Baby Gifts

Home Family Babies General Baby Gifts

It is the month of babies. I now have invitations to five baby showers in the next three months. There goes the gift-giving budget I so carefully wrote out in January. No, I refuse to let it come to that. Instead I must come up with acceptable gifts for less. Some ideas include:

• Handmade photo album $12.00
  
  
• Designer spit up clothes. This is especially fun for kids or groups like Girl Scouts. Decorate cloth diapers with iron-ons and fabric paint. $12.00
  
  
• Diapers or baby food on sale (Be careful with formula as many babies are changed from one formula to another.)
  
  
• A simple quilt - Purchase a juvenile print and plain backing. Place batting between layers and either frame in and hand sew or buy and sew on bias tape. Stitch coordinating DMC floss through three layers and tie to hold layers in place. $15.00
  
  
• A consignment outfit that looks like new. Personalize with an iron on or cross-stitch. $7.00
  
  
• Refinish a rocking chair.
  
  
• Parenting books from outlets with enclosed babysitting coupons $5.00
  
  
• Precooked/frozen meals for the family. $5.00+
  
  
• A food mill, ice cube tray, and a book on making your own baby food. $10.00
  
  
• Framed theme pictures for the wall - cross-stitch, quilt, paint, or draw pictures based on the theme the parents have chosen $7.00
  
  
• Felt growth chart or mobile created to match the nursery's theme $7.00
  
  
• A framed poem about the baby's birth or an acrostic poem using the baby's name as a base $3.00
  
  

Also, as with all gifts I recommend stocking up in advance. As you see sales or special items, pick them up. Eventually you will have need of the items. The only caveat to this method is not to purchase too much in advance. Just like with a business, you do not want your money tied up in inventory (gifts).

Dawn Adams is the editor of A Personal Touch. A Personal Touch is designed to help you improve your marriage, family, home, and entertaining on a budget. To receive a complimentary emailed copy send your request to apersonaltouch@snet.net or to order 12 monthly issues send $12 (for email) or $15 (for 12 print) to A Personal Touch, 24 Flintlock Dr. Durham, CT 06422. Mention The Dollar Stretcher and receive $1 off.

Share your thoughts about this article with the editor: Click Here

Do you have a time or money saving idea that wasn't included in this article? Please send it to tips@stretcher.com. We get the best ideas from our readers!

Faux or Real Fir?
Save on your Christmas tree with these suggestions

A Simple Christmas
Only one gift per child makes for a challenging holiday

Dueling Vices
When you and your spouse argue about spending on your bad habits

Homemade Gifts and Games from Old Photos
Creative ways to use old photographs

Setting an Example
Helping children to become wise caretakers of their money

Have you visited
The Dollar Stretcher Community
this week?

I Would like to:

• Read other articles on this topic
  
• See what else is in this issue
  
• Subscribe to "The Dollar Stretcher" free weekly email newsletter
  
• visit the Problem Solving Center
  
• visit the Reference Library
  
• browse the 'author' index
  
• search 'by date' index
  
• check out Past Issues of Newsletter
  
• go see 'What's New'
  
• "Can You Help This Reader?"
  
• drop by 'Tips, Quips & Quotes'
  
• send email to the Editor of "The Dollar Stretcher"