DIY Gift Baskets Are a Great Way to Go

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DIY Gift Baskets Are a Great Way to Go

Submitted by: anonymous 11/10/2009 11:02 AM

Baskets are easy to find at yard sales for next to nothing. My daughter is a cash poor graduate student living on her own. For her birthday I was planning to give her a gift certificate to a grocery store, but made it more personal.

I shop more frugally than she does. I used a laundry basket (which she needed). I then shopped for nonperishable food items on sale and bought a little each time I did my own shopping. I bought multiples of items I know she likes and uses, such as pasta, pasta sauce, salad dressing, dried fruits and nuts,canned tuna, canned beans, laughing cow cheese,coffee, etc. I was careful about expiration dates.

She LOVED it! She's busy and it also saved her time.

Next basket: household products or health and beauty aids.

I have given many baskets over the years. They always have a theme. Once I decide the theme this allows me to be on the lookout for clearance items,even yard sale items.

I plan to give my daughter goody baskets until she is through with school. So I'm on the lookout for nice large baskets at yard sales. Not a new idea but worth rethinking the merits.

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Comments:

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Don't stop when your daughter graduates! This is a gift that's always suitable. As for your next gift of household cleaners, I would suggest a large trashcan as a container. My in-laws did this for us when we first married. It was like opening a treasure chest!

Posted by Lisa on November 19, 2009 12:05 PM

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Great idea.

Posted by anonymous on November 19, 2009 2:16 PM

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What a great idea! You could do the same for movie lovers, book readers, gardeners, etc. I love to give food baskets as gifts as well. I fill a basket with hard salami, cheese, crackers, chocolate truffles and a bottle of wine. It works well for Christmas and birthdays.

Posted by anonymous on November 19, 2009 2:19 PM

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I have used laundry baskets as a gift basket idea for several cousins and for my niece as a high school graduation gifts. Items we put inside the basket include towels, snacks, stationery and stamps, and a gift card to a store I knew would be in the town where they would be going to college. They loved the idea!

I've also used stainless steel collanders filled with a nice tablecloth, candles, and the fixings for a romantic pasta dinner for friends who were celebrating an anniversary or as a wedding gift.

Posted by Jen on November 19, 2009 2:29 PM

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For an inexpensive Christmas present that looks like you've spent a lot. Go to the Dollar store, pick up a basket and fill it with things from that store and wrap the whole thing in cellephane and a ribbon. Looks like you spent a lot. Can also do a basket with footcare items and nail polish and socks!

Posted by Denice on November 19, 2009 3:05 PM

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When I got married I was still in college and one of my aunts gave me two high end cookie sheets (resturant quality), and all the fixings of the best chocolate chip cookies ever. The spices, flour, and chocolate chips are long gone (enjoyed more than my wedding cake if I remember...I was baking for the love of my life, afterall) and I still love those cookie sheets after 16 years.

I give a big mixing bowl, measuring cups and spoons, towels, and all the ingredients to the best chocolate chip cookies ever...to the new brides I know...can't get those cookie sheets any more....

Posted by Michelle on November 19, 2009 3:54 PM

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Actually, I can purchase the stainless steel cookie sheets (restaraunt quality) at my local restaraunt supply house. They are pretty inexpensive. I have given them to my daughter-in-laws because they are fabulous! By the way, the cookie supplies is a great idea. I will probably use it sometime.

Posted by anonymous on November 19, 2009 10:45 PM

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I found a book called "The Generous Penny Pincher" , I believe. Talks about affordable, yet very nice gift baskets. Of course, you can adapt it to suit the recipient.

I love to give baskets because it is made personally for that person, by someone who cares enough to take the time to do it. And shopping for items over time and saving them back for a gift-Excellent Idea!

Big Lots! That's all I gotta say...

Posted by Kimberly on November 20, 2009 4:23 AM

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We used a similar idea for gift exchanges one year at my inlaws. Every basket had a theme and we gave to each family. One was a "game" basket with different games from the dollar store, score keeping pad, etc. Another was a "movie night". Use your imgination.

Posted by anonymous on November 20, 2009 8:16 AM

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I gave my family a basket so they could have a "family night". I filled it with a board game, a dvd, microwave popcorn, 2 liters of soda. They loved it and my grandchildren asked if I would do it again this Christmas!

Posted by Grandma Carla on December 06, 2009 10:21 PM

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Another great idea for a Christmas gift is a basket of New Year "cheer". Put together a bottle of champagne with two novelty glasses (if the recipient doesn't drink champagne, try sparkling juice or cider, white or red wine or a nice liqueur), some noisemakers and confetti poppers, popcorn, pretzels, peanuts and other party snacks, party napkins, etc. I won this basket at a fundraiser. It was great and prompted us to host a New Year's party that year.

Posted by anonymous on December 10, 2009 6:36 PM

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I made a Christmas basket for my daughter last year, it was so full of useful nice things, even her Father-in-law made a comment on how nice it was, and asked who gave it to her. It seems like a very personal gift to me, and lots of fun to make.

Posted by Anne on December 11, 2009 12:24 PM

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I make personalized gift baskets every year for Christmas. I try to regift anything I get all year long that is just not me. I save everything that I don't like or would never use. I also love BIGLOTS and the dollar stores. You can always make a great gift basket for next to nothing, and anyone will love it. I create food baskets to.

Posted by anonymous on December 14, 2009 2:59 PM

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