Gift Giving: Best Budget Friendly Gifts For Women

Most women love gifts. They love giving them, and they love receiving them. Many, if not most, also enjoy shopping for gifts, particularly the thrill of exhilaration upon finding just the right thing for the person they are shopping for. Finding that great things at a great price is even better.

Men, on the other hand, while they may enjoy the giving and the receiving, seem to consider shopping for anything other than their own new toy an exquisite form of torture. With a few exceptions (some guys do enjoy it), most want to get in and out of the store as quickly as possible, and with as little investment as necessary.

One thing both men and women have in common when shopping for gifts for women, is that when time and money are short, gift season can be particularly challenging. Below are some suggestions of the best budget-minded gifts you can by for women at the holidays or anytime.

Originally published to the Helium Celebrations channel in July of 2009.
(Also see Best Budget Friendly Gifts for Men)

Best Gifts for Women when You’re on a Budget

When the holiday season rolls around, buying Christmas gifts on a budget can be a daunting task if you have a long list of people to shop for. Giving someone a nice gift that will be appreciated doesn't have to break the bank, however. Savvy shoppers can score great items everyone will love and appreciate with just a little planning.

Buying gifts for women is easy because there are thousands and thousands of items available for suitable Christmas gifts and after all, it's the thought that counts. Soaps and personal care items are the top choice for most women. Presentation is also a plus so even a $1 token gift to a coworker or associate can seem more valuable dressed up in nice gift wrapping.

Bargain and discount stores are filled to the rafters with everything from candies to soaps to gift bags that take the pain out of your pocket and make gift giving affordable. The best way to give a nice gift without spending a lot of money is to assemble a group of small items in a gift bag that are useful to the recipient.

People receive a lot of gifts at holiday times and some are useful and appreciated while others merely add clutter to already overcrowded lives. To be sure your gift is in the latter category take a little time to think about the personality of the person receiving it as well as her hobbies and interests.

Most women are always in search of an emery board to tend to a snagged or broken nail or clear nail polish to stop a run in hosiery. Both of these items are cheap and can be combined for thoughtful gifts. Professional women will appreciate miniature lint rollers and stain removal pens in their gift packs, especially if they are mothers or pet owners.

The Dollar store is a great place to find stocking stuffer type items that can be grouped together to make nice little cheap Christmas gifts. Stores like Walmart, Kmart and Target offer a wide variety of low cost items in trial sizes such as facial treatments that can be bundled together or with other items. Also, these stores accept manufacturer's coupons which will help you save additional money on items like soaps and body wash when putting together a pampering package. If the items are also on sale you can purchase full sizes for the price of trial sizes.

Likewise taking your manufacturer's coupons to the drug store or supermarket is another way to save on personal care items that can be used to create nice but cheap Christmas gifts. Often times a coupon will require the purchase of more than one item. Normally this might discourage the purchase of the product but at holiday time it can work to your advantage especially if the item is on sale.

A great and cheap gift for a woman is a dollar store cosmetic bag filled with tissues, mints, a small mirror, lip balm, rain bonnet, trial sized lotion, etc. that she can carry around in her purse. These are things that all women have a regular use for and are often in need of.

Other cheap gifts to get for women are stationery, hobby supplies, journals, hair accessories, photo albums and frames, kitchen items, calendars and books. Discount and dollar stores have an abundance of these items and sometimes gift sets with multiple items such as bubble bath can be broken down into individual smaller gifts.

If you're crafty or good in the kitchen you can save a lot of money on gifts by making them yourself. Baked goods, soaps, candles, flavored oils and vinegars, candies, drawer sachets and other personal touch items are always appreciated just as much if not more than store bought gifts.