Christmas is too soon!

I waitress and money is not coming very great right now :/.
Anyone know any good cheap ideas for gifts???

Last year I was living with my boss and his wife for a short while do to relocation of my job and I didn't have a lot of extra cash because of the move so I went to Michaels and bought pictures frames for under $5-$10 each, paint, stickers, little pop art things, etc. and made them customized picture frames highlighting that it was their first christmas, and one for New Years, and for his birthday. They seemed to like them quite a bit and it probably ended up costing on average $15 a frame.

Also, something my husband did for me, I am a huge Nicholas Sparks fan, so he went around to all the goodwills and used books stores buying me first edition hardbacks of his books. He even found a few of them that were signed and they didn't cost more that $3-$5 each. That's a little time consuming but for a book lover, getting a bunch of hardbikes of my favorite authors is really cool.

You can make coupon books. Make coupons for babysitting for a day or even a weeken, cleaning house, or anything else you can think of. Don't just think about winter when making the coupons, you can always do things in the summer for them too. Cookies are always welcome too. Good Luck, and don't feel too bad I think everyone is cutting back this year. I know I am. Remember it's the thought not the price.

you can even get DVDS real cheap. those are gifts that keep on givng, every time you watch them, find out someones favorite actor or movie, my bosses wife loved the movie,The Chritmas shoes. i found it at walmart for 9.00. she loves it.. heard target or was it walmart, had some of the kids movies for 5.00. like happy feet, that panda movie and stuff like that.. i always like to recieve a good movie.

When I was doing the single mom/college student/bartender thing, I did "Gifts in a Jar" for Christmas. Just buy a case of Mason jars, and go online for good recipes that you can layer in the dry ingredients & top it off with fabric & a ribbon.

http://www.allfreecrafts.com/giftinajar/index...

Between my new hubby and I we have a lot of people to buy for and when we first bought our house we were crunched for money so I went to the dollar store and bought baskets for each couple then filled them with themed stuff. My hubby's dad is a movie buff so his had a couple of cheap DVDs, a fleece blanket, popcorn, candy, etc. It worked really well and was easy. EmLynn idea is great to because I have recieved a few of these and they always come in handy. I used a chocolate chip cookie one the other night when I baby-sat.

This year we had family portraits taken & bought a bunch of frames, and since we have a LOT of extended family we're giving everyone framed pictures of our family/kids. It's so much easier and cheaper than buying 15+ individual gifts (and that's just our IMMEDIATE family!)

thanks for the good ideas!

My husband and I have a laser engraving business, and I do my darndest to not charge too much for the stuff I sell. I engrave bottles of wine, beer and most liquor for $20 (not including the cost of the beverage), alderwood picture frames (that I have) for $25 or less, round glass Christmas ornaments for less than $10, coconut bracelets for less than $10, and wooden or acrylic ornaments for less than $10. I also personalize a mean Maglite flashlight (cost of flashlight and personalization is $30). Engravings are not limited to names; I can put whatever you want on them.

I am located in Waterloo, and I drive to St. Louis for work, so dropping stuff off on my way home from work is no problem. If you are interested, just drop me an e-mail at dinger@htc.net.

Laser Lady wrote:

My husband and I have a laser engraving business, and I do my darndest to not charge too much for the stuff I sell. I engrave bottles of wine, beer and most liquor for $20 (not including the cost of the beverage), alderwood picture frames (that I have) for $25 or less, round glass Christmas ornaments for less than $10, coconut bracelets for less than $10, and wooden or acrylic ornaments for less than $10. I also personalize a mean Maglite flashlight (cost of flashlight and personalization is $30). Engravings are not limited to names; I can put whatever you want on them.
I am located in Waterloo, and I drive to St. Louis for work, so dropping stuff off on my way home from work is no problem. If you are interested, just drop me an e-mail at dinger@htc.net.

I know for a fact she does great work i will post the pictures of the things she made for my grandson daiten,it made my daughter cry when i gave them to her..

Katiania wrote:

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I know for a fact she does great work i will post the pictures of the things she made for my grandson daiten,it made my daughter cry when i gave them to her..

I hope they were happy tears - that's always good!

I ordered a really neat bracelet from Laser Lady that my sister is going to love! Laser Lady is a sweetheart, too.:)

Laser Lady wrote:

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I hope they were happy tears - that's always good!

Of course they was happy tears..and to let everyone know ..Daiten weighs 7lbs 5ozs but is still not taking the bottle yet..but he is getting bigger and stronger...might be home by chirstmas

would you happen to have a website or any pictures of your work?

Laser Lady wrote:

My husband and I have a laser engraving business, and I do my darndest to not charge too much for the stuff I sell. I engrave bottles of wine, beer and most liquor for $20 (not including the cost of the beverage), alderwood picture frames (that I have) for $25 or less, round glass Christmas ornaments for less than $10, coconut bracelets for less than $10, and wooden or acrylic ornaments for less than $10. I also personalize a mean Maglite flashlight (cost of flashlight and personalization is $30). Engravings are not limited to names; I can put whatever you want on them.
I am located in Waterloo, and I drive to St. Louis for work, so dropping stuff off on my way home from work is no problem. If you are interested, just drop me an e-mail at dinger@htc.net.

This may sound cheesy but if you have children that want to buy for everyone too. Every year since he was two I have taken him to dollar tree to buy for all of his family.(Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents) Every year the gifts get "better" but its the thought that counts and everyone looks forward to their Brady gift.

PallieNicole wrote:

would you happen to have a website or any pictures of your work?
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No such luck. That's been something we've been meaning to do since we started doing this 5 years ago, but having to work "real" jobs in addition to our laser gig (which is a side business) keeps a website on the back burner, and besides, I don't know what the heck I'm doing with that kind of stuff anyway! I don't have pictures of my stuff (I'm not so great with a camera, either), but I would be happy to meet you somewhere and bring some of my stuff so you could see it. And don't worry - I am so NOT into high pressure sales!

PallieNicole wrote:

would you happen to have a website or any pictures of your work?
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hi Palli i just posted 2 pictures of the things Laser Lady made for my grandson Daiten..she is really good at what she does..