Today we're going to talk about unusual gifts you can obtain or hand make for cheap.
Since thrifting online over the past year I've learned that certain stores like Kohl's donate shoes they have on display after the stock is depleted. I've gotten two pair of sneakers that were new with tags (one still had the plastic diplay insert still in it) for a tenth of the price I would have paid for them retail. Thrifting is also how I got these brand new $78.00 Reebok Jorie LT Athletic Slip Resistant Work Shoes for my guy but only paid $13.00 for them.
Now, how is that handmade? It isn't, but it did take up a lot of my time. I had to watch the shoe listings on ShopGoodwill.com for about a month, searching and checking them every day to see if I could find a pair of shoes for him that were new, in his size and well-made. This wasn't a problem for me because I'm on the computer for work every day anyway. Then, at the end, someone else bid on them. The other bidder dropped out after I upped my bid to my max. No one else challenged me, so I got them for the price I wanted to pay -- but I had to monitor the auction until the last second.
Think about using your hobbies and who among your recipients shares them. For example, I got these purses at a local quilt show I attended for very cheap ($5 or less). They were made by makers belonging to the guild who ran the show, and thus were one of a kind, and buying them supported the guild. I stuffed them with fabric from my stash and gave them to quilter and sewist friends (and I told them they had come from the show.)
You can do the same thing with other hobbies. If you and your recipient crochet or knit, gift some yarn from your stash in a basket you buy or make for them. If you both love plants, start some clippings in a pot to share with them (over the summer our niece gave us a little tree her dad had started, which we loved.) Same thing with gardening -- put some food you've grown in a dish or basket and add some seed packets.
Try something new with your gifting. Last year I thrifted a lot of mostly vintage pearl costume jewelry for $16.00 that I used to make these little Christmas trees. It was just an idea I had, and I wasn't sure it would work. The trees came out better than I ever imagined so I'm going to make some this year as gifts (also in that lot I discovered almost $300.00 of real pearl jewelry that I was able to use as gifts last year.)
Finally, keep on the lookout for bargain-priced personalized gifts. Every year I make my guy a calendar for next year with pictures of our favorite people and things we did over the last twelve months. I get it from Shutterfly, which usually offers a free calendar every year before the holidays (you just have to pay shipping.) So for about ten bucks I can create an inexpensive gift out of memories that we can enjoy next year. Other personalized gifts I've made: coffee mugs, large prints of special pics (which I frame), Christmas ornaments, and mini photo albums (you can get the little brag book variety at Dollar Tree for $1.25.)
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