Comments on: Debt-proofing your holiday http://www.fabulouslybroke.com/2007/11/debt-proofing-your-holiday/ Just a Girl trying to find a balance between being a Shopaholic and a Saver Sun, 12 Feb 2012 21:24:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Meg the Florida Bargain Queen http://www.fabulouslybroke.com/2007/11/debt-proofing-your-holiday/comment-page-1/#comment-15589 Meg the Florida Bargain Queen Thu, 29 Nov 2007 06:38:00 +0000 http://www.fabulouslybroke.com/2007/11/28/debt-proofing-your-holiday/#comment-15589 While it's nice to make every gift personal, I've found that it's good to have some rather generic, cheap gifts on hand. That way, you don't feel pressured to spend more on gifts for fear that you just won't find a gift in time (and you won't be stuck if you find out at the last moment that you need another gift). And, while gift cards can be great, an actual present usually seems more personal. <br/><br/>I recommend spending $15 max on these gifts, and ideally less than $10. And they should be gifts that can be kept for birthdays if you end up not giving them all away this holiday season. Or, you can combine them to give a larger gift to someone. <br/><br/>BTW, Candles and lotions are popular choices, but I usually shy away from them because scents are very personal (and because I have far more candles and lotions than I need). <br/><br/>For guys, I suggest toys and other gadgets. Thinkgeek.com is a great source. Color changing silly putty, marshmallow guns, titanium sporks... guys seem to go nuts over these things.<br/><br/>For gals, earrings are a great buy (so long as no one is allergic to cheap earrings or doesn't have pierced ears). Other accessories work well, too.<br/><br/>Here's some stuff I specifically recommend:<br/><br/>http://fashion.thebargainqueen.com/2007/11/swarovski-crystal-hair-clip-995/<br/>http://fashion.thebargainqueen.com/2007/11/swarovski-crystal-dangle-earrings-1299/<br/>http://fashion.thebargainqueen.com/2007/11/kenneth-cole-leather-coin-purse-699/<br/><br/>Of course, many gifts are fairly unisex. For example, some of my friends and family members may be getting African violets : )<br/><br/>I have the perfect light for them in my foyer for growing violets and so my original plant not only divided into two equally huge plants, it has also provided me with lots of clippings as I've had to trim it back. I didn't intend to propagate the plant, but I stuck the cut leaves in water for the heck of it and they rooted on their own.<br/><br/>Then I found self-water violet pots at Walmart for about $5 each. Yeah, I could make a cheaper self-watering pot, but these are so cute and make things so easy. All I've done to the violets is add waters about once a week. It's been a few months since I first started them, but they're starting to bloom. <br/><br/>Of course, I might have a hard time giving these beauties away! <br/><br/>Hmmm... I seem to have rambled on a bit here. I think I have my next post topic on The Bargain Queen ; ) While it’s nice to make every gift personal, I’ve found that it’s good to have some rather generic, cheap gifts on hand. That way, you don’t feel pressured to spend more on gifts for fear that you just won’t find a gift in time (and you won’t be stuck if you find out at the last moment that you need another gift). And, while gift cards can be great, an actual present usually seems more personal.

I recommend spending $15 max on these gifts, and ideally less than $10. And they should be gifts that can be kept for birthdays if you end up not giving them all away this holiday season. Or, you can combine them to give a larger gift to someone.

BTW, Candles and lotions are popular choices, but I usually shy away from them because scents are very personal (and because I have far more candles and lotions than I need).

For guys, I suggest toys and other gadgets. Thinkgeek.com is a great source. Color changing silly putty, marshmallow guns, titanium sporks… guys seem to go nuts over these things.

For gals, earrings are a great buy (so long as no one is allergic to cheap earrings or doesn’t have pierced ears). Other accessories work well, too.

Here’s some stuff I specifically recommend:

http://fashion.thebargainqueen.com/2007/11/swarovski-crystal-hair-clip-995/
http://fashion.thebargainqueen.com/2007/11/swarovski-crystal-dangle-earrings-1299/
http://fashion.thebargainqueen.com/2007/11/kenneth-cole-leather-coin-purse-699/

Of course, many gifts are fairly unisex. For example, some of my friends and family members may be getting African violets : )

I have the perfect light for them in my foyer for growing violets and so my original plant not only divided into two equally huge plants, it has also provided me with lots of clippings as I’ve had to trim it back. I didn’t intend to propagate the plant, but I stuck the cut leaves in water for the heck of it and they rooted on their own.

Then I found self-water violet pots at Walmart for about $5 each. Yeah, I could make a cheaper self-watering pot, but these are so cute and make things so easy. All I’ve done to the violets is add waters about once a week. It’s been a few months since I first started them, but they’re starting to bloom.

Of course, I might have a hard time giving these beauties away!

Hmmm… I seem to have rambled on a bit here. I think I have my next post topic on The Bargain Queen ; )

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