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Gifts for different occasions can add up to lots of dollars spent. Gift baskets you put together yourself are a fantastic cost cutting alternative. Recipients are likely to enjoy them, as the contents were selected specifically for them. Commercial gift baskets can cost quite a bit, but a homemade frugal version is easy to do.

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Baskets are something people tend not to throw away. This makes finding them at reasonable prices quite easy. Check yard sales in the summer and you're sure to find them aplenty - at very low cost. Inspect them for damage and take only the best ones. Another place to look is the local thrift shop or Goodwill. They will sometimes have nice ones for just a few dollars. Dollar stores carry smaller or less sturdy ones, but they could be sufficient depending on the use. And don't forget to ask around. Lots of people are packrats and have them cluttering up space. Often people are quite happy to give them away just to get rid of them. Don't forget - they don't have to be a basket either. Any kind of container appropriate to the theme will work. A small trash can with dorm supplies for the college bound, a diaper pail with baby supplies for the mother-to-be, or a travel tote with small trial sizes for the frequent flier all work just as nicely as a woven basket.

As for contents - they can be from cheap to extravagant depending on who you're giving to and what the gift is for. There are lots of place to get good values for filling up a basket. You can use trial and travel sizes when making baskets containing lotions, soaps, etc. You can use cheaply purchased food items to create a nice basket with pasta and sauces, or snacks and candies. Dollar stores yield tons of things that can be put in baskets. Clearance bins at just about any store (especially office supply stores) can net some real finds! Another source of gift basket goodies are the free samples you get in the mail. As long as they are presentable save them up and be creative. You can get soaps, shampoos, lotions, perfumes, even food items as samples and freebies. It takes a bit of time to peruse the freebie boards, but if you're on a budget it can be worth it. Hand crafted items are also a nice addition and if you have a favorite hobby you likely have some small items laying around you could include as a special personal touch. Just set a limit on what you want to spend and see how creative you can be.

One of the most thoughtful wedding gifts I received was a hand made basket woven from thin branches, containing wine glasses wrapped in linen napkins. It was a simple but elegant gift. Recently when a co-worker was sick, we ordered a gift basket for him. We had them include his favorite lunch fixings - peanut butter and black raspberry jelly. They custom made it for him, but he made a special point of saying how thoughtful it was, and how much nicer than flowers or fruit. (Might I add, from the local floral and gift shop it was highly overpriced - a frugal one could have been made for a fraction of the cost!!)

You can stockpile items to have on hand when you find a good deal - then it's a simple matter of putting them together and you're good to go! Keep a list of people you know you will need gifts for, and also for some special occasions like weddings. Keep a storage bin to hold all your "filling" items, and a box or bin of "baskets" or other containers and you'll never have to make a trip to the store for an overpriced non-personal gift again.