Cheap Christmas Gift Ideas don’t have to break the bank!

Don’t get caught in the hype of keeping up with everyone else when purchasing gifts. Sure…you want to make it special, but there’s no reason why the Christmas gift you buy can’t be economical and special. The key to not breaking the bank is stay away from making purchases using your credit card – interest & fines can add to the total cost.

If you’re in need of some ideas to make your dollar stretch further,  then these Cheap Christmas Gift Ideas are for you:

Gift Certificates – these have always been one of our popular choices during the holidays. McDonalds & Subway are at the top of our list. Subway is limited in its offering, but is great for teenagers & college students. McDonalds is good for children of all ages with its offering of burgers, fries, ice cream, & more! $5.00 dollars goes a long way and they also make great Christmas Stocking Stuffers.

Gift Baskets are the ultimate in cheap gift ideas. My wife and I have used these for years – best of all you can customize them for anybody and any occasion! One of our favorites we put together is Movie Night Basket (DVD or coupon for free rental, popcorn, drinks). You can even customize these even further like man movie night, romantic night, family night, kid’s night, etc. Other ideas for gift baskets are coffee lovers, candle lovers, tea lovers, etc.

Giving coupons – make your own homemade ones that say stuff like you’ll mow the lawn, babysit, bring breakfast in bed, give a back massage, foot massage, or whatever your imagination can think of…ideas like this are limitless and most them only cost a little time! You can easily create some printable coupons using Microsoft Word or some other program and then place them in a nice Christmas card.

Remember the old “cliché”? It’s the “thought that counts!”

Maybe you can add to these Cheap Christmas Gift Ideas with some of your own – feel free to post some below!

Fresh cut fruit gift baskets are a healthy alternative to traditional gift baskets. Plus, they offer something new – best of all you can have these edible delights sent nationwide!

Never thought of giving fresh cut fruit gift baskets as a gift before? Consider these reasons why giving this kind of gift basket may be for you:

Convenient: You’ve got a couple of options here – go online and place your order (avoid the hassle of going to the store – no crowds, no lines, easily place your order from the warmth of your own home!). The other option is to visit a local store – for instance I can go to the Jewel grocery store and they offer fruit gift baskets, BUT…I need to deliver it.

Cost: These baskets are relatively inexpensive and if you take the time to create your own you can save even more money, but why do that when you can SHOP online? You’ll find a gift basket to fit any budget.

Health: Give everyone’s New Year’s resolution a kick-start with fresh cut fruit gift baskets. Many people choose to start living a healthier lifestyle in the New Year – fresh fruit is a great alternative to candies or other sweets.

There you have it – stuck in a pinch with trying to figure out what to get that special someone or need that last minute gift – consider fresh cut fruit gift baskets and start a new gift giving tradition!

An auction for last minute holidays is an opportunity to find great deals at the last minute. Whether you’re looking to save money in the down economy or shopping for that last minute gift an auction may be just what you’re looking for.

If you’re looking to save or make some money then there’s no better place to start then Ebay!

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Homemade Christmas ornaments recipes mixing up memories to last a lifetime. My mom still has a couple of the homemade Christmas tree ornaments I made when I was in 5th grade (that’s 29 years ago).


It was one of those fun-filled days in school. A time when we knew we only had a couple more weeks until the Christmas break (that’s what we called it back then). The teacher brought in a bunch of dough that she had mixed and from it we created homemade ornaments to place on our trees.

We decorated our Christmas tree a few days ago and as we unpacked boxes we found the ornaments we had made when the children were younger. We laughed as we looked at them, imperfections and all, we wouldn’t trade them for anything in the world (as the commercial says “Priceless!”).

Take some time this year – gather together your children and use this Homemade Christmas Ornaments Recipes to mix up your own memories:

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Short on Time? In a pinch to find the “right” gift?


Then these Last Minute Gifts Baskets Ideas are for you (once you look over these Ideas you’ll be amazed on how flexible Gift Baskets can be – you can virtually create a gift for Everyone):

Dog or Cat Lovers: Don’t forget the pets – through together some treats, gourmet cans of food, chew toys, etc.

College Student: Forget about the basket and get your hands on a storage bin or some other handy container. Then load it up with note pads, pens, pencils, gift cards (like Subway), throw in a few packages of Ramen Noodles (good for those tight budget times), coffee, tea, hot cocoa, and anything else a college student would find handy.

Wine Lovers: Get some good wine, crackers, cheese, summer sausage – place them in a nice basket and you’ve got a great gift for the wine lover on your list!

Naughty Night Baskets: These can be really fun to share with that special someone. Be creative, include a coupon to be used at your discreation. Fill the basket or box with sexy underwear or nighties, massage oils, flavored lubricants, candles, chocolate, and more for those nights when you want to be naughty.

Other ideas, movie lovers, popcorn lovers, man basket, kids basket, etc. – the possibilities are unlimited!

As you can see the ideas for last minute gifts are only limited by your imagination & budget – but don’t forget – you don’t have to spend a lot to make a gift memorable – Use these last minute gifts baskets ideas for any occassion!