Choosing the perfect gift for someone isn’t always an easy task. Sometimes we want to give a gift to someone who we don’t know very well, and we have a hard time figuring out what to get them. Other times we’re very close to the recipient, but we still can’t come up with any ideas.
When you can’t decide on a gift, a gift basket or hamper is the perfect solution. They can be created based on a variety of themes. If you know someone well, you can give him or her a basket that contains favorite foods or supplies for a hobby they enjoy. If not, you can do something more generic like a spa basket or an assortment of different foods.
Many companies sell gift baskets and hampers at premium prices. But you don’t have to shell out big bucks for them. You can often create your own for a fraction of the price. Here are some tips that will help.
* Pick up a cheap basket or hamper. You can find them at most dollar stores for 5 dollars or less. Or if you have one sitting around the house that you don’t use, there’s no harm in repurposing it.
* Avoid splurging on the filling. The fillers you’ll find at craft stores are often surprisingly expensive. Instead of allocating a chunk of your basket budget to something that’s not particularly useful, consider reusing Easter grass. Or you could use shredded newspaper as a filler. If using newspaper, make sure to wrap items that could be stained by the ink with paper or plastic wrap.
* Put lots of home-made items in the basket. Fresh baked cookies mean a lot more than even the most expensive gourmet cookies. And handmade crafts such as a knitted scarf or pair of baby booties hold much more sentimental value than their store-bought counterparts.
* If you plan to include food items, be sure to find out about any allergies or dietary restrictions before you get started. This will keep you from wasting money on things the recipient can’t eat.
* Add some inexpensive items from the dollar store if you like. Depending on the basket’s theme, you might choose candy, toys, scented candles, small picture frames, stationery, playing cards, soaps or something else.
* An inexpensive spool of wide ribbon is often all you’ll need to finish up your basket or hamper. Weave it around the handle or rim, and tie it in a large bow on top. You could also tie it around some individual items if you like.
It’s easy to go out and buy a ready-made gift hamper. But it’s much more frugal, and more fun, to create one yourself. You can include items that you know the recipient will enjoy, and it’s easy to add a personal touch.
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In today’s economy, the concept of job security has become a thing of the past. People lose their jobs every day, and in many cases it’s through absolutely no fault of their own. Layoffs are common, and entire factories and offices frequently shut down, leaving workers to try to scrape by on unemployment if they qualify.
Layoffs and closings aren’t the only reasons people lose their jobs, either. You could be injured and left unable to work temporarily or permanently. Or you could fall ill for an extended period of time. Whatever the reason may be, loss of your job and income can be devastating.
But if you prepare yourself for these possibilities, they won’t hit you quite so hard. Here are some tips to help you do that.
* Start an emergency fund. Everybody should have at least three months worth of income put away in case of an emergency, and preferably six. That way, if you lose your income, you can still get by for a while and give yourself time to replace it.
* Keep your ear to the ground. Sometimes layoffs and closings come as a surprise, but there are often rumors and signs before they hit. If you start hearing about layoffs at other locations or hearing talk of changes to come, start putting in applications elsewhere. You can take job offers or not, but at least you’ll have some applications out there in the event that your job disappears suddenly.
* Keep your existing debt at a minimum. If you’ve run up a large amount of debt (especially credit card debt), get to work paying it down as quickly as possible. The less debt you have, the less interest you’ll end up paying, and the lower your minimum payments will be if you get in a situation where that’s all you can pay.
* Think twice before acquiring new debt. If you take out a loan and lose your job soon after, you could end up with your credit ruined. If you find it necessary to borrow money, get insurance that will pay your payments for you in the event of job loss if possible.
* Make sure you’re current on all of your bills, and get ahead on them if you can. The last thing you need when you lose income is for your electricity or phone to be cut off.
* Pare down your expenses. If you have a home phone and a cell phone, consider getting rid of one of them. Consider whether you really need that expensive cable package, or if you even need cable at all. Keeping your expenses low will leave you with more money to put into savings and pay down debts.
Being prepared for the loss of your job and income is not being pessimistic. It’s being smart. By getting your ducks in a row in case something bad happens, you give yourself a better chance of surviving the bump in the road and moving on to better things.
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Where to buy: www.travelocity.com
Are you planning your next holiday and trying and save money? Are you looking to save money on flights, car rentals, hotel reservations, cruises and last minute deals? Then go to the Travelocity’s well laid out website for exciting holiday deals and travel information.
Travelocity.com comes with a Low Price Match Guarantee, Price Guardian and Fare Watcher Plus. For more information about these options and how they can save you money, go to travelocity.com.
The Experience Finder planning tool lets you find a destination and experience. ‘Experiences’ include Food & Wine, Sightseeing, Theme Parks, Romance, Indulgence, History, Coastal and more. Find your perfect experience and destination, dream hotel, book activities and tours and even research shows. You can plan your own individual vacation with this tool.
For more information on how to plan a great and low-cost holiday, go to www.travelocity.com and enjoy the many possibilities this website has to offer from the comfort of your home.
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