In Part I I shared 10 ways to save money on gifts! Now onto Part II.
11. Make your own cards or buy a box of assorted charity cards, I buy mine from Toybox Charity - such an inexpensive way to always have a special way to tell someone you are thinking about them and it ensures you aren’t spending $3+ on a last-minute card.
12. Make your own wrapping paper, using brown post office paper, magazines or newspapers. You can jazz it up with stickers, paint, drawings or messages.
13. Use your left over money from the budget for entertainment or food shopping to buy gift certificates and vouchers. These are a great gift for a family in need, or a friend or family member’s Birthday!
14. Go online and search for codes or discounted gift vouchers. Often you can get $25 for $20 or less when shopping online.
15. Buy handmade crafts from people in developing nations - these are usually well priced ($10 or less), the “middle man” is cut out and you are supporting a great cause.
15. Make up hampers – they sound expensive, but buying a couple of $1 face masks, body oils, facial scrubs plus adding in homemade hot chocolate mix, some baked goods and a nice card, these can be very frugal and fun!
16. Get together to buy – pool your money with a family member or friend, if you know your friend could really use a $50 grocery voucher or your nephew could use some swimming lessons, but you don’t have the funds to do it yourself, get two or three people in on it together. Presents which meet people’s needs are always appreciated!
17. Give an experience – present a Birthday treat as a day together, pack a picnic, go to the beach or park and swing by for a hot chocolate afterwards. With careful planning you could give a “day together” present for less than $10.
18. Second hand books – now you have to be careful, not everyone will appreciate such a gesture (although, personally it is favourite of mine!) but if you know the person would, this is a great way to give gifts. For example a friend of mine last year was trying to eat more beans & lentils, I knew she didn’t “mind” second-hand books, so I got her three fabulous (as in the “top” rated books) second-hand lentil & bean recipe books! No complains from her!
19. Don’t fall into the trap that giving gifts will make you more popular. I have many friends that have admitted to me that they say yes to every wedding and baby shower, just so they can have more friends. All admitted it’s never worked, but they felt pressure to spend $50 +. Don’t put yourself under that pressure! I remember an old friend (she was the type that dropped you the second she got a boyfriend and you would then not hear from her for a year + or until they broke up!) I hadn’t spoken to in YEARS sent me an invitation to her wedding shower, no personal note attached saying she would love to be back in touch, but she did put a written printed note on the cards telling people to “please accept if an additional wedding invitation isn’t enclosed, you are not invited to the wedding, we don’t want my parents to spend more than our $40,000 so had to limit who we invite. However we would love to see you at our wedding shower, the gift registry is enclosed”. There was nothing there that was less than $100, nothing. At the time I was caring for the children on one part time wage and so I decided instead I’d write her a lovely Congratulations card, wish her well, update her a bit on my situation & ask about her job, family etc and I think I made a small charity contribution in their name. I never heard back 
20. Give magazine subscriptions! Often through reward points, airmiles, store points or seasonal deals you can get amazing offers on magazine subscriptions especially if you buy more than 3. I’ve given a year’s subscriptions for less than $10 before, to a magazine I knew would help and inspire friends.
Do you have any more frugal gift ideas which haven’t been mentioned in these posts?
And speaking of Frugal Gifts, my friend Daleea is having a giveaway today for her BellaBlushDesigns which I’ve blogged about before! Swing by and enter!
These are great tips. I am so with you on the whole engagement, wedding and baby shower stuff. I have been gobsmacked that many of my friends put such expensive requests on them, admit to sending invitations to everyone they know so they can have more. I don’t understand it, it is very much an American/Canadian thing for people to be expected to go to such expense. Loads of cultures have big celebrations without expecting you to provide for them.
I like the idea of making your own gift wrap, I must try that.
Some excellent suggestions! I’m a huge fan of using brown paper as wrapping paper. This year I’ve wrapped all presents with brown paper (it costs less than £1 a roll) and have used real fabric ribbon (pretty cheap if you buy it from a proper haberdashery department, rather than somewhere expensive like Paperchase) and have used brown card parcel labels as gift labels. The presents look fab, the ribbon can be reused (I tied it lavishly, so it’s always a good length) and the total wrap costs less than £1 each time.
I am really loving this series, you have so many ideas I’ve never thought of! I may print out part 1 and 2. Are there any more posts in this series?
This –> please accept if an additional wedding invitation isn’t enclosed, you are not invited to the wedding, we don’t want my parents to spend more than our $40,000 so had to limit who we invite. However we would love to see you at our wedding shower, the gift registry is enclosed shocks me.
I can’t believe someone would write that on their invitations. If you cannot afford to invite everyone to the wedding, then don’t ask people to your wedding shower for the sole purpose of bringing gifts.
Then to hear that she NEVER wrote back with a: I’m so sorry you couldn’t make it, and thank you for your congratulations letter, irks me even more on your behalf!
It certainly isn’t something I’d ever do!
And it’s nice you are irked on my behalf, Fabulous!
Hi FT!
I found your blog last June and began from reading from the very beginning. I have finally caught up to date! I agree with many of your readers. You should consider writing a book. I wrote you an email but never heard back. It seems that you have had a bit of transition going on in your life recently, so I understand. Looking forward to reading more.
jude
Judy I don’t think I ever got your email, I’m so sorry! Feel free to email again
I genuinely do try to answer all emails even if it takes a few days! 
Just be happy that you did not go to either the wedding or the wedding shower. Good Grief. Very sad people….best ignored. Like the tips for Frugal Gifts. May I suggest looking at local arts & crafts for gifts. Here are 10 excellent reasons …(P.S. and they are not expensive!) http://blog.sidestreetstudio.com/wood/10-reasons-why-you-should-buy-local-arts-crafts/
Great tip! That was going to be in my next post – look for local art work at festivals etc. I’ll check out your site! Thanks!
Inspiring ideas that are too often neglected. Thanks for the reminder.
I too have also gained many new ideas! I spent too much on presents for people and presents for myself!!
I enjoy having friends over for dinner for their birthdays. It sometimes costs me more than if I had bought a gift, but it’s also entertainment and time together. I’m learning that it can be a simple meal and still be very much appreciated & enjoyed. If a group is coming, make it a potluck. I’ll often make the main meal and friends bring the salad, bread and wine. One year I made my father a few different types of homemade pizzas. He thought that was the best as he loves pizza! We had a lot of fun too.
If you have a talent that can be shared – do so! Paint a picture ( you can get nice little canvas at the Dollar Store) Make a favourite treat, do you scrapbook or make cards? If you are into photography – frame a favourite picture.
Gifts don’t have to be expensive to be appreciated.
FT, you suggested hampers. I made romance baskets for my parents & their partners. I put in wine, chocolates, nice cookies, candles and a homemade CD, massage oil. They loved it!
I bought a variety of imported beers for my friend and packaged them in a nice basket for a friend who enjoys beers. I only spent around $15 and it was well received.
A nice mug with some free-trade coffee or tea, and maybe a little chocolate is always nice.
If you take nice photos, offer to take a nice portrait of the person, or their child or pet.
Last Christmas I painted portraits of my brother’s dogs for him. He was thrilled.
2nd hand books are a great idea.
Don’t be afraid to give second hand baby items too. Often baby outfits and blankets have gone to thrift shops or yardsales and have never been used. Watch for special toys etc.
This month, my friend had a housewarming party. Her in-laws came down from another province and brought 2 baskets filled with a bottle of wine and vegetables from their garden. It was beautiful!