Here are 10 great ideas for affordable housewarming gifts.
There can be no doubt that moving out of one home into another can be an extremely stressful time for anyone. Besides the obvious wear and tear associated with the physical move, there are also emotional ties to the old home to overcome and new social relationships to build in the new one. One of the best ways for new home owners or apartment dwellers to begin the process of building a new home for themselves is by giving a 'housewarming party'. Old friends and new acquaintances alike may stop by the new place for an informal get-together or a more formal tour and reception. Guests are usually expected to bring at least one gift that would be appropriate for a new house, such as decorations for the walls or a fruit basket. Some also purchase cards for the occasion, or contribute money to a special 'tree'. Whatever the level of formality, a small token of friendship is the proper thing to do. But what gift items should you consider if your budget is strained? All is not lost. Here are some practical gift ideas that should not cost over $10, and will be appreciated by new home owners everywhere.
1. Cleaning supplies and refills. At first, this may sound like a rather unimaginative gift idea, but presentation is the key. Fill a small metal bucket with sampler-sized cleaning aids and refills, then wrap the whole thing in cellophane with an appropriate ribbon and card. You might include a sponge, paper products, cutting board, Scotchguard, dish soap, hand cleanser or whatever else you can find in the cleaning aisle. You may find your best bargains at one of those 'it's all a dollar' type stores. Occasionally, you may find a small laundry basket that would be perfect for holding the other goodies. New home owners may not have had the time to unpack their own supplies, so such a cleaning care package may be the thing they need right away.
2. Kitchen gadgets. Many companies offer kitchen gadgets and aids that are reasonably priced. Salt and pepper shakers, vegetable peelers, nutcracking sets, knife sharpeners- all of these items can usually be found for under $10 in retail stores. You might also find discounted cookbooks or other kitchen-related books. Dishtowels, storage containers, casserole dishes, picnic baskets- these would all be appreciated by the house chef. You might consider baking a dozen cookies or a similar snack item and leaving the container as a gift. Decorative storage tins for dry goods can usually be found at a discount, and are very useful as well as ornamental.
3. Hooks, hangers, wires and nails. One challenge for the new home owner is to find places to rehang pictures and other objects from the old home. Some apartment dwellers may find that their new leases restrict the ways in which a picture can be hung on the wall. Instead of drilling a metal screw into the stud of a wall or pounding a nail into the drywall, they may be limited to such non-damaging methods as double-stick tape and putty. Home owners without such limitations may discover that they do not have the proper hangers for reinstallation. This could be a perfect gift opportunity if you are aware of their constraints. If you know the situation well enough to determine the proper way to go, you might consider purchasing nails, wire, hooks or hangers. Some non-intrusive hanging methods may include double-sided tape, specialized putty for picture hanging and wire stands. A good hardware store can supply you with specific ideas and supplies.
4. Gardening tools and supplies. If your friend's interests include gardening, you may want to consider getting some inexpensive gardening tools that could prove useful, such as trowels or weed removers. You could also provide assistance in a gardening-related service, like having lawn mower blades or a pair of hedge clippers sharpened. Seeds are also very inexpensive to obtain, and you could select colorful flower assortments or fruit and vegetable varieties. You could also find a book on gardening ideas or a coffee table book featuring gardens.
5. Magazines/Subscriptions. Although many magazine subscriptions will cost more than your $10 budget goal, they should pay for themselves in the long run. If you cannot afford a gift subscription to a magazine, see if there are more affordable newsletters on interesting topics. New homeowners may appreciate 'how-to' information or 'around the town' magazines geared towards newcomers. In addition, you may want to scour the local public information areas for free pamphlets that promote popular entertainment and cultural events.
6. Coupons for services. There is always a need for some sort of professional service when moving, so think ahead and collect coupons or gift certificates for places that provide such services. Dry-cleaning, locksmithing, shoe repairs, car servicing, auto detailing- all of these establishments should have at least one affordable service your friends could use. Also look into gift certificates from the best local restaurants, or a free drink at the local watering hole.
7. Personal services. If you have more time than money, you might consider offering a personal service as a 'gift'. Make out an official-looking voucher that will entitle the new homeowner to whatever service you can provide. If you can paint walls, offer your time and labor. New homeowners may also appreciate a free night of babysitting or an offer to housesit during a vacation. If you have the time and equipment, you could offer to mow their lawn or wash their car. You could also have an open-ended invitation for a home-cooked meal.
8. Host a 'movie night'. Movie rentals are relatively inexpensive, so select a movie or two and arrange a night of family fun. You might consider renting comedies that poke fun at the 'joys' of moving or buying a new home. Films such as Richard Pryor's 'Moving' or Tom Hank's 'The Money Pit' all deal with the unexpected and unpredictable aspects of buying a new home. Bring some popcorn and have some fun reliving memories of your own moving experiences.
9. Disposable cameras and film. One activity that almost every new homeowner enjoys is taking plenty of pictures. They may want to have snapshots of the old home to remember, or take pictures of the new place for relatives and friends to see. If you own a camera yourself, you could volunteer to document the party itself, or snap some pictures of the house or apartment. Disposable cameras are usually not expensive, so you could use one as a stop-gap present until your finances improve and you can afford a more expensive gift.
10. Frames and photo albums. You can never have enough picture frames or photo albums, so invest in a few as gifts. Many discount stores offer a variety of frames that will be suitable for any picture sizes. Photo albums can also be obtained fairly inexpensively, if you do some comparative shopping. Homeowners can start their own photo collections, such as 'Our First Apartment' or 'Our New Retirement Home'. You may also consider putting together a scrapbook of cherished items from the previous apartment or house, or even put together a 'gag gift' of candid shots and exaggerated comical moments associated with the moving process or any other 'disaster' that may have occurred. Create awards for 'Most Thumbs Hit by Hammers' or 'Most Likely to Need More Health Insurance'. Be creative and light-hearted when it comes to gag gifts.
