How Much Should You Spend on Gifts? (Photo courtesy of Mrskyce)

Gift giving can be challenging. Besides picking the perfect gift, it’s important to know how much to spend on the gift. Many factors go into determining a good amount for your gift giving budget. Here are some guidelines to help you know how much to spend on a gift.

Determine the Average

Depending on where you live, the social norm for gift spending can vary greatly. In bigger cities the average wedding gift can cost around $100, while it may be perfectly acceptable in smaller cities to spend around $50. Knowing what the typical gift in your area costs will help you know how much to spend.

Follow the Pros’ Advice

When it comes to weddings, The Knot is an expert source. The wedding website suggests coming up with a gift budget for the entire wedding including the engagement, shower and ceremony. Then divide your entire budget for each event, spending 20% on the engagement, 20% on the shower and 60% on the wedding gift. If you’re not invited to one of these events then reallocate your gift budget.

Think About the Relationship

You’re likely to spend more on your spouse than on your boss this Christmas. It’s important to consider your relationship with the person you are buying a gift for when determining what to spend. You may want to spend more on those that are closer to you.

Remember the Past

Is this a person you have bought a gift for in the past? Think about what you’ve spent on gifts before. This is a good indication of what you should continue to spend on similar gifts.

Consider Your Budget

Above all, it’s important to consider your budget. No matter what the event, occasion or relationship, your budget is the most important factor. Determine what amount would be comfortable for you on top of your regular expenses. Stretching yourself too much just to afford a fancy gift will simply add stress to what should be a happy situation.

Keep Prices To Yourself (Photo courtesy of Sylvar)

Sometimes you find a great gift on sale. And sometimes you spend way more on one parent than you do on the other. Whatever your reason, you don’t always want people to know what you spent on a gift. Here are five ways to keep your gift’s price hidden.

Make Sure the Price Tag is Removed

This may sound obvious, but we’ve all received gifts with price tags still attached. This tacky faux-pas is a quick way to make sure people know exactly how much your gift cost. Even if you’re getting the gift professionally wrapped, ask if  the tag was removed. And if you got the gift on sale, make sure any sticker residue left behind by a sale tag is also wiped clean.

Alert Companies that It’s a Gift

If you’re buying a gift online, make sure there is an option for giving your purchase as a gift. This will remove any mention of price from packing slips and should mean that a receipt is not included in the box. If the company you’re buying from doesn’t have this option there’s a good chance that, along with your gift, your loved one will get your receipt, too.

Buy From Obscure Sources

Your circle of friends may eat at the same restaurants and shop in the same stores. That means if you buy a gift from the places you all visit there’s a strong possibility they’ll know what you paid. Try shopping in stores that are off your beaten path. And when you find great places for purchasing gifts, keep that little secret to yourself.

Don’t Include a Gift Receipt

Gift receipts can be handy if people want to exchange or return your gift. But they can still figure out what you paid. So if you really don’t want to let anyone know what you paid, avoid including a gift receipt.

Avoid Registries

Obviously when people register for cake plates and crib sheets they know how much the items cost. So if you  want to keep your gift contribution on the down-low, don’t buy something off the registry. You’ll keep your expenditures under wraps while still hopefully getting them a great gift.

Give More Love This Christmas. photo courtesy of mysza831

As you tackle your Christmas gift list, try to think about how your dollar can do good. Not only will you be getting great gifts for your loved ones, but you’ll be supporting worthy causes at the same time. Here are some ideas that will make your dollar do more this Christmas season.

Flowers

Check out OrganicBouquet.com’s Flowers for Good section. Not only do these flowers smell good, but they do good, too. There are fifteen gorgeous bouquets to choose from, each one supporting a great cause like the American Lung Association, Nature Conservancy and Humane Society. Five percent of every purchase will support these charities.

T-Shirt

Everyone needs a funny t-shirt. Even though you can find these wardrobe staples in about three-fourths of the stores at the mall, why not pick one up at BringtheHope.com where 25% of profits go to charitable causes? That will make an ordinary t-shirt seem way more special.

Art

The beautiful photography found at AllieArt4Children’s Etsy shop supports Reach Out Children’s Fund, an organization committed to improving the lives of those living in the remote Andes mountains of Peru. Not only will you be purchasing an original work of art, but you’ll be supporting a great non-profit. And most of the art in the shop is under $20.

Soap

Magic Senses, the designer soap company, created a “Believe in You” Butterfly soap to support “Count Me In” in their efforts to promote economic independence and the growth of women owned businesses. 25% of the proceeds will be donated to this cause.

Purse

At Clutch for Cures, $10 from every purchase goes to a charity. When you make your purchase you’ll be asked to choose from a selection of non-profits and that’s the charity that will receive your $10. The unique clutches are designed by a mother of six in St. Louis. Choose from dozens of colors and designs to find one that someone on your gift list will love.

Food

Who doesn’t love good food? It’s a great gift idea for just about anyone on your list. And when you buy the food from AmericanFeast.com you can feel good about supporting family-owned sustainable farms in your area. Search for meat, cheese, and sweets that are made by farmers– not huge corporations.

No Wrapping Paper? No Worries! photo courtesy of grabadonut

You’ve got a gift. You’ve got a box. Heck, you even have some tape, but you are fresh out of wrapping paper. Now is the time when your creativity can really be put to the test. Inspired by the “Nice Package” Flickr group, here are several ways to wrap a gift without using an inch of wrapping paper. But it will look so good no one will know the real reason your package turned out so unique.

Use wax paper. Head to your kitchen and grab a couple of sheets of wax paper. Using two layers will help keep the gift’s contents under wrap. Use some pretty ribbon or twine to complete the look.

Print some off the web. There are several cool designers offering printable wrapping paper. Even Martha Stewart has five different styles of wrapping paper designs available for free. Scrapbooks Etc. also offers up a bunch of brightly colored printable wrapping papers. Just download the file, click print and you’re good to go.

Head to your sewing stash and use leftover fabric. A lighter weave will make it easier to wrap. Coordinate the look with some thick ribbon to help hold it all together and a button in the center.

Pull newspaper out of the recycle bin. Give your gift an eco-friendly look by using newspaper or magazines.

Use paper, not plastic. If you’ve got grocery bags or shopping bags stashed in your pantry, creatively cut one up to make some heavy duty and eco-friendly wrapping paper.

Decorate the box. Skip the paper all together and find a way to decorate the box. Use stamps, stickers or your own drawing skills. It’ll be so pretty the recipient will forget about the lack of wrapping paper.

Make this Moment a Memory. photo courtesy of nutmeg

You buy a present, wrap it up, and hand it over to your loved one. They open it, thank you for the gift and the experience is over. Why not infuse some creativity, spunk and excitement into the gift-giving process so that it becomes just as memorable (if not more!) than the gift itself? Here are some suggestions:

1. Create a Scavenger Hunt: My husband’s birthday fell on Easter this year. I decided to create an Easter egg scavenger hunt. Each egg contained a small gift (like iTunes gift cards), the clue for finding the next egg, and a puzzle piece. At the end of the trail of eggs he assembled all of the puzzle pieces and discovered his big gift– a weekend getaway. Your scavenger hunt could just include clues that lead to the hidden present at the end. Either way, it makes getting the gift fun and challenging.

2. Wrap the Gift Ten Times: Maybe you’ve seen this before. You start with a small gift and wrap it. Then you put that in a box and wrap it. Then you put that in a box and wrap it. I’ve seen some gifts where layers of wrapping were funny lingerie from a thrift store. It made the opening process very entertaining (and extended) and the final gift even more appreciated.

3. Have Someone Else Deliver It: Enlist a singing telegram service or a person dressed in a funny costume to deliver your gift. Not only will the person enjoy the present, but they’ll enjoy the presentation of it as well!

4. Buy a Decoy Gift: Pull a little prank and buy a gag gift for your loved one, but present it as a “real” gift. (It could either be something really practical like laundry detergent or really bizarre like a Richard Simmons workout tape.) Once you’ve made the recipient believe this is for real, pull out the “good” gift and have a laugh.

Lenox Irish Teacup Votive

The traditional Lenox look of ivory china and gold has been cherished since 1889. Here, a Celtic-inspired design in high relief decorates a Lenox ivory china votive. The votive, which is decorated with 24 karat gold, includes a votive candle.

Available at www.Lenox.com.

Price: $29.95

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The Belleek Horseshoe

The horseshoe is one of the most popular signs of good luck. And let’s face it, this porcelain model is also a lot prettier than having a regular one nailed to one of your walls.

It is available at: CSNStores.com 

Price:$35

**photo courtesy of csnStores.com**

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photo courtesy of mayfairlane.com

Mayfair Lane’s Happeez Lucky Clipper

Mayfair Lane’s Happeez Lucky Clipper will stick where magnets do, and where they don’t, including stainless steel refrigerators, mirrors, glass, and more.

It leaves no marks or residue. It will grip and re-grip again and again.

It is nontoxic and odor free.

It can be purchased at www.mayfairlane.com or at retailers nationwide.

Price: $6.00 a clip.

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photo courtesy of Angie's Suds 'N' Such

Irish Beer Soap from Angie’s Suds ‘N’ Such

This all natural soap has been made using Irish beer in place of water giving it a slightly sweet scent. No other fragrance has been added.

This soap has been handmade using the cold process method of soapmaking and has cured for a minimum of 4 weeks. Each bar weighs approximately 4.5+ ounces. Ingredients: Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Sustainable Palm Oil, Killian’s Irish Red, Sodium Hydroxide.

Price: $5 per bar

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photo courtesy of designsbylolita.com

Designs by Lolita

Have you heard about Designs by Lolita?

Well, it all happened on a girl’s night out in 2001. Lolita ordered a Cosmopolitan and thought that stemware looked naked and needed something. The artist in her called out to her. She decided to go home and hand-paint and sell glasses out of her basement.

She’d sell about 2,000 glasses a year. Now she sells over 4 million a year!

Each glass contains a recipe on the bottom. She designs her glasses to represent special moments and personalities in life. She really is the American Dream.

Her glasses are doing quite well in this economy because they are creative, inexpensive and you only have to buy one.

Price: $25.00/each.

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photo courtesy of brownies.com

Brownies.com
Our favorite assortment is now available with a festive St. Patrick’s Day band! The classic dozen brownies all decked out in green is sure to bring out the Irish in anyone. 

Fairytale Flavors: Original, Chocolate Chip, Caramel, Pecan, Walnut, Peanut Butter, Toffee Crunch, White Chocolate, Cream Cheese, Mint Chocolate, Raspberry Swirl, Espresso Nib.

Price: $37.90
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Coveroo.com

A Coveroo is the new electronic fashion accessory for you and your phone, replacing the original back cover on your mobile device with a custom version that features lasered artwork from your favorite band, TV show, movie, artist, or even your own creation.

Getting a Coveroo is simple and quick – Go to http://www.coveroo.com/stpatricksday, choose a phone model, and select your desired design; or pick from a variety of fonts to have your name or initials etched.

Price: $9.95 and up

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S P O N S O R E D   R E V I E W

Today I’d like to introduce a new and absolutely brilliant service available online: Tigerbow.com

Send gifts via e-mail. Photo courtesy of Tigerbow.com

Description of Service
Tigerbow.com is all about sending gifts via e-mail! They make it very convenient for you. You can even send the gifts to someone whose physical address you don’t know and let them decide where the gift should arrive!  Just give Tigerbow the e-mail address or the Facebook profile of the recipient and they’ll do the rest.

The recipient has the option of accepting or refusing the gift. What if your gift is not accepted? Well, in this case, you are not being charged. You are only charged if your gift is accepted and sent out. How cool is that?

The service is similar to PayPal in the sense that your address (your bank account in PayPal’s case) is not revealed. Another good thing to know is that the receiver’s address is not revealed either… so let’s say you met someone on Facebook and he or she is sending you a gift via e-mail using Tigerbow. When you accept the gift, your address is only given to Tigerbow who is not sharing it with anyone but the shipping company. 

At the moment, Tigerbow gifts are available within the USA.

Tigerbow on Facebook. photo courtesy of Tigerbow.com

Gifts available at Tigerbow.com

Some of the most popular gifts you can purchase at Tigerbow.com are gorgeous bouquets, funny greeting cards, delicious Godiva chocolate assortments, books and movies of all kinds.

For current gift selections and more info, please visit Tigerbow.com.

I haven’t had the chance to test this service yet but I am willing to. So if you really enjoyed this post and are in a “gift giving” mood, here is my Facebook profile:
 

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Disclaimer: The info above is for your convenience. If you visit these links, it is your responsibility to review their terms, conditions and policies. Read our Terms of Use.

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If you have tried Tigerbow, please leave a message and share the love!

Photo courtesy of Alice J-T

Sure, Christmas is still more than two months away, but since budgets are tight this year planning is even more important. Gift giving can get extremely expensive. However, with some preparation you’ll know exactly how much you have to spend on each person on your list.

Make a List

No, this is not a list of what you want for Christmas. It’s a list of who you plan to buy gifts for. Include everybody– whether the gift is small or large.

Get Ideas

Generate a few ideas for each person on your list. Would they like an iPod? A sweater? A magazine subscription? Come up with some gift possibilities for each person.

Estimate Cost

Now that you’ve got an idea of what a good gift might be, estimate how much that will cost. Do a little online research to find out what you could be spending to buy that gift.

Make a Budget

Add up those estimated costs for all of the gifts you want to buy. Does the number scare you? Then try brainstorming lower cost gifts. Come up with homemade ideas for some of the people on your list. Get that number down to something you can afford.

Save, Save, Save

You’ve got a budget so now is the time to start saving. Planning ahead means you won’t face unexpected gift expenses. The important part is setting aside some extra money each week or month so that you’ll be able to Christmas shop without the stress.

Start Shopping

Carry that gift list with you from now until Christmas. Keep an eye out for sales or bargains that include the items you’re looking for. Since you’re not waiting until the last minute you can keep your eye out for the best deal possible.

There’s only one season that rivals Christmas when it comes to gift-giving and that time of year has arrived: it’s wedding season. Before the bride takes that walk down the aisle and the couple says “I do,” it’s a good time to start thinking about gifts. There are definitely rules for wedding gift-giving etiquette. So to make sure I was displaying good manners I turned to the one and only Emily Post. Here are some of the biggest wedding gift-giving questions answered.

1. When should I send my gift?

I’ve been told several times that you have a year to give a couple a wedding gift, but according to Emily Post, get it done within three months. The best time to do it is right before or right after the wedding. It is ok to bring the gift to the reception if you prefer, but that just means more work for someone taking on the task of gift wrangler.

2. Does the gift have to come off of the registry?

Emily says no. A registry is just a guide, but it’s a good way to make sure the couple gets exactly what they want.

3. How much do I have to spend?

It depends on a couple of things: your budget and how much you like the couple. If the bride is your twin sister, you may want to spend a little more than you would if the bride is a co-worker in accounting that you barely talk to.

4. Can I give cash?

Yes! Cash is good. Emily says if this makes you a little uneasy, try giving a gift certificate.

Photo Courtesy of Alison Storm and Denny Shortt Photography.

How many times have you received gifts that you didn’t really like? I bet there were quite a few…

 Almost three weeks ago I started a discussion on BlogCatalog on this subject. The question I asked was quite simple: what do you do with gifts you don’t like?

Some of the answers I was kind of expecting, some others took me by surprise. Here are a few suggestions that I received (in no order whatsoever):

• - regift ( wait till someone’s birthday comes up and give it to them)
• - “white elephant” gift exchange ( which is a party game played during Christmas season; the participants are supposed to bring one gift that they received but they don’t like and they all leave with another one. An approximate value or type of gift is usually decided ahead: “under $10” or “Christmas ornaments under $15” or something like that)
• - Sell them on Ebay (have you noticed how many gifts are on Ebay after Christmas?!)
• - Church rummage sale
• - Garage sale
• - Neighborhood sale
• - Donate them (as a tax write-off or just for a good cause: Goodwill)
• - potluck clothes swap parties
• - return them to the store (if you have the receipt, that is)
• - just keep them in the closet and try to find a use of them…
• - give them to a Toy drive on National AIDS Day (this was an interesting one!)
• - keep them for sentimental value…

Do you have any other ideas? Leave us a comment!

Note: I would like to say THANK YOU to all those who participated to my discussion on BlogCatalog.

Image by: mmagallan