Cheap gifts you received and loved...any ideas?

[tjdee]

The best gift I ever gave someone was a booklet I made which included short stories from our friends--about him. It was the "HIM" book, and he loved it. Got the idea from Oprah :) .

But that was for his birthday, and I was in love with him at the time.

So I have a real tough time coming up with meaningful inexpensive gifts for my friends and, say, my kid's bus driver. I just buy them something, which is nice but....I'm not an artist, or a songwriter... so anyone have any good ideas?

[notadmblnd]

1. Burn them CD's of thier favorite songs?

nt

[tjdee]

2. Am I the only person who doesn't have a CD burner?

That's what I told my mom when I was asking for one!! ;)

That's a good idea though.

[pintobean]

3. Do you have a digital camera?

[tjdee]

6. That I have!

[pintobean]

8. Great

Framed photos make great gifts. Getting the right pic for each person is the hardest part. You can add a personal note directly on the photo with your photo editing software. Frames can be very inexpensive. The personal touch makes a thoughtful impression.

[tjdee]

10. Oh, that's a nice idea....

Something I can personalize a bit.
:thumbsup:

[koopie57]

4. when my son was in the first grade

he made me a calendar and for each month drew a picture and pasted a calendar on the opposite page. It was about 2 inches thick and crumpled from all the paste and tape and work he put into it, but it is my favorite thing I own. I can close my eyes and see how he stood there so proud that he kept it a secret from me.

But gifts I give to teachers, etc. I go to a print shop and have them make notepads and put the persons name on and a litte picture or saying in the corner. Each page makes four pieces and it isn't that expensive, but useful and thoughtful I think. Ten pages give you 40 notesheets.

[yardwork]

5. The very best birthday I ever had was a dinner party thrown by my friends

in my honor. My closest friends in my college dorm cooked a big sphaghetti dinner and invited a bunch of my off-campus friends. My dorm friends didn't even know my off-campus friends! They did the whole thing as a surprise for me and nothing could have shown love and friendship better.

Another memorable gift I received was a small bouquet of blue irises on my birthday. The friend who gave them to me left them by my dorm door with a note saying "I had to buy these for you, they reminded me so much of you."

You know how they say "It's the thought that counts?" It's true!

[skygazer]

7. You've reminded me of one of my best gifts

My best friend showed up at my doorway one day with a bouquet of wildflowers he'd picked for me while working in the hayfield. It was no occasion at all - just a beautiful gesture.

[Tikki]

9. A step stool...

We had just moved into our new home...the old step stool didn't quite make it through the move. I begged for a step stool because I was tired of climbing up on the counter to reach high up.

Find out what they are tired of doing or find a 'better mouse trap' to make their life easier.

[tjdee]

11. Thanks everyone!

That's got me started thinking...thanks for all the ideas!