It’s true it’s a cliche but some well-worn idioms are more truthful than you might at first think, such as the expression It’s the thought that counts’. The common turn of phrase in this case isn’t trite or inaccurate, it’s actually very accurate.
When it comes to giving gifts to loved ones, friends or family, it’s almost always those gifts that have a sentimental connection that will win the day more than those that were simply expensively purchased items designed to impress the receiver simply due to the price-tag.
When you shop within a budget you tend to spend more time thinking about the people you are buying for, rather than going for an item or present that just screams opulence.
With this in mind, here are five great affordable options when it comes to gifts for all occasions.
Initial Necklace
Jewelry is a gift that always works, not least because you can pay according to what you can afford and still find a great item. An initial necklace, whether it’s the initials of the person who is receiving the gift or to commemorate their position in the family or a pet name you have for them, are becoming more and more popular.
Many celebrities have started to wear such pieces of jewelry, both in necklace form or even as rings, and the trendiness of the style will help give your present even more of a significance.
Personalized Video Messages
These have become hugely popular and are a great way to show your shared connection to a friend or family member. Perhaps you can impress your gift receiver with a birthday message from their idols or you might even look to go for a bit of irony by having a famous personality make a joke message of some form or another.
The likes of Cameo, and others, offer these once-in-a-lifetime type message options at surprisingly inexpensive prices. Maybe your wife is a huge fan of smash-hit comedy Friends, in which case you can get Chandler (Matthew Perry) to record a typically sarcastic birthday call to her.
Commemorative Puzzle
Now this may sound a little half-hearted but could be just the perfect type of gift to celebrate a key date in the lives of the person you are buying it for. You can now get a New York Times custom made puzzle that shows the frontpage of their publication.
The 500-piece puzzle can be used to mark an anniversary, a birthday or any other significant part of a person’s, or couples life. This ably picks up on the puzzle boom that has continued ever since we all went back to making them during the lockdowns we’ve lived through over the past 18 months.
Cooking Classes
Depending on how you present this and who you present it to, could prove something of a masterstroke. Clearly if you were to package this as a gift to your wife, or whomever is the primary maker of meals in your household, but when offered as a gift for someone who is a klutz in the kitchen, this could work for everyone’s benefit.
The coronavirus left us scratching around looking for things to learn and spend time on, and the self-help type of gift is one that shows you are thinking in the long-term. Getting a series of cooking classes for a loved one won’t break your bank account and may earn you some time off from such activities in the future. In that way it’s a present for you too.
Indeed there are a host of similar courses to consider; such as painting, learning a language, cutting the perfect bonsai. The list is nearly endless in terms of this type of gift giving.
A Herb Garden
This is the kind of stylish gift that has long-term appeal and has genuine follow-up usage potential. Many stores offer herb gardens, of different designs, and these are always a nice touch from an aesthetic perspective. They bring a dash of life to your kitchen.
The added bonus comes in the form of the lovely herbs you should be able to lovingly bring to life, depending on how well you manage to look after them. This is one of those old-school’ gift ideas that never goes out of fashion and always looks like a thoughtful present, especially for those who are foodies.
In the age of the internet it’s now easier than ever to shop around and find a relative bargain that would be a great present. On top of that you can use a good comparison service, or do your own research, to find the best price for an item you’ve seen in a number of online stores.
Finding a well priced present is now so easy that there’s no excuse to forget buying one for your next anniversary or special occasion. So get searching and happy hunting!
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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