Readers Respond: Do you have money-saving gifts that you like to give?
Responses: 7

By Erin Huffstetler, About.com Guide

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Share your best money-saving gift ideas. Share Your Ideas

christmas gifts

Cuttings from my grden, potted and ready to go; homemade bread and a jar of jam; crackers and a jar of homemade relish; pressed flower note cards.
—gram31

Since I started using a computer and utilizing the Internet, I do most of my gift-giving with it but not always things that cost. For instance, I have a friend who is a knitting enthusiast. I search for free knitting patterns and I print and make copies for her Then I send them with a Christmas card. I've done the same with recipes. Another thing I do is make my own "coupons". They're for things like "two days of dog sitting" which I know she'll use when she visits her sister who doesn't like dogs. We started doing that when we were kids, making coupons like "three days of doing the dishes" things like that. Another idea is to clip coupons from newspapers, fliers and magazines that you get and give ones you know the recipient will use. Laura
—inugirl

For my super-busy mother, I am preparing several meals for the family that are healthy (my mom is wanting to start preparing healthier meals) and freezable. That way on crazy days she can just pull one out and reheat. I'm going to give her the freezer containers to reuse and give her the recipes I use so that any that the family likes she can make again. Back when my friends and I were just starting to move out on our own, we started a tradition of buying practical gifts for all gift-giving holidays. We'd buy a cereal we knew the person liked, but might not buy for themselves, organic toothpaste, coffee, etc. Once I even bought one of my girlfriends a pack of toilet paper. She loved it. :)
—RecoveringDreamer

I collect recepies from different family menbers as well as from many other places and make a cookbook for my kids with photo copys of hand written recepies from family and place a photo with the recipie so they can see what grandma used to make.
—Guest Chris

A Cook Book so the person cooks at home instead of eating out which is would save them money. Or there are lots of offers out there for free magazines--even TV Guide.
—pedersoc

I use give every teacher a gift.The nurse and secretary,gym,art,principal,teachers assistant but the time I was done I was frazzled. I now like to make a big basket of reg and flavored coffees,reg and flavored teas.Cocoa,chai Raw,white,cubed sugar.non-dairy creamer filters and stirrers.I use coupons for all of them. Some new mugs from Walmart when they go on clearance during the year.The plain ones are best because you can personalize with paint. I then bake large muffins and they all can enjoy them on the last few days of school,when they're so busy. And when they get back they don't have to buy any for a while.
—Guest roni707

I give my nephews a basket with ingredients for their favorite cookies, flour, sugar, brown sugar, choclate chips,pecans, oatmeal, cocoa powder, peanut butter. It covers all ages in one gift. I also add a gift card to the video store.
—Guest fourhmom7