Teachers are special people in our lives. Often they are almost like another parent to our child, striving to make a difference in the lives of the children they teach. At Christmas or even end of the school year, gift giving is a small gesture to let the teacher know how much you appreciate all that they have done for your child.
Finding the perfect gift for a teacher can be difficult. As a former teacher myself, I, like many of my co-workers, appreciated anything I received and even still use many of the items today. However, an often found misconception is that teacher’s want “teacher related” gifts. So what is a teacher related gift? Items like mugs, totes, books, etc. that have a teacher theme. You would be amazed at how many items I have that follow a teacher theme. And while they are nice, there are so many other wonderful gifts available that are perfect for any teacher in your life.
Here are a few to get your imagination flowing:
Candy Jar – Purchase a candy jar and fill it to the rim with candies. A teacher loves being able to provide a piece of candy for a job well done to a student. Plus, they will nibble too.
Prize Box – Make or purchase a large box or other container to use as a prize box in the classroom. Fill it up with stickers, novelty items, pencils and other fun things children enjoy. A co-teacher I worked with got one as an end of the year gift and she absolutely adored it. When she set it out the next year she fondly remembered the student who gave it to her. You can decorate the box with former students artwork or pictures, or paint or pretty paper.
Notepads, Post Its, Pens, Pencils and Misc. Office Supplies – Any teacher can use these items. Put together a little gift basket with these items and watch your teacher receive the most practical and useful gift of the year.
Gift Certificates – You set the amount and pick the place. Choose a teacher store, craft store, book store or even Target or Walmart. These gift cards can be used for them to pamper themselves or even to purchase special things for their classroom they might not otherwise have gotten.
Spa Basket – Pamper the teacher in your life by putting together a box or basket of pretty nail polishes, body sprays, emery boards, nail files, lotions, and other pedicure and manicure items. Every teacher deserves to feel special.
Baked Goods – This one goes on every gift idea list I create. Simply because most people love to receive them. If you don’t want to spend your time baking, put together a gift in a jar or a gift basket for the teacher so they can make them.
There are dozens more ideas for frugal gift ideas for teachers, and this is only a small sampling. Can you think of the perfect frugal gift idea for the teacher in your life? If you are a teacher, what kinds of things would you like to receive?
Be sure and watch the frugal blog for dozens more articles dealing with low cost, inexpensive and frugal stocking stuffers and other Christmas gifts and decoration ideas.
Nicole Humphrey writes articles for the Scrapbooking Blog and for the Frugal Blog. She also guest blogs on a variety of topics. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.
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