I'm invited to an housewarming party for a friend (mid 20's female). Any ideas on something low budget that I could bring? Thanks!

Is she registered anywhere??

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Vicki


TLJ Women united in Spirit!

If not then what about staples for the Pantry......cooking untensils......a small potted plant...some cooking wine......oh a really great kitchen item I just found is called a Misto (bed bath and beyond) $9.99 and with a 20% off coupon you can get it for 7.99......It turns any kind of cooking oil into a spray coating......instead of her buying Pam Cooking Spray she can use this. Buy her a small bottle of cooking oil or olive oil with it. It will be less than 15.00 and its something most ppl would not think of.

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Vicki


TLJ Women united in Spirit!

Thanks for the suggestions! She is not registered anywhere.

I always like to do a houseplant or 2, depending. If it's really a house then i do a yard plant or 2 and those are easy since I can propagate my own and only have the container and potting soil cost.

Do people really register for housewarmings? Really? I always prefer my gifts to be from me, with my best wishes on what I think they could use or enjoy from knowing them, not from a senese of duty to stock them up.

dl

Guess it just depends on what generation your from and where you grew up...seems to be the norm in mine....I like to get them what they prefer rather than what I think they will need. I don't want them to have to take it back, sorta takes the fun out of it, KWIM. If they aren't registered then hopefully one of these suggestions on the post will work for you OP.

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Vicki


TLJ Women united in Spirit!

You make a good point, however, if I am close enough to be invited to this event, then I should be close enough to select something they should enjoy. It's not always a plant from me, although it symbolizes putting down roots and making the place theirs. If I am not close enough to select something they should enjoy, then I see the inviation as more of a fishing expedition for a gift. I doubt they would get 2 duplicates of the same plant vs. duplicates of toasters, utensils, etc. and btw, when i got married, I received 2 sets of mixing bowls and decided to keep them all. I find all of them useful and the folks who gave did give from the heart.

dl

Give something classic...simple beauty never goes out of style. A silver picture frame, a cut crystal bud vase, or a beautiful clock are objects that can fit into almost any home. For an extra touch, fill the frame with a personal photo, place a rose in the bud vase, or engrave the object with the move-in date. Another idea is a gift basket...Choose a theme appropriate for your recipients and have fun putting together something creative. Just choose a themed container, several appropriate pieces to place inside, and tie it all up in cellophane and a pretty bow. Use package shred or crinkled tissue to cushion the items if necessary. Here are a few ideas:

~Gardening Bucket with garden tools, gloves, seeds, pruners, and gardening magazines
~Just Add Water with a vase, stem cutters, floral design book, and a big bunch of fresh flowers
~Starter Tool Box with tape measure, hammer, screwdriver, pliers, and assorted nails

~Lisa

If you know this person pretty well and they are just starting out, I'd get an assortment of kitchen stuff and pack it nicely in something reusable such as a pretty wastepaper basket. Items I'd include:

-plastic wrap
-ziploc storage containers
-non stick foil
-glad press and seal wrap(it rocks!)
-assorted sizes of storage/freezer bags

These are things that you use just about everyday but don't realize you don't have until you go to reach for them. And the best part is they can be had very cheaply if you use coupons.


Another cute, easy and cheap idea is to make a "cake" out of dish towels/dish rags. Find out what color the kitchen is then pick up dishtowels and cloths in that color. Fold the towels in thirds lengthwise and roll them up tightly from one end(you may need to pin more than one towel together at the end to make the cake layers as big as you want)and use a straight pin in the end to hold it together. Then do the same thing with the dishrags to make the second tier of the cake. You can vary the size of the cake based on how many towels you want to use. One you have the tiers stacked up you can decorate the cake with magnets, artificial flowers, little gadgets, etc. Stick it on one of those plastic platters that looks like glass and its good to go. Cheap, easy and gets rave reviews.

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Jesus SAVES by shopping smartly and using double coupons!

I think a pretty platter is always nice. Can never have too many platters. Or, if you live near a Williams-Sonoma they have some dish detergent with wonderful scents and some other cleaners. Plus fun pink and colored sponges that puff up in water. I think they are fun gifts because you might not buy them for yourself. But a friend of mine said she wouldn't like getting cleaning supplies. But I would love them.

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Raising my baby RIGHT!!!!!!

All the cool babies are wearing cloth!

I love the above idea from targetgirl-

or maybe an assortment of spices- if she likes to cook- or a gc to a local grocery store to restock her pantry?

Trader Joes is a nice place to do a GC if you have one locally.

cj/

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

How about going to the thrift stoe and picking up some cookbooks or go on freecycle and find some. How about a magazine subscription to something she liks. I jsut bought Architectural Digest for a friend for $6/year. She happened to tell me she would love to get tha magazine and one of these boards had a link to some cheap subscriptions. Summer stuff is clearancing out. Go to one of the big department stores and look what they have. I just bought my stepson (who is house hunting) some really nice wine glasses for 75% off with an additional 30% off at Macy's.

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Lyn Clarke

What about address labels with the new address or a stamp, if you have time to order? Maybe some notecards to go along.

cj/

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

We were given a subscription to the local paper - which we LOVED and continue to enjoy.