Do you impose frugality in gift giving?

[rob62521]

Re: Do you impose frugality in gift giving?

With gas prices the way they are, the gas card is an excellent suggestion, Justbee!

[med12]

Re: Do you impose frugality in gift giving?

I am definitely frugal/practical in gift giving. A lot of times, I will re-gift something in a basket of sorts. For instance, a candle with a bottle of wine and a couple of wine glasses or a candle with some bath stuff...depending on the person. I also keep a box of gifts that I add to throughout the year to do the basket idea. Many times, I will give a gift certificate to a restaurant but will combine it with something else so it's not as obvious how much I spent.

One of my favorite "frugal" gifts is a movie basket. Either a gift card to a movie rental store or a set of movie passes along with some microwave popcorn and a fun bowl.

[Ima saver]

Re: Do you impose frugality in gift giving?

I like the giving money idea. My girlfriend and I decided not to exchange presents anymore, so the only presents I get are from my husband! I give my granddaughters money so they can blow it any way they want. I wish they would save it!

[disneysteve]

Re: Do you impose frugality in gift giving?

With gas prices the way they are, the gas card is an excellent suggestion, Justbee!

While I certainly wouldn't mind free gas, I don't like this idea either. Let's say you give me an Exxon card. That means I need to go to Exxon, which generally has the most expensive gas in the area, so the $25 you give me buys less gas than if you gave me $25 cash and I took it to the US Gas station down the street. I wouldn't want to give Exxon my business and support them when they are overcharging so much.

Just another reason I dislike gift cards.

[rickatheslicka]

Re: Do you impose frugality in gift giving?

I go back and forth. If I know the person receiving the gift has been trying to be frugal, I might get them something less practical that they otherwise wouldn't get for themselves, as a treat, like movie tickets and a promise to babysit.

Other times, I try to get them something they need and will definitely use. But it can be hard to put yourselves in their shoes and know what it is that they need. For example, they may have food stamps and would never dream of telling you that. But then a grocery store gift card would not be the most prudent present for them. I try to keep an ear out for things they mention, but even then I know some presents I have given were not a big hit.

Overall, it's the thought that counts, right?

[lrjohnson]

Re: Do you impose frugality in gift giving?

I try to be frugal. I shop thrift stores and garage sales, and this year because of my challenge I've had to start Christmas shopping in April. I don't give any gift that I wouldn't like myself, in that I don't buy others used sweaters while I go to the department store. So even if a friend knows I paid a low price for her gift, she knows I pay a low price for everyonbes gifts and my own needs and wants.

All that said, it was extraordinarily satisfying to be able to give my dad $1000 to buy a laptop for world travle as his birthday/retirement/christmas/etc. gift for the year. best splurge i ever made. Once in a lifetime, for sure.

[Thrifty Ray]

Re: Do you impose frugality in gift giving?

Overall, it's the thought that counts, right?

Yes, it is the thought that counts. But what does this really mean? I can remember thinking "well at least I remembered the occasion, therefore I 'thought' ", even if it meant buying a quick "whatchamacallit" for a co-worker at the grocery store on the way to the office.

But anymore, "its the thought that counts" means that I have taken the time to think about the recipient and come up with a gift that they will LOVE...sometimes that gift comes from a garage sale, sometimes its homemade, sometimes it is clearanced...but I really try to fit the gift to the person so that I dont spend money on something that spends its life being a 'recycled gift'.

[rob62521]

Re: Do you impose frugality in gift giving?

While I certainly wouldn't mind free gas, I don't like this idea either. Let's say you give me an Exxon card. That means I need to go to Exxon, which generally has the most expensive gas in the area, so the $25 you give me buys less gas than if you gave me $25 cash and I took it to the US Gas station down the street. I wouldn't want to give Exxon my business and support them when they are overcharging so much.

Just another reason I dislike gift cards.

You make a good point. Perhaps you could sell the card to someone who likes that particular place and have the cash.

[vsjhoc]

Re: Do you impose frugality in gift giving?

Sometimes the best gifts are not goods (things) but services. Think of what you could do for someone that they would really appreciate and would also not cost you much (perhaps only the gas that you would have spent driving to the store to buy them the thing):

* Give them an "errands day" where you do everything like picking up their dry cleaning, going to the post office, etc.

* Wash their car once a week for a month

* Mow their lawn or weed their garden three times

* Do something using your specific skills -- massage? hair cut? manicure? drywall?

[Thrifty Ray]

Re: Do you impose frugality in gift giving?

Sometimes the best gifts are not goods (things) but services.

I totally agree. Especially for seniors who have limited space and have every'thing' they need.

[rob62521]

Re: Do you impose frugality in gift giving?

Sometimes the best gifts are not goods (things) but services. Think of what you could do for someone that they would really appreciate and would also not cost you much (perhaps only the gas that you would have spent driving to the store to buy them the thing):

* Give them an "errands day" where you do everything like picking up their dry cleaning, going to the post office, etc.

* Wash their car once a week for a month

* Mow their lawn or weed their garden three times

* Do something using your specific skills -- massage? hair cut? manicure? drywall?

Fine idea!

[getforfree]

Re: Do you impose frugality in gift giving?

Once I got a giftcard to a spa. I regifted it because I didn't want to spend any money on a gift, plus, I would never splurge on a spa anyways.