Tag Archives: Christmas gifts

Affordable Last-Minute Travel Gifts

You can’t afford to give your cousin the $300 22-inch rolling carry-on he wants and you certainly don’t have $250 to drop on the bubble gum pink travel case your son’s latest girlfriend wants for Christmas. So what do you get for the frequent flyers and riders in your life when you are low on cash and short on time? Here are a few ideas: If you can’t afford new luggage get the next best thing—new luggage tags. The Luggage Retriever ($40) clips on to the bag of your choice and emits an electronic beep when activated by a key-chain-like … Continue reading →

Kids and Gifts for Friends

Besides grab bags and gift exchanges, my girls always have at least a couple of friends that they want to give gifts. It’s usually just a little something, and we have often opted for bath gels and pouf sponges, perfume, nail polish and the like. Treats are also good. I found an adorable bottle of Coca Cola shaped like an ornament and my daughter tied candies and curling ribbon around the top. It turned out very cute and I think this will make a fun gift. Her other friends are getting cellophane bags filled with goodies and tied with curling … Continue reading →

Six Days til Christmas

Less than a week to go! Are you getting excited? Now that we’re in the home stretch, it’s time to take care of details. Do you have Christmas music? If not, you can pick up a CD or you can find some holiday music online and play it from your computer. Bookmark a site ahead of time so you don’t have to search for it during the festivities. While you’re on the computer, look for a nice, holiday wallpaper or screen saver too. You may have music stations as part of your satellite or cable TV package as well, so … Continue reading →

The Christmas Shopping Blues

Is anybody else having trouble finding gifts this season? Living out in the country already means shopping is limited, but this year, it’s even worse. With early predictions that it would be an unremarkable Christmas shopping season, retailers seem to be playing it cautious. Simply put, they aren’t ordering enough of anything to keep shelves stocked, apparently afraid that they’ll get stuck with merchandise that will have to be sold at huge post- holiday discounts. Of course, I do love a good after Christmas sale, but right now, I could use a little pre-Christmas help. I guess I’m going to … Continue reading →

Do You Buy a Joint Christmas Gift?

Christmas is a very happy and jolly time for families and couples. I love the excitement in the air and the decorations around the town. I even enjoy doing my Christmas shopping during the last few days. However once you have been married for several years, especially if you have children, Christmas shopping and gift opening can turn more to others than you and your mate. After being married for a few years, many couples decide to buy joint a Christmas present. In other words, they do not get each other a Christmas present. Instead they choose to make a … Continue reading →

Should an Engagement Ring be a Christmas Gift?

Marriage proposals are special anytime of the year and whenever they occur. Receiving a diamond engagement ring from the love of her life is a very exciting and wonderful experience for a woman. Men choose many different times and ways to purpose to their mate. However, should the gift be given as an occasion all in itself or is it okay for the ring to coincide with another special event or holiday? For example, should men give engagement rings as birthday or Christmas gifts? Should these gifts be given when a special occasion already exists? I think the answer to … Continue reading →

Thoughtful Gifts for Holiday Guests

When you’re entertaining guests over the holidays, it’s nice to have a little something to give them to help remember the occasion. The Gift that Keeps on Giving You know everybody wants the recipe for your famous cranberry orange muffins or your special oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. Make a nice big batch of your specialty to serve, but also wrap up individual servings. As your guests leave, give each person a treat, complete with the recipe. They can make it at home for years to come. Printing up the recipe on pretty paper is a nice touch or use Christmas … Continue reading →

Cool, Custom Christmas Gift Wrapping Tips

Sometimes, presentation can make as much of an impact as the gift itself does. These custom tips will help even small gifts look like something special. It’s time to shop for the school (or maybe church, club, or scouts) grab bag. Your child will likely be asked to pick a gift for someone else of his or her gender, with a price tag of approximately $5.00. Let’s face it, five bucks doesn’t buy much any more, but you still want the recipient to be pleased. Even if you pick out the coolest miniature cars and trucks, wrapping them individually doesn’t … Continue reading →

Heirloom Holiday Gifts

This holiday season is presenting some real opportunities, despite the less optimistic appearance of the gift giving season in some regards. The opportunities for getting back to basics, giving simple toys as gifts, is one of those opportunities. Handmade gifts that may well become heirloom pieces is another. Create beautiful elements to go with existing toys. A patchwork quilt or handmade doll furniture are items that can be passed from generation to generation. Baby doll clothes or hand stitched outfits for Barbie may well inspire you to explore your inner fashion designer, while at the same time giving your little … Continue reading →

Frugal Gifts: Nice Effect without High Cost

In the same way you can save money by limiting themed elements when decorating or planning a birthday party or holiday get-together, opting instead for more plain items and just a few themed elements, you can get more bang for your buck when shopping for holiday gifts. Opting for smaller or fewer name brand items and combining them with other gifts will give you a nice effect without such a high-end price tag. For the teenage girl that is all about brand name fashions, you do not have to blow your budget trying to make her happy. Instead of the … Continue reading →