| A frugal gift is measured first by it's usefulness. | | | | basket with a variety of cooking utensils or |
| Speaking from my own experience, I would say | | | | supplies. i.e. - Most of the above items could be |
| that my most appreciated gifts are those that I | | | | considered as well as, ladles, cutlery, small strainer |
| not only find useful, but that I would have had to | | | | s, tongs, special seasonings, cooking spices (Italian |
| purchase myself at some point. With that in mind, | | | | seasoning, cumin, onion powder, garlic, oregano, |
| the frugal mind that is, the gift actually serves | | | | thyme, etc) and again, top it off with a pretty |
| two practical purposes; It is useful and saves me | | | | apron! Throw in a cookbook if your budget allows |
| money.If you are a frugal gal, this task will be | | | | and/or toss in some homemade recipes for taco |
| much easier for you. If great minds think alike, | | | | seasoning, chicken bake coating, stuffing, |
| the same is true of frugal minds. Simply look | | | | whatever you can find to replace higher priced |
| within yourself. The frugal gal can get excited | | | | store bought mixes.A good idea might be to |
| about the most ordinary of items. For the rest of | | | | actually make the mixes and give them already |
| you, here's a little help.Although you may question | | | | mixed in a tightly sealed container or jar along |
| some items on the list, remember, the frugal gal | | | | with the recipe. How to save money on groceries |
| enjoys frugal things! She looks to get the best | | | | tips or book.THE FOOD GIFT BASKET1. Frugal |
| value for her money and this IS what makes her | | | | Food Basket: Mix up some master baking mix, |
| happy! It just makes sense that providing a | | | | pancake mix, cookie mix, or muffin mix. Pick and |
| practical frugal gift that may also save money, will | | | | choose or give them all in tightly sealed containers |
| make her happy. Isn't that what great gifts should | | | | or jars and attach recipes for using and the mix |
| do? So here's to happiness and the pursuit of the | | | | recipe. Decorate accordingly of course. Specialty |
| frugal lifestyle! Happy holidays, happy birthdays, | | | | rice and rice mixes, bean mixes, bean and rice |
| happy Mother's day, etc. etc. etc....FRUGAL GIFT | | | | mixes, oatmeal, and couscous. A pack of herb |
| BASKET IDEASSome of these unique gift | | | | seeds or starter plants for indoor herb gardening. |
| baskets might seem odd or unusual to the | | | | Top it off with an apron, or a gift card from your |
| average person. If you're a frugal gal, you'll | | | | local grocery store.2. Treat Gift Basket: Now this |
| completely understand. The rest of you will just | | | | one is great to give the frugal gal food items that |
| have to trust me.THE LAUNDRY GIFT | | | | her budget, or frugal mind, just won't allow. Even |
| BASKETFor the frugal gal who holds onto things | | | | frugal gals have favorite gourmet items that they |
| until they fall apart (or even after they fall apart). | | | | love but rarely treat themselves to. For instance, |
| This is the gal who has a laundry basket held | | | | I love Macadamia nuts. But they are very |
| together with duct tape, tied together with string | | | | expensive, making them cost prohibitive for my |
| or rope, or repaired several times with other | | | | financial goals right now.If you don't already know, |
| various ingenious methods. | | | | ask a spouse or close relative what items the |
| Probability is, she may not even have a laundry | | | | recipient enjoys. Fill a basket or other creative |
| basket. I have several produce boxes (they are | | | | container with those foods and other various |
| extremely strong, especially banana boxes) that | | | | specialty foods, snacks, nuts, and/or cheeses. |
| make wonderful laundry carriers! And, they are | | | | Remember to take into consideration any diet |
| free.Fill a sturdy laundry basket with one or two | | | | restrictions and select your contents accordingly.3. |
| boxes each: | | | | Coffee or Tea Gift Basket: I'm a true coffee |
| Arm and Hammer Washing Soda | | | | lover. But, as a frugal gal, I know that a common |
| 20 Mule Team Borax | | | | brand will get me through the day just as well as |
| A few bars of Fels-Naptha Laundry Bar SoapI | | | | a gourmet brand. That doesn't change the fact |
| say "sturdy" basket because it will inevitably be | | | | that I enjoy a good cup of gourmet or specialty |
| put to the test by a frugal gal! If your frugal gal | | | | coffee once in a while. But, with my current |
| doesn't need a new laundry basket, you can give | | | | financial goals, the treat comes few and far |
| these gifts in an appropriate size traditional gift | | | | between.The coffee basket will definitely be |
| basket or just gift bag 'em.This is a great gift for | | | | appreciated by the frugal gal who loves a good |
| anyone who doesn't mind saving money. And, I | | | | cup of joe! Pack that basket with several |
| don't know anyone who minds! I would mix up | | | | different brands of gourmet or specialty coffee |
| one batch and put in a tightly sealed container. | | | | or a lot of the one brand you know she loves. |
| (You can make a decorative container yourself i.e. | | | | Include a permanent coffee filter to fit the brand |
| - a quart mason jar and some decorative fabric | | | | of coffeemaker she uses to show you haven't |
| banded over the top. Tie with pretty ribbon.) Place | | | | forgotten her practical side! You can easily adapt |
| with the laundry detergent ingredients to get | | | | the contents to fit the tea lover instead. Top it |
| them to try it and started down the right path. | | | | off with a nice coffee cup. |
| Include the following Laundry Detergent Recipe | | | | THE GARDENER'S GIFT BASKETThe gardener's |
| with the Laundry Basket Gift.Powdered Laundry | | | | basket is simply a collection of any supplies a |
| Detergent1 Cup Grated Fels Naptha Soap | | | | home gardener might need; A garden knee pad, |
| 1/2 Cup Washing Soda | | | | gardening tools, seeds, (starter plants if it's the |
| 1/2 Cup Borax | | | | right time of year) Gardening books and tips. |
| For light load, use 1 tablespoon. For heavy or | | | | Starter pots. Containers for the container |
| heavily soiled load, use 2 tablespoons.Options: | | | | gardener. Gloves and a hat. SEWING GIFT |
| 1. If budget allows, throw in some cloth napkins, | | | | BASKETFill a basket or sewing box with a variety |
| utility towels, bath towels, hand towels, or | | | | of sewing notions. Include some decorative fabric |
| washcloths. | | | | or a collection of scrap fabrics; Sewing patterns |
| 2. Make a little book with a variety of laundry | | | | or instructions for home decorating sewing tasks |
| tips, tricks, and homemade recipes. This is great | | | | or sewing level appropriate apparel patterns. In |
| for a new bride. THE CLEANING GIFT | | | | other words, keep it real. Not everyone is a |
| BASKETThe frugal gal makes her own cleaning | | | | seamstress but, most frugal gals can make a |
| solutions and is always looking for cleaning and | | | | curtain or pillow cover given simple instructions. |
| organizing tips. The cleaning basket might include | | | | Your frugal gal might be a mender or a |
| such items as, a couple of spray bottles, steel | | | | seamstress. Choose your gift basket contents |
| wool, a pumice stone, cream of tartar, vinegar, | | | | accordingly. Include such novelties as velcro, |
| baking soda, gloves, scrub brushes, utility towels | | | | snaps, hemming tape (or fusion tape), iron on |
| or cleaning rags, dusters, cloth diapers (make | | | | patches, as these will be handy for most frugal |
| great cleaning rags), household cleaning and | | | | gals. Now don't worry frugal gals, I've got your |
| organizing tips book or recycling tips.Top with a | | | | back! ;-) I wouldn't want your friends and family |
| personalized cleaning shirt or apron or any other | | | | to think you will be offended if they give you a |
| little cleaning gadgets you think your frugal gal | | | | non-frugal gift. So here's my last |
| might find handy. Throw in a coupon for a coffee | | | | thought......Although the frugal gal will love and |
| break date, with you, at your home, her home, | | | | appreciate the practical, useful, gift like no one |
| or a local coffee shop! Your treat of course.THE | | | | else can, she is indeed a woman. So, if the notion |
| KITCHEN GIFT BASKETThe kitchen basket | | | | strikes, you may certainly reward her with a |
| contents is limited only to your imagination! This is | | | | luxury gift. The frugal gal will enjoy a luxurious |
| a great gift for anyone who loves to cook. Frugal | | | | treat that she would not normally consider for |
| gals know the importance of saving through | | | | herself. For example, a trip to the salon for a |
| cooking. If you're a frugal gal you can reflect on | | | | professional manicure, pedicure, or hair style.If you |
| your own needs and frequent uses to spark | | | | know your frugal gal has had her eye on an |
| some ideas. By the way, the "basket" doesn't | | | | outfit, or other item, that she's convinced she |
| have to be a basket. Did that make sense? You'll | | | | doesn't need but secretly admires and wants, of |
| see what I mean. Here are a few suggestions:1. | | | | course (if your budget allows) Get It For Her! |
| Baker's Basket: Fill a large mixing bowl or basket | | | | Odds are she won't buy it for herself and she will |
| [she'll probably get more use out of the bowl ;-)] | | | | surely be happy to receive it as a gift. She'll get |
| with baking tools and/or supplies as much as will | | | | to have something she wants but doesn't actually |
| suit your budget. i.e. - Wire whisks of various | | | | need, and still remain faithful to her lifestyle or |
| sizes, wooden spoons, measuring spoons and | | | | financial commitments.I hope these ideas help you |
| cups, a sifter, cookie cutters, rubber spatulas (you | | | | create beautiful gifts for anyone in your life. |
| know, those things you use to scrape every last | | | | Choosing a basket theme to suit the recipients |
| bit of batter out of the bowl. My husband and I | | | | interests or needs is always a winning gift. |
| still argue about what these are called), a bag of | | | | Personalized gifts are more appreciated and keep |
| bulk yeast, can of baking powder, various spices | | | | on giving. Each time the recipient uses the item/s |
| (nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, etc.), vanilla | | | | they are reminded of the thoughtfulness of the |
| extract, or anything else you know your frugal gal | | | | giver.Cheryl Johnson is a mother of four helping |
| or cook will use or needs.Top it all off with a | | | | herself and others become and remain debt free. |
| personalized apron. Make or buy an apron and | | | | Publisher of Simple Debt Free Living at - a |
| write the person's name or a personal message, | | | | self-help plan, ideas, and resources for a simple |
| poem, or saying on it, using a fabric paint pen or | | | | proven debt elimination strategy, household |
| paints. Other contents might include a cookbook, | | | | budget planning, frugal living, and practical home |
| some of your own favorite recipes printed neatly | | | | business ideas . Money saving tips for monthly |
| on a recipe card or made into a mini cookbook, a | | | | bills, home decorating, gifts, weddings, groceries, |
| recipe file, cookbook stand, well I could go on and | | | | clothing and much more save money every day. |
| on.2. Cook's Basket: Fill a large stock pot or | | | | |