No money to buy gifts, what do you do?

[Anonymous]

When you don't have any extra money (or an very limited amount) to buy gifts for others, what do you do on birthdays and holidays if you still want to give a gift? Any ideas are appreciated. Thank you

[Anonymous]

Bake. At least I hope so. As someone who has run out of money to buy gifts (two kids in daycare, OMG), I'm hoping that baking will do. If I were on the receiving end, I'd appreciate it!

[Anonymous]

I make baked goods too. I also write out a heartfelt note with cards I already have.

[Anonymous]

I'm not a baker, but I would definitely like to receive baked goods as a gift, as I love to eat them!

I know it's not free, but I will take advantage of promotions on Snapfish or Shutterfly and create photo books for grandparents and great-grandparents. I am able to get them for under $10 if I watch out for the sales and they are well-received.

[Anonymous]

Baked goods

Other ideas:

Coupon/gift certificate for a nice dinner at our house

Coupon/gift certificate for an evening of babysitting so that your friends can go out

[Anonymous]

I am really crafty, so if I can, I usually try to come up with some sort of decoration, or something that I can make... If it's family, I'll usually involve my daughter, and family just eats that up because they know my little one helped

[Anonymous]

I try to pick up things on sale when I see them (e.g. DDs are 6 & 3 so I know we will be going to 4-5 b-day parties for kids these ages so I get things when I see them on sale; or re-gift if we get duplicates of things);

I use my credit card points to buy gift cards that I use to buy gifts. Doesn't cost me anything out of pocket but the gift is the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I try to pick up things on sale when I see them (e.g. DDs are 6 & 3 so I know we will be going to 4-5 b-day parties for kids these ages so I get things when I see them on sale; or re-gift if we get duplicates of things);

I use my credit card points to buy gift cards that I use to buy gifts. Doesn't cost me anything out of pocket but the gift is the same.

Why don't you just use your cc to buy directly?

[Anonymous]

Why don't you just use your cc to buy directly?

Because I would have to pay for it if I used my credit card. I earn points (or cash back) for using my credit card. I pay the bill on time every month. I can then use those points to get cash back or to buy gift cards or select items. So this is free money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When you don't have any extra money (or an very limited amount) to buy gifts for others, what do you do on birthdays and holidays if you still want to give a gift? Any ideas are appreciated. Thank you

Any kind of food is good. Do you sew? When I was at one of my first jobs and didnt have a lot of disposable income, I bought some lace and made party aprons. One year for Christmas, I found some towels made aprons and potholders. You would be amazed at the Christmas ornaments you can make with toothpicks--bird house with a tiny bird inside. I have always treasured handmade gifts because I know that somebody cared enough about me to take their time to make me a special gift.

[Anonymous]

For children's gifts, I am a huge re-gifter. I also have ideas months a head of time of who I need to buy for and what I am going to get so that I can pick items up on super sale.

I am not crafty, but I have found so really unique items from sellers on Etsy that I will get so it looks like something that is a lot more expensive than I paid for it.

[Anonymous]

$1 store

[Anonymous]

ebay

[Anonymous]

Take inventory of what you do have. Do you have a bunch of great books you just finished reading that someone else would enjoy? A particular craft or hobby or talent that could be put to use? Coupons to render a service to the giftee (like babysitting while they go out)?

Once in grad school I had no money. I mean none. But, I did have a ton of frequent flyer miles from all the job interviews I had been on (companies paid for flybacks, not me). So I cashed them in for my parents for a Christmas gift, and my older (and income generating) sister kicked in some cash for spending money, and they took a trip to Florida in the dead of winter. They still talk about that trip 20 years later!

[Anonymous]

OP, are you talking about gifts for kids or adults?

For adults, I agree, baked goods are good. Also, my friend once gave me "cookie mix" in a mason jar. It was packaged really nicely with wand written instructions on what to do. I thought it was really cute.

For kids, I also shop year round and pick up things on sale. I try to get gender neutral stuff like art supplies. I've put together art kits with stuff I've found on sale. I've made my BFF's daughter an apron with matching oven mitt and pot holder to go with her toy kitchen. I've also made simple dress up clothes with cheapo fabric found on sale.