Gifts on a Shoestring

A home-burned CD mix is a fun gift idea. Put together favorite tunes of the recipient or pick songs around a theme. For a baby shower for a girl, give a CD with "girls" songs. For a housewarming, look for songs that talk about houses or homes. Have fun with it and don't spend a fortune, because you already own the music.

A nice family photo or updated photo of your child or children always makes a nice gift for grandparents or hard-to-buy-for relatives. Place the picture in a reasonably priced frame for a tasteful finish.

A thoughtful, but inexpensive gift for a baby shower is to clip coupons for baby related items, such as diapers, wipes, baby food, etc., and present them in an attractive coupon wallet or other holder. This gift will be appreciated by the parents-to-be when the baby arrives and all of the related new expenses start adding up.

A thoughtful gift for relatives that live far away is to edit any home movies that you have onto a video cassette or DVD. You can make it as short or long as you want and will take more time than money. The nice thing about this idea is once you have a suitable end product, you can make copies for more than one relative - like both sets of grandparents!

If you have houseplants that could use a good thinning out, consider taking cuttings and creating gift plants. All you need is an inexpensive bag of potting soil and some mugs or pots from a dollar store. Decorate with a suitable ribbon for the occasion and you will have a thoughtful but inexpensive gift.

With greeting cards running $2 to $6 these days, you are better off skipping the card and putting that money into your gift. You can always make a card out of your gift wrap or if you are crafty, you can make cards on the computer or with other craft materials.

If you have a close friend or relative that you like to make long distance calls to, consider giving them a pre-paid phone card as a gift. They come in just about any denomination to fit your budget, and they should feel touched that you want to provide a way to keep in touch. A nice benefit is that by subsidizing some of their calls, your phone bill will be lower, because you'll be making less long distance calls to them.

To make inexpensive potpourri gifts, collect some small jars like those that baby food, jelly, or condiments come in, and fill with a bag of potpourri that you can pick up for less than $5 at a craft store. For the lid, place a doily on top and use the lid to press down, and twist lightly to make a firm impression. Discard the lid and glue the doily to the jar rim. To add a finishing touch tie a ribbon around the rim, secure with a drop of glue and add a gift tag.

Make a photo gift. Online photo companies like kodakgallery.com or snapfish.com will let you upload pictures for use on t-shirts, calendars, coffee mugs, mouse pads, and more. Most of the items are very affordable, and uploading your photo is free.

If you take a lot of pictures, give a gift of memory by pulling together a photo album or scrapbook of the year's special moments that would be meaningful to the gift receiver. You can pick up inexpensive photo albums at a discount store and reprints of pictures don't cost very much. You can probably use variations of this gift for a number of people on your gift list.

Use your computer to make up a calendar that can be personalized with pictures, family birthdays and other special days, etc. You can find free calendar-making software on the Internet at sites like download.com.

Check with your local theatres to see if they have any special gift or Holiday promotions and consider giving gift passes to those on your gift list. As an alternative, you could give coupons to the local video store and bags of specialty popcorn.

If you can track down enough childhood, high school, or college friends of the gift receiver, try making an audio or video tape where each recalls shared memories of their school days together. Collect copies of any photos they may have and accompany with a photo album if possible.

A wonderful inexpensive gift for an anniversary couple, a birthday guy or girl, a graduate, or almost anyone is a "Memory CD". All you really need to invest is some time at the computer.

Candle making can be a fun and inexpensive way to make lots of unique gifts for your candle-loving friends and family. You can make a bunch at one time and save for gift needs throughout the year. The supplies can be found at any craft store and you can find easy to follow instructions by typing "candle making" into any Internet search engine.

Keep your eye peeled for those magazine subscription packs that come in the mail (every other day, or so it seems). A subscription to a favorite magazine can cost about $12.00 and is a gift that keeps on giving all year long.

Time spent to learn a useful craft can be time well spent when it comes to trimming your gift budget. Knitting, crocheting and sewing can all be excellent ways to make something special for someone (without spending a bundle). You could make: afghans, mittens, hats, scarves, aprons, etc.

Search Internet auction sites such as EBay throughout the year and search for bargain gifts that you can bid on. You may not win every auction, but you can start a gift closet with the ones that you do. This way when gift occasions arise, you won't be tempted to run to the mall and pay full price for a last minute gift.

Create your own pop-a-riffic gifts for a tenth of the price of pre-packaged tins. Pop corn in the microwave or on the stove-top for HUGE savings and then dust with your favorite right-from-the-kitchen-cabinet seasonings -- garlic salt, paprika, cinnamon or sugar -- then place in plastic storage bags and tie with ribbon.

Everyone appreciates homemade goodies. Whether your specialty is chocolate chip cookies, fettuccine Alfredo, or fresh baked bread, you have the perfect affordable gift idea at your fingertips. Even if you're not a kitchen wizard, it doesn't take a culinary degree to bake fresh cookies from a pre-packaged pouch bought at the store. Package them in some tins from the dollar store, or colored cellophane and ribbon to make a nice presentation.

A gift that costs considerably less to make than purchase is bath salts. Combine 2 cups Epsom salts,.1-2 teaspoons of baking soda, and 10-12 drops of essential oil or cologne for fragrance. Stir together to mix salts and fragrance and put in a recycled food jar. If the jar lid has writing on it you can paint it to make it more attractive.

If most of the extended family with which you usually exchange individual gifts with agrees that money is tight, consider a Holiday gift swap instead. Put everyone's names in a hat and draw them to have each person buy a gift for the name that they draw. This way everyone gets a gift and you can concentrate on getting something particularly special for the person you picked from the hat.

An inexpensive, but thoughtful gift for someone is to create a gourmet gift basket. For example, if you know they like Italian cooking, make up a basket with nice pasta, special jarred sauces, olive oil, herb mixtures, wine, recipe cards, and a slotted spoon. Be creative and gear it to their tastes.

If the only gift you have to offer is time, then share your time by providing a service of which you are capable. Give a coupon for babysitting, house or pet sitting, back massages, housecleaning, car washes, or a home cooked meal.

Mason jars that are typically used for preserving or canning foods can be filled with a wide variety of mixes, fancied up with ribbon and recipe card and given as gifts. Some of the many things you can include in the jars are dry cookie ingredients, soup mixes, bath salts, spiced wine or cider mix, etc. Make sure you provide easy to follow instructions on the recipe card.

If you can play a musical instrument, compose a song for the gift recipient and make them a homemade tape or CD of you performing it. If you're not musically inclined, write them a poem or story, or paint them a picture. The time, effort, and thought put into creating something inspired by the gift recipient is a flattering tribute and thoughtful gift that will be well received.

A gift from the garden is always special. A beautiful bouquet of homegrown roses or a basket of seasonal vegetables and herbs make a lovely low-cost gift. Plan ahead and plant extra flowers or vegetables to use as gifts come harvest time. You could even present an attractive coupon as a gift in the off-season that is redeemable during the growing season.

Many of us get duped into over-spending when faced with pretty store displays or too many options. Giving a gift card is a terrific idea if you're trying to stick to a budget. Most stores sell them on their websites for no extra shipping cost, which keeps you out of the stores and malls and away from temptation.

For a great gift for baby's first Birthday, get a free circus ticket by writing to Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus, P O Box 5265, Clifton NJ 07015. Every baby is eligible for one free ticket during the year of his or her birth to be used anytime during the child's lifetime.

For an inexpensive but creative gift for the cooks in your life, try making your own flavored vinegars. All you'll need beside fresh herbs are vinegar and some nice bottles or mason jars. You can create these gifts months ahead of time (if you're planning on giving them for the Holidays), resulting in less holiday stress. Adorn the container with ribbon and accompany with a card containing a recipe or two for the specific vinegar and you'll have a gift that will be appreciated by anyone who appreciates fine food. You can also make up enough to keep on hand for birthdays and spontaneous gift needs throughout the year.

Consider making up a recipe book with all your favorite family recipes and giving it as a gift. Use your creative skills to create a family recipe file with an attractive cover and photos or stories.

If you are on a tight budget and want to avoid the temptation of the mall and the risk of overspending, consider making a donation of your budgeted gift amount to the recipient's favorite charity. Most charities take donations on their websites, and some will even send a free card to the recipient announcing the donation made in their name.

A great gift idea for the car enthusiast is a Car Wash Gift Bucket. Head to your local auto store and stock up on items like car wax, washing solution, leather or tire sprays, chrome polishes, sponges, a chamois, etc. Store them all in a large car wash bucket, tie with ribbon or bow and you've created an inexpensive but thoughtful gift.

A bag of inexpensive votive candles that can be purchased for under $5 combined with some arts and crafts supplies -- glue, glitter, paint -- can yield everything from a Hanukkah menorah to the trappings for a romantic candlelit bath.

Try cooking and freezing a week's worth of meals for the person on your gift list. You'll be appreciated every time they realize they don't have to cook that night.

At a department store, a bath basket can set you back $50. You can create your own stress relieving bath gift basket for less than half that. Some of the things you can add to the basket are a candle, bath soaps or salts, lotion, a bath pillow, a fancy wash cloth for the eyes and a relaxing music CD.