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If you are a frugal gal, 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.

Although you may question some items on the list, remember, the frugal gal enjoys frugal things! She looks to get the best value for her money and this IS what makes her happy! It just makes sense that providing a practical frugal gift that may also save money, will make her 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…

Frugal Gift Basket Ideas

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

THE LAUNDRY GIFT BASKET

For the frugal gal who holds onto things until they fall apart (or even after they fall apart).

This is the gal who has a laundry basket held together with duct tape, tied together with string or rope, or repaired several times with other various ingenuis methods. Probability is, she 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 gal! If your frugal gal 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 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.

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.

THE CLEANING GIFT BASKET

The frugal gal makes her own cleaning solutions and is 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.

THE KITCHEN GIFT BASKET

The kitchen basket contents is limited only to your imagination! This is a great gift for anyone who loves to cook. Frugal gals know the importance of saving through cooking. If you’re a frugal gal 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:

1. Baker’s Basket: Fill a large mixing bowl or basket [she'll probably get more use out of the bowl ] 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.

2. Cooks Basket: Fill a large stock pot 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 strainer/s, 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 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.

THE FOOD GIFT BASKET

1. Frugal Food Basket: 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 an apron, or a gift card from your local grocery store.

2. Treat Gift Basket: Now this one is great to give the frugal gal food items that her budget, or frugal mind, just won’t allow. Even frugal gals 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.

3. Coffee or Tea Gift Basket: 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. The coffee basket will definitely be appreciate by the frugal gal 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 she loves. Include a permanent coffee filter to fit the brand of coffeemaker she uses to show you haven’t forgotten her practical side! You can easily adapt the contents to fit the tea lover instead. Top it off with a nice coffee cup.

THE GARDENER’S BASKET

The gardener’s basket is simple a collection of any supplies a home gardener might need; A garden knee pad, 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 GIFT BASKET

Fill a basket or sewing box with a variety of sewing notions. Include some decorative fabric or a collection of scrap fabrics; Sewing patterns or 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 frugal gals can make a curtain or pillow cover given simple instructions. Your frugal gal might be a mender or a seamstress. Choose your gift basket contents accordingly. Include such novelties as velcro, snaps, hemming tape (or fusion tape), iron on patches, as these will be handy for most frugal gals.

Now don’t worry frugal gals, 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 the frugal gal will love and appreciate the practical, useful, gift like no one else can, she is indeed a woman. So, if the notion strikes, you may certainly reward her with a luxury gift. The frugal gal will enjoy a luxurious treat that she would not normally consider for herself. For example, a trip to the salon for a professional manicure, pedicure, or hair style.

If you know your frugal gal has had her eye on an outfit, or other item, that she’s convinced she doesn’t need but secretly admires and wants, of course (if your budget allows) Get It For Her! Odds are she won’t buy it for herself and she will surely be happy to receive it as a gift. She’ll get to have something she wants but doesn’t actually need, and still remain faithful to her 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.

Cheryl Johnson is a mother of four helping herself and others become, and remain, debt free. Publisher of http://www.SimpleDebtFreeLiving.com – A self-help plan, ideas, and resources for household budgeting, debt elimination, and frugal living. Find more low cost gifts and tips to save money.

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We believe the top three things frugal living websites should have are: frugal living tips, information on the frugal living lifestyle, and personal finance help for both credit, debt, and savings.

Frugal living websites all contain frugal living tips.  If they don’t, they can hardly call themselves a frugal living website.  These steps should be real, helpful, adaptable, and should actually do a good job of saving money.  Including tips in many different aspects of living is ideal.

Frugal living websites should include information on the frugal living lifestyle.  That is to say, explain what it is to live frugally, attitudes and mindsets necessary to appreciate savings of more than spending, and many positive attributes that cannot be done with the normal commercial lifestyle.

Frugal living websites should also include information about personal finance.  The economy is suffering and people are racking up debt more than ever.  Learning to control spending, increase savings, and deal with any debt that occurs as an important part of living frugally.  While educating yourself on how to save 25 to 30% on your grocery bill will help keep you out of debt, knowing what to do with that savings to maximize its effectiveness is more important.

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Save your money and one day it'll return the favor.

People struggling in this tough economymay ask themselves, “Am I saving enough money for emergencies?” If you are unsure, or feel that you have no extra money to put in savings in case anything goes wrong, reevaluate your personal finances and tweak your budget to include more rainy day money.

Am I Saving Enough Money for Emergencies? – Read More Here

How much should you save for emergencies?

A general rule of thumb is to save 3 to 6 months worth of living expenses. This amount is most important in case of job layoff or illness. When you have this amount of money put aside, you can use it as well for incidental emergencies such as plumbing problems or car repairs. The money you take out for these things should be repaid to the account as quickly as possible.

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The most common thing that married couples complain about it money. And single people worry about finances as well. Still, adopting a completely frugal lifestyle is not as popular as you might think. The excuses people make to not be frugal range from convenience and quality to perceptions of societal acceptance. The following five excuses people make to not be frugal are common, and really quite silly if your goal is to spend less and save more.

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Freecycle – Giving and Receiving in the Community – Read More

Freecycle.org

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One of the best ways to save money around the house is to find creative ways to reuse items that would normally go in the trash. It is also good for the environment. Tuna lovers accumulate a large number of those short, round tuna fish cans. Usually, you would just throw them out or recycle them. But these tuna fish cans can lead to saving money. Below are three money saving things you can do with empty tuna fish cans.

Before you try any of these creative tuna fish can crafts, be sure to wash the can out thoroughly. If the can still smells fishy after a soap and water bath, use some lemon juice and baking soda to scrub them well. Also be careful about the potential for sharp edges where the can lid was removed. Sand these with a file to make them smooth.

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To make things easier on yourself consider the following top five tips for being frugal:

One — Don’t Buy Anything You Don’t Need

While everybody wants to splurge once in a while, not buying anything you don’t need is the most important step towards a frugal lifestyle. If you only want something, chances are you’ll want something different next week.

Two — Buy Stuff You Need at the Lowest Price Possible

Hunt for sales. Buy online only if this free shipping. Search for coupon codes or printable coupons on the Internet for everything you buy. Use discount cards. Combine these methods to increase your savings even more.

Three — Use the Stuff You Have until It Is Gone

Do not throw out the shampoo bottle because it takes too long for the shampoo to trickle down to the squirt end. And you will find another couple of ounces waiting to be used. Do not throw out the problems at the bottom of the cereal box. Sprinkle them on your cereal, or mix them into yogurt for extra Yum.

Four — Use Less of Everything

Just because laundry detergent says to use a full cap in a load doesn’t mean that three quarters of the cap would work any worse. You might be surprised at how little of detergents and soaps you need to use to get something just as clean. Reduce your closet of cleaning supplies to the very basics: bleach, white vinegar and baking soda.

Five — Use Everything More Than Once

Don’t throw out your junk mail. Use it to start a fire or as scrap paper for grocery lists. Don’t throw out food jars. Use them for storage for small items or to make your own salad dressings. Almost everything can be used more than once. Get creative. Avoid waste.

A little bit of money can change a lot.

Rising costs and shrinking salaries can cause fear in anyone.the possibility of not being able to pay your bills that do not only financially, but emotionally as well. However, an attitude adjustment can help you become more at ease with your financial situation. As long as you still have your job and it pays your bills well enough to get by all that is needed to truly prosper as an attitude adjustment.

Many people live paycheck to paycheck. While this keeps them afloat it does not let them get anywhere. Not having some money in a savings account for a rainy day is scary. Instead of living with the fear, or having increasing debt pile upon you as you use credit cards for day-to-day expenses, adopt the attitude that little bit can change a lot.

More people are looking for part-time jobs, second jobs to augment their income to deal with rising costs and debt. Lots of times the take-home pay from these part-time jobs is negligible. It also can affect family relationships and your health.

How can a little bit change a lot?

I am completely self-employed and work from home. I’m a great advocate of making money on the Internet.While there are many scams and ways to waste your money, there are also many ways to make a little extra everyday. People with full-time jobs probably would not like a second full-time job on the Internet, or the type of small online business that will use several hours a day to run. There are ways to make very small amounts of money on a regular basis. For some ideas go to Get Paid Lots.

Five dollars extra each day may not seem like a life-changing amount. It is only 435 extra each week or $1825 in the year. Can that amount of money change your life?

Attitude adjustment that has to be made is,”Yes it can!’

$35 in a week and payfor your Internet, your telephone bill over the course of a month, or add to your savings. Paying an extra $140 a month on a credit card bill can reduce the total amount of payment and the time it takes to pay your car off.

There’s a saying: if you pinch your pennies, the dollars will look after themselves. A little bit can change a lot. All it takes is an attitude adjustment.

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