"No
Reason" Gifts on the Cheap.
by Lee Asher
Weve all heard the saying,
"Its the thought that counts," and this is especially true when giving a gift in
a relationship. The right gift at the right time can help cement a good
relationship. Simple gifts given to a loved one, dont have to be for any reason
other than to let them know that you care and are thinking of them and these
gifts dont have to be expensive. With a little creativeness you can give your
loved one a gift that shows how much you love them and value your relationship
for under $10.
The key to giving
inexpensive gifts is to make sure they are something that the person you are
giving the gift to will really cherish and appreciate. To give a really great
inexpensive gift you have to think beyond the generic gifts of perfumed soaps
and lotions for women and ties and socks for men. In giving inexpensive gifts
try to personalize the gift to reflect the personality or hobbies of the
recipient of the gift.
One inexpensive gift idea
for a person who enjoys cooking is a specialty cookbook such as a dessert or
ethnic cookbook. Interesting cook books can often be found in the discount
section of book stores for less than $10. For an additional twist try making one
of the dishes in the cookbook yourself and serving it when you present the gift
to your loved one. Your loved one will appreciate the gesture and enjoy sharing
the dish with you and will remember that moment fondly when using the cookbook.
For a sentimental soul,
give a gift of personal photos arranged in a photo album in a unique way. Photo
albums can be found for just a few dollars in convenience stores and you can use
existing photos to fill the pages. The key to this gift is to present the photos
in an original way. Try creating a photo album with a theme such as one that
documents your relationship from courtship to your current stage or one that
highlights the trips you have taken together.
The runner in your life
will appreciate an inexpensive stopwatch or pedometer. While these gadgets can
get pricey you can still find models that perform the basic functions for under
$10. This gift lets you know that you are thinking of them and that you
understand their hobby. They will appreciate your interest in their activities.
You can even include a note letting them know you would love to join them for a
run one day.
Another inexpensive gift
idea is a basket filled with homemade cookies, breads or other goodies. If you
know that your sweetheart has a sweet tooth, invest a few hours of your time to
bake up some tasty treats for your loved one just to let them know you are
thinking of them. They will not only enjoy the treat you have prepared but will
also appreciate the effort that went into the gift. If the person you are baking
the goodies for is on a special diet, be sure to incorporate their dietary needs
into your recipe.
A homemade coupon book is
always a welcomed gift and can certainly be made for under $10. Create coupons
on your computer or by hand for services that you know your loved one will enjoy
and include a small gift to go with the theme of the coupon book. For example
the man in a relationship where the couple has children could give the woman a
bottle of nail polish along with coupons offering his services as a babysitter
while she goes out for a manicure with a friend. She will appreciate that you
are sending her out to be pampered while you get a chance to enjoy some time
with the kids. In giving this gift try to think of something your partner will
appreciate but wont splurge on for themselves.
Search the discount DVD
bins for ones that are less than $10. Believe it or not, they are available and
you just might find one that would make a great gift for someone you love.
Inexpensive DVDs are often less mainstream and you could use that originality to
try something new. If your partner is always trying to get you to go dancing but
you keep refusing, you might find an instructional video on flamenco dancing or
square dancing. Invite your loved one over and try following the video together.
Flowers dont have to cost a
fortune. You may spend hundreds on red roses for Valentines Day but for everyday
occasions or for no reason at all, you could stop by your local supermarket and
pick up a bouquet of colorful wild flowers from their floral department. Ditch
the cellophane wrapper that the flowers come in and arrange them in a vase
yourself or tie them with a pretty ribbon. Pre-arranged bouquets such as these
are often available for under $10.
A CD filled with songs that
your loved one enjoys or that have special meaning for you as a couple makes a
wonderful and inexpensive gift. For under $10 you could easily use your computer
to assemble a CD of meaningful songs. You could even create a CD cover that
conveys the message you want to send with the CD.
Outdoor enthusiasts will
enjoy a trip to a local National Park to hike, observe wildlife and enjoy the
outdoors so surprise your partner with a day trip to the park. Entry fees for
many National Parks are under $10 and you and your loved one will have the
opportunity to spend quality time together. Pack a picnic lunch and spend the
day enjoying nature and each others company.
If your loved one enjoys
working out, a jump rope is a gift that you can give them for less than $10.
This inexpensive gift will not only remind them of their childhood but also
demonstrate that you understand them and realize that fitness is important in
their life. An even better idea is to buy one for yourself as well and challenge
your loved one to a friendly competition.
Gift giving doesnt have to
be expensive and doesnt have to be for a specific occasion. Surprise your
partner with well thought out gifts that reflect their interests. With a little
creativity you can give your loved one a gift that shows how well you know them
and they are in your thoughts every day and you dont have to spend more than $10
to do so.
Original Source:
Articles Galore.com
Information supplied and written by Lee
Asher of CyberTech SoftShop
Suppliers of the DeadEasy Ebook Maker and
Publishing Wizard.
What To
Look For When Shopping For Gifts Online.
by Janice Kaye
More and more people each
year are discovering how rewarding it is to do their gift shopping from the
comfort of their computer terminal. No more fighting for parking spaces in the
mall, or carrying heavy parcels to your car. With some careful planning you can
do your entire gift shopping without even leaving your office or your home, at a
time that most suits you.
By shopping for gifts online you are broadening the choice of gifts available in
your home town. You may live in the mid-West, but this does not stop you from
buying gifts from the most sophisticated stores in NY – at least those which
have an online presence. Or, go further afield and buy a truly unique
handcrafted gift from overseas. These exotic craft gifts will be truly
appreciated by the recipient as they show that you have taken the time out to
search for a truly fitting gift. Does your best friend have a passion for
Australia – then look out for some original Aboriginal art. Or, is your
mother-in-law passionate about the Bible – then you can buy her a unique gift
hand-crafted in the Holy Land.
Here are some tips to help you with your on-line gift shopping:
Make sure that the store is legitimate. Do they have a phone number and a
physical address listed on their website? Try ringing the phone number to make
sure that it is manned. Is it answered in a professional manner? Or, if you are
answered by an answer phone, does someone get back to you promptly? If you
prefer, send an online enquiry – how quickly is it replied to? Did you receive a
standard response? Or did a customer service representative take the time to
read your enquiry and answer you personally? If you can’t get good customer
service, before making a purchase it is unlikely that you will receive it after
parting with your hard earned money.
Check out the return policies, in case you or the recipient wishes to return the
gift.
Research the product carefully before buying it. You can use one of the online
price comparison sites to make sure that you are getting the best deal. Of
course if you are buying unique handcrafted gifts, then you will not be able to
do this – but here the Internet gives you an advantage by allowing you to find
gifts that are not available close to home. You can use a search engine to find
many unique online products in stores that are in English and the prices are
quoted are in dollars. If the store does use a local currency, then there are
plenty of online currency converters to help you work out its cost in dollars,
and you can pay for these gifts with your credit card.
Don’t forget to take into account shipping and handling costs. Many stores will
give free shipping over a certain amount, so you may wish to consolidate your
gift shopping to take advantage of this. By buying out of state, you are saving
sales taxes, so this can offset the cost of shipping.
Don’t forget to order in advance so that there is adequate delivery time and to
avoid having to pay for expensive over-night shipping. You can have the gift
sent directly to the recipient if you are not able to deliver it in person.
Don’t forget to mention this when you order, so that they do not send the
invoice or credit card slip to the recipient.
Most online stores will be happy to gift wrap your gift for you, to save you the
time and effort. If this is not listed as a service, just ask. Most gift stores
will always be happy to go the extra mile for you.
Look for a secure website when purchasing online. Once you have chosen your
goods and you have chosen to “check out” you should be taken to a secure
website. You can tell that the site is secure as the URL will start with “https”
instead of “http”. This means that your credit card information is safe and will
not be compromised. If you are still not convinced, many online gift stores will
let you submit your order online and then will call you to obtain your credit
card details or allow you to send them by fax.
Once you have placed your order, it is preferable to print out a record of the
order, of if this is not possible then save the information on your computer in
a folder labeled "shopping". This will help you follow up if your order does not
arrive and you need to follow up with the store.
Hopefully I have convinced you of the merits of online gift shopping and now all
that remains is to wish you a Happy and Safe Shopping Experience.
ice Kaye is the operator of
Biblical-Gifts.Com, an online shop that specializes in exclusive
hand-crafted products, made out of flowers & fruits grown in the land of the
Bible. They also offer a selection of the best Christian gifts and souvenirs
made in the Holy Land.
www.biblical-gifts.com.
Romantic
Gifts – 10 Sizzling Ways to Give Them.
by Patricia Fason
When it comes to giving a
romantic gift, it’s not just what you give, but how you give it. For the most
impact, creativity is more important than price. Here are a few suggestions:
1. Flowers or any gift will work with this one. Leave a note on the door for
your partner telling them to follow the path. Strew rose petals leading to the
bedroom. Be lying on the bed, holding the gift when they arrive.
2. Jewelry - Surprise them with a gift when there is no occasion. Tantalize them
by packing a note in their lunch saying you have something special for them when
they get home. When they arrive, wear something provocative and hide the gift in
your clothing. Ask them to find it.
3. Chocolates – Call your partner into the bedroom. You should be lying on the
bed with some of the chocolates strategically placed on your body.
4. Fragrances and Candles – Both of these work great as an addition to another
gift. Spray a small amount in the room before they come in or in the case of
scented candles, have them burning around the room with the lights turned low or
off.
5. For something different, try chocolate body paint. You can take turns
painting each others body.
6. Personalized gifts - Surprise them with a nice dinner out, or one you’ve made
that you know they love. Leave the gift wrapped, sitting on the table as you
eat. Tease them with obscure hints throughout the meal. Be sure when you have
the gift personalized that you add I Love You or With Love to the
personalization.
7. Lingerie –Ladies, buy some new lingerie. Be wearing it when he comes home
from work. Believe me; he will see it as a gift.
8. Any gift – Chill a bottle of champagne or sparkling wine. When your partner
comes home, be sure the first thing they see is your gift sitting beside the ice
bucket. Leave a note telling them to pour a couple of glasses and meet you in
the bedroom.
9. Any gift – Send your partner on a treasure hunt. Draw out a map, or leave
clues to their gift. A ‘spicy’ way to do this would be to have the clues written
in strategic spots on your body.
10. The free gift – Print out love coupons. Fold them up and place them in
something. You and you partner should take turns drawing them and doing what
they say.
These are just a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing. There are
unlimited possibilities and I urge you to explore them. Every relationship needs
a little spice from time to time. A romantic gift, given creatively, may be just
what you need.
Patricia Fason is a writer
and poet. She is listed as an ezine articles expert author, a buzzle author and
has provided articles exclusively to websites and ezines. Contact her for
information on exclusive articles or visit her website dedicated to romance -
Sites O Web Romances You. There you will find romance tips, poetry, free
greeting cards, love coupons, romantic gifts and more.
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