Gift Basket Ideas for Frugal Folks

Gift Basket Ideas for Frugal Folks

Gift basket ideas with purpose, personalized for the recipient, are always appreciated!

Gift basket ideas most appropriate for frugal folks include contents considered first for usefulness.

Speaking from my own experience, I would say that my most appreciated gifts are those that I not only find useful, but that I would have had to purchase myself at some point.

With that in mind, the frugal mind that is, the frugal gift basket actually serves two practical purposes; It is useful and saves me money!

If you are a frugal person, this task will be much easier for you. If great minds think alike, the same is true of frugal minds. Simply look within yourself. The frugal gal can get excited about the most ordinary items. For the rest of you, here's a little help creating your frugal gift basket.

Although you may question some gift basket ideas on the list, remember, frugal folks enjoys frugal things! They look to get the best value for their money and this IS what makes them happy! It just makes sense that providing a practical frugal gift basket that may also save money, will make them happy. Isn't that what great gifts should do?

So here's to happiness and the pursuit of the frugal lifestyle! Happy holidays, happy birthdays, happy Mother's day, etc. etc. etc....

Gift Basket Ideas for Frugal Folks

Some of these unique gift basket ideas might seem odd or unusual to the average person. If you're a frugal person, you'll completely understand. The rest of you will just have to trust me!

Laundry Gift Basket Ideas

For the frugal person who holds onto things until they fall apart (or even after they fall apart).
This is the person who has a laundry basket held together with duct tape, tied together with string or rope, or repaired several times with other various ingenious methods.

Probability is, they may not even have a laundry basket. I have several produce boxes (they are extremely strong, especially banana boxes) that make wonderful laundry carriers! And, they are free.

Fill a sturdy laundry basket with one or two boxes each:

Arm and Hammer Washing Soda

20 Mule Team Borax

A few bars of Fels-Naptha Laundry Bar Soap

I say "sturdy" basket because it will inevitably be put to the test by a frugal mind! If your frugal recipient doesn't need a new laundry basket, you can give these gifts in an appropriate size traditional gift basket or just gift bag 'em.

This is a great gift basket idea for anyone who doesn't mind saving money. And, I don't know anyone who minds! I would mix up one batch and put in a tightly sealed container. (You can make a decorative container yourself i.e. - a quart mason jar and some decorative fabric banded over the top. Tie with pretty ribbon.) Place with the laundry detergent ingredients to get them to try it and started down the right path. Include the following Laundry Detergent Recipe with the Laundry Basket Gift.

Powdered Laundry Detergent

1 Cup Grated Fels Naptha Soap
1/2 Cup Washing Soda
1/2 Cup Borax
For light load, use 1 tablespoon. For heavy or heavily soiled load, use 2 tablespoons.
You can find more recipes (liquid and powdered) at TheFrugalShopper.com

Options:1. If budget allows, throw in some cloth napkins, utility towels, bath towels, hand towels, or washcloths.
2. Make a little book with a variety of laundry tips, tricks, and homemade recipes. This is great for a new bride.

Cleaning Gift Basket Ideas

Many frugal folks make their own cleaning solutions and are always looking for cleaning and organizing tips. The cleaning basket might include such items as, a couple of spray bottles, steel wool, a pumice stone, cream of tartar, vinegar, baking soda, gloves, scrub brushes, utility towels or cleaning rags, dusters, cloth diapers (make great cleaning rags), household cleaning and organizing tips book or recycling tips.

Top with a personalized cleaning shirt or apron or any other little cleaning gadgets you think your frugal gal might find handy. Throw in a coupon for a coffee break date, with you, at your home, her home, or a local coffee shop! Your treat of course.

Kitchen Gift Basket Ideas

The kitchen gift basket contents is limited only to your imagination! This is a great gift basket idea for anyone who loves to cook. Frugal folks know the importance of saving through cooking. If you're a frugal person you can reflect on your own needs and frequent uses to spark some ideas.

By the way, the "basket" doesn't have to be a basket. Did that make sense? You'll see what I mean. Here are a few suggestions:

Baker's Gift Basket Ideas: Fill a large mixing bowl, bakeware or basket [they'll probably get more use out of the bowl or Bakeware ;-)] with baking tools and/or supplies as much as will suit your budget. i.e. - Wire whisks of various sizes, wooden spoons, measuring spoons and cups, a sifter, cookie cutters, rubber spatulas (you know, those things you use to scrape every last bit of batter out of the bowl. My husband and I still argue about what these are called), a bag of bulk yeast, can of baking powder, various spices (nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, etc.), vanilla extract, or anything else you know your frugal gal or cook will use or needs.

Top it all off with a personalized apron. Make or buy an apron and write the person's name or a personal message, poem, or saying on it, using a fabric paint pen or paints. Other contents might include a cookbook, some of your own favorite recipes printed neatly on a recipe card or made into a mini cookbook, a recipe file, cookbook stand, well I could go on and on.

Gift Basket Ideas for Cooks: Fill a large stock pot (check Cooking.com's Clearance department for some good deals!) or basket with a variety of cooking utensils or supplies. i.e. - Most of the above items could be considered as well as, ladles, cutlery, small strainers, tongs, special seasonings, cooking spices (Italian seasoning, cumin, onion powder, garlic, oregano, thyme, etc) and again, top it off with a pretty apron!

Throw in a cookbook if your budget allows or better yet, sign them up for a lifetime membership to the E-Cookbook Library for less than the cost of an average cookbook, and/or toss in some homemade recipes for taco seasoning, chicken bake coating, stuffing, whatever you can find to replace higher priced store bought mixes. A good idea might be to actually make the mixes and give them already mixed in a tightly sealed container or jar along with the recipe. How to save money on groceries tips or book.

(Any of these kitchen basket ideas are terrific for a new bride!)

Food Gift Basket Idea

Frugal Food Gift Basket Idea: Mix up some master baking mix, pancake mix, cookie mix, or muffin mix.

Pick and choose, or give them all, in tightly sealed containers or jars and attach recipes for using and the mix recipe. Decorate accordingly of course.

Specialty rice and rice mixes, bean mixes, bean and rice mixes, oatmeal and couscous. A pack of herb seeds or starter plants for indoor herb gardening. Top it off with that special Cool apron, or a gift card from your local grocery store.

Treat Gift Basket Ideas: Special treats for special people! Now this one is great to give frugal folks food items that their budget, or frugal mind, just won't allow. Even frugal folks have favorite gourmet items that they love but rarely treat themselves to. For instance, I love Macadamia nuts. But they are very expensive, making them cost prohibitive for my financial goals right now.

If you don't already know, ask a spouse or close relative what items the recipient enjoys. Fill a basket or other creative container with those foods and other various specialty foods, snacks, nuts, and/or cheeses. Remember to take into consideration any diet restrictions and select your contents accordingly.

Coffee or Tea Gift Basket Ideas: I'm a true coffee lover. But, as a frugal gal, I know that a common brand will get me through the day just as well as a gourmet brand. That doesn't change the fact that I enjoy a good cup of gourmet or specialty coffee once in a while. But, with my current financial goals, the treat comes few and far between.

A coffee gift basket will definitely be appreciated by the frugal person who loves a good cup of joe! Pack that basket with several different brands of gourmet or specialty coffee or a lot of the one brand you know they love. Include a permanent coffee filter to fit the brand of coffeemaker they use to show you haven't forgotten their practical side! You can easily adapt the contents to fit the tea lover instead. Top it off with a nice coffee cup.

Gardener's Gift Basket Ideas

The gardener's gift basket is simply a collection of any supplies a home gardener might need or garden tools and supplies to make every job easier!... Garden knee pads, gardening tools, seeds, (starter plants if it's the right time of year) Gardening books and tips. Starter pots. Containers for the container gardener. Gloves and a hat.

Sewing or Crafter's Gift Basket Ideas

Fill a gift basket or sewing box with a variety of sewing notions. Include some decorative fabric (Get some great prices on Clearance and Closeout Fabrics )or a collection of scrap fabrics; Sewing patterns or Pattern Maker Software, instructions for home decorating sewing tasks or sewing level appropriate apparel patterns. In other words, keep it real.

Not everyone is a seamstress but, most some of us frugal folks can make a curtain or pillow cover given simple instructions. Your frugal recipient might be a mender or a seamstress. Choose your gift basket contents accordingly.

Choose a sewing book to suit their level of knowledge. Maybe you know a beginner who would like to learn to sew.

Include such novelties as velcro, snaps, hemming tape (or fusion tape), iron on patches, as these will be handy for most frugal folks. Check out the Clearance @ joann.com! or consider the Gift cards @ joann.com!.

Now don't worry frugal folks, I've got your back! ;-) I wouldn't want your friends and family to think you will be offended if they give you a non-frugal gift. So here's my last thought......

Although frugal folks will love and appreciate the practical, useful, gift like no one else can, they are still human. And being human, they have wants and desires that their frugality may not give in to. So, if the notion strikes, you may certainly reward them with a luxury gift.

Perhaps a luxurious treat that they would not normally consider for themselves. For example, a trip to the salon for a professional manicure, pedicure, or hair style.

If you know your frugal recipient has had their eye on an outfit, or other item, that they're convinced they don't need but secretly admire and want, of course (if your budget allows) Get It For Them!

Odds are they won't buy it and they will surely be happy to receive it as a gift. They'll get to have something they want but don't actually need, and still remain faithful to their lifestyle or financial commitments.

I hope these ideas help you create beautiful gifts for anyone in your life. Choosing a basket theme to suit the recipients interests or needs is always a winning gift. Personalized gifts are more appreciated and keep on giving. Each time the recipient uses the item/s they are reminded of the thoughtfulness of the giver.

Please send us your gift basket ideas!

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