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Creatively
Frugal
Hostess Gifts
Suppose you are invited to a friend’s home for dinner.
You may want to bring along some sort of gift to thank your host
for his or her hospitality. What kind of gift can you bring that
is thoughtful, easy on the budget, and since these invitations
can come up at the last minute, easy to put together when you
are short on time?
"I think I would make a loaf of
banana bread or zucchini bread to take to a hostess, If I had time to
go to a discount store, I would add a pretty dishtowel. What woman
doesn't like getting a new dishtowel? If you know her kitchen
colors, then it makes it all the better if she had a new towel to
match her kitchen!" ~ Debbie in IL
"I think you can't go wrong with wine or flowers. A few in
season flowers like tulips in the Spring are inexpensive and it's
all about the presentation. A florist can wrap them beautifully or
you can give flowers from your own garden and wrap them beautifully
yourself. We love some wine that is in the $10-$12 range and if you
consider how much you are getting by the glass, that's a great deal.
You can also make your own wine and labels and have some on hand. A
fruit tray is also a big hit in the summer." ~ Karen
"I regularly keep frozen breads
in my freezer for occasions where I have company. Sometimes I
have wrapped them in some nice paper and given them to a
hostess especially at the holidays. I have a friend who shops
the thrift stores and purchases simple glass vases and cuts flowers
from her garden for a thoughtful gift. I have also purchased
pretty mugs and filled them with teas, cocoa, coffee etc. I
think it is also important to send the host/hostess a card thanking
them for opening up their home." ~ Janice
"One of the most unique gift
ideas I ever witnessed was a Memory Jar. It was given to my wife by
her cousin one Christmas. It was so simple to make and very little
cost. She bought small mason jars for the local grocery, tied a tiny
ribbon around the lid and then comes the good part, she cut small
pieces of paper about 1" X 4" and wrote down all the
memories from there childhood on each one, filling the jar to the
top. This was perhaps the most meaningful gift my wife had ever
received, as they both sat laughing and crying, as all the scenes
came back to them one by one." ~ David
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"I live in Sweden where it is customary to bring a gift when invited
to a friend's house for dinner. Often people bring a bottle of wine or a
box of chocolates--which are both nice but can add up in costs if trying
to be frugal. Three things I have brought which have been appreciated are
the following: a mixed bouquet of flowers from my
garden, a loaf of zucchini or banana quick bread (for breakfast
tomorrow, I usually say), and homemade chocolate goodies. For the candy, I
melt a 200 gram bar of dark or white chocolate and add raisins, chopped
dried fruit, cereal or nuts. Then I place spoonfuls in mini-muffin cups or
on wax paper. After they harden, I can put them in a gift box or
bag." ~ BethAnne
Editor's Note: Thanks to these readers for taking time to share
their ideas!
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