the linen closet and I am always picking up items all year and placing them in there with certain people in mind. I find candles and unique candle holders wrapped up and placed in a gift box from the dollar store are always a big hit. Jewelry from thrift stores can be polished up and make lovely gifts. Books, baked goods in a lovely tin box, crafts...to me it is not only the gift but in the presentation. A box tastefully wrapped can make a less expensive gift seem so much more valuable to the recipient because it shows the giver cared enough to take the time to make them feel special. Love is in the details...from my perspective anyway. I love Dollarama and other dollar stores because they have unique items that are really great things to give or receive. So those are my ideas for thoughtful gift giving on a budget...hope they help a little! Cheers, Raia

I think that plants can be relatively inexpensive. Perhaps this could be a gift idea?

You could call this cheating, but during the year I enter online competitions I have been quite successful and I tend to win dvds and cds so any that I don't want or I know a friend or relative would like I save them up for Christmas or birthday presents, saves me a fortune! I also recycle Christmas presents from years past, to pass on. Cheeky I know but it's my way of recycling! I also buy stuff off Ebay and have saved a fortune. There are so many ways to cut back if you have a budget, expensive gifts are not always the best!

For teachers, I am going to fill a coffee cup up with candy, and add a dollar lottery ticket. My son has a special ed. teacher and 4 aides, so I have to find something little and not too expensive. He also rides a handicap bus and the driver and aide on there also buy for him. I am going to do the same for them.

Sometimes a gift basket is nice. You can buy the wicker ones very cheaply. Then add little itemns you find on special.Shampoo, chocolates, a small pot plant, a special coffee, etc. Wrap it with celaphane & a bow. All these items can be bought at the discount shops. If you are into gardening, & can get cuttings from your own plants, do thios, & buy small cheap pots. Then do the pots up with paint.

Make your own gift certificates and give things such as services that you can do for the other person or I make a lot of my gifts.

We do a lot of bargain shopping. If we look hard enough, we can find some really good stuff at great prices. One year we managed to do Christmas for $150 and everyone liked their gifts. Watch for good prices on things like ice tea makers, throw blankets with teams, emblems, etc. that some of your family/friends enjoy, great-smelling incense (usually can be found 500 sticks for $5 in places like Spencer Gifts), big expensive scented candles on sale, fuzzy pajamas. For clothes just shop around the clearance racks at the big name places. You'll be amazed how many nice things you can find for "dirt" prices. ...oh, I remember one year when my dad was laid off and my mom could only find part time work & she and I were doing a paper route in the mornings. That Christmas was rough. I remember mom made everyone a loaf of fresh homemade bread and was up all night doing it Christmas Eve. I also helped her make fudge and put them in pretty (but I'm assuming inexpensive) holiday tins and helped frame photos and wrap them for the grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. Good luck. We haven't started shopping either.