Christmas gift ideas that don't scream "I got it free w/coupon"!

[sma75]

I just love getting in the Christmas spirit early in the year...

Since I started couponing a few months ago, I've purposely been purchasing extra coupon deals like Venus Razors, body wash, Glade air freshners of all types that were free or next to nothing, lots of Gilette and Old Spice products for a steal, lip balm etc... I figured I would start with these gifts for the adults we have to buy for and add on from there, maybe add in a gift certif, or a sweater?? I'm hoping that I can cut the Christmas gift budget by using free or inexpensive toiletry finds to gift to friends and family.

My first question is... How do you present these types of "products" as a gift without it looking like you just threw a bunch of drugstore "toiletries" in a box or bag. This to me seems tacky? I myself would appreciate expensive Venus razors, deo, body washes, but I am a very practical person, somehow I don't think everyone else is.

Also, any other ideas on gifts to buy with coupons?

[Midnightly]

points for products type items.. use things like airmiles, icoke, package promos.. you can easily get movie tix through icoke and airmiles the same for gift cards.. watch sales.. for the moment walmart is doing alot of clearance making room for christmas stock (all summer, lots of toys, tons of clothing)

[KissMyMapleLeaf]

I am replicating the dove and axe gift baskets(deodorant,shampoo,conditioner,body wash,body spray and body mist). I picked up white and black plastic baskets at the dollar store.I figure I will probably do an Old Spice one (red basket) and a gilette one (blue basket) as well.

[sma75]

This is very clever. I will give this some thought...

[Minou]

I've always done Christmas bags (kind of like stockings or big Christmas crackers) for my extended family. I fill them with stationery, neat gadgets, candy, and toiletry items. It's kind of like an "extra" in addition to their regular gift (though I do consider the whole gift's overall cost to me), so I don't think it comes across as tacky. People in my family appreciate it because there's lots of practical product they are known to use, and they don't have to buy it themselves at retail cost.

Other than that, I use my Shoppers points to buy what I can as gifts (perfume and cologne, jewellery, purses, electronics, toys, makeup, etc.) I also started my shopping for clothing gifts during the Sears and Zellers clearance sales in July. Bought a pile of beautiful fall and winter clothing for a fraction of the retail (or even sale!) price.

The nice thing is, I see most of the gifts I give people being used on a regular basis. It's possible to be cheap and thoughtful, knowing what that person would like. Sadly, I seem to be given a lot of last-minute expensive gifts that rarely get used! I think I'd prefer thoughtful and practical gifts!

[Newfiegirl]

Any thoughts for brands or scents for teens?

[safielstar]

This is exactly what I do for Christmas gifts, I keep all the items I accumulate throughout the year in reusable shopping bags and then divvy them up and place them in gift baskets and wrap with cellophane and ribbon (makes it look prettier and more like a professional gift basket). I tend to do personal care products and household items and supplement with items I can get from redeeming my Shopper's Optimum points.

These gifts generally go over quite well with people I've given them too, but it does depend on the person. I find that teenagers and younger people want more fun stuff as gifts and wouldn't appreciate a basket of personal care products because they don't have to pay for their own stuff yet, so for a younger crowd I pick more 'fun' toiletry things like perfume/cologne or makeup in their basket and pair it with a gift card or movie passes. Older individuals or people that are in general very hard to buy for tend to enjoy these (any woman knows what razors normally cost and are happy to get one in their basket), especially if you include extra things...like in my baskets I include candy, chocolate, gum, and a book in addition to personal care items.

[bairdgoodwin]

That's what we do for stockings at Christmas. Alot of personal care products and I'll add in a magazine/book, candy and nuts and a few stationary items. All stuff a person will use in the run of a year.

[hollyquaiscer]

My DD (the youngest, she is 23) loves the new Justin Beiber perfume. I got to smell it today, and it is actually nice, sort of sweet smelling.

[giggles89]

I'm doing basically the same. Every year my mom fills stockings for our family with toiletries, we find it pretty useful and we expects it now. So this year i'm doing it for everyone, except i'm getting a big basket for my brother and his gf, and one for my parents and fill it up for the couple. Sure everything i got on sale/with coupons and what not, but its the thought that counts. Also I'm keeping track of the full/regular price of each item that goes in to it, just to see how much i really did save. I'm also thinking about doing it up to be a little more like a spa basket with towels and soaps and stuff. Or taking it and turning it in to more of a diaper cake, but with towels instead of diapers and just add the toiletries around the sides and decorate with ribbon. Still a cute idea.

[RebeccaBriggs2009]

cute ideas everyone! i'm gonna have to try this this year

[Trinimoneysaver]

I have usually done gift baskets each year with tea, coffee, danish butter cookies, ferrero etc. per family. I also bake and give them a tin of baked goods. The difference this year is I will do a few household baskets with the Lysol no touch dispensers (I have 3 extras) razors, old spice body wash, dove, aspirin etc. The next big difference is that I didn't pay retail for those things....gotta love that!

I also have plenty of little girls in my family, I purchased alot of Disney princess items from dollerama during back to school (stickers, hair accessories, stationary sets) and I will do a basket with those and probably some disney pajamas and socks from whoever has a sale in the near future on those Walmart probably.

I have many teen boys to purchase for too. So was thinking of doing baskets for them also with the body washes and deodorants with movie tickets. So how do I get cheap or free movie tickets? Please explain that so I can get some for these kids.

Thanks.

[Jody22002]

The movie tickets you can get from either Airmiles or Icoke. Before netflix became huge and renting movies was the way to go, I used to do movie themed basket. I would get a popcorn bowl(or the small plastic containers that look like popcorn bags at Dollarama for the kids), order the movie rentals with my airmiles, add in popcorn kernals, seasonings, and milk duds, etc. The teenagers have come to depend on my wanting that so last year, I paid for one month of Netflix and still did the popcorn gift basket.

It's going to be gift baskets this year too! I just have figured out my theme yet. There is no little ones anymore so it makes it boring.

[Chantel]

I think one of the big ways you can pull a gift basket together and make it look fancy and professional is by putting things in that are similar colors, or on the same half of the color wheel (warm-cold). This is a great example:

http://www.pantryoverflow.com/sites/...t%20basket.jpg
(linked image, as it's large!)
I think also adding fluff to your baskets makes them look more professional, that includes tissue paper or shredded crinkled brown paper like you see in some fancy baskets (Make your own by staining cut paper bags with coffee to darken some pieces, let dry and put through the shredder!)

Another part of making the basket look professional is the wrapping and housing. Now is a good time to hit thrift stores and yard sales looking for christmas tins or buckets or baskets or anything holiday colors! That includes gold, silver, red, green and blue mainly. Then look for pretty ribbons or ways to decorate plain colored baskets or boxes or tins to match the look of your basket.

[twolamedogs]

This is pretty much what I have been planning to do for my kids. They are actually big kids lol The boys are 20 & 22, my daughter is 17. I started couponing about a month ago. I have been watching for deals on soap, body wash, deodorant, razors, etc. I was able to get some really nice Gillette items with coupons. This will be a great thread, as I haven't decided how to present the items as of yet. Or what other items to add.