|
|
Talk It Out:
|
|
|
"I usually order fresh flowers with a $25 limit if these are
being sent long distance. If you are a attending a housewarming
party, then a fresh floral bouquet from the local grocery store with
in-season flowers is a great idea. If you can afford a vase then
arrange the flowers at home. Even a rose bud in a simple vase
in your friend's favorite color is always a treat! Another idea is an
aromatic candle that perhaps you have embellished with pressed
flowers." ~ Colleen in GA
|
| "Strawberry plants are always a good, easy-to-grow housewarming gift. They perpetuate themselves!" ~ Melissa |
|
"A great housewarming gift for a small family (1 or 2
folks) is a bread baked in a jar. When you are making a loaf of fruit
bread, double the recipe and bake several small loaves in pint-sized wide-mouthed jars that have been
greased (1 cup batter per jar). After you check them with a toothpick
for doneness after baking, wipe off the rims and place a new
wide-mouthed lid and band on the jar. The heat will seal the bread, |
|
"How about a plant? Plunk some cuttings in a bottle of water
until they grow roots (mint is always good for this, but there's plenty
of other herbs out there that will work just fine). Then go to Wal-mart,
buy a terra cotta pot and some pottery paint, and decorate. We use the
family's last name and the year they moved in. Plant with some
good potting soil, and presto! Housewarming gift for under $5 (in
most cases, depending on pot size)." ~ Emily
|
|
"I
bought a broom that stands about waist-high in a combination
dustpan/holder and tied a festive bow on the handle for a co-worker when
she moved into a new home. She said it’s her favorite thing -- she’s tall and doesn’t have to bend down to use it (although those
smaller brush-in-a-dustpans you have to squat down to use do come in
handy, too!). The idea came to me because I got one for myself
first, and it’s one of the handiest things in the house. For
another co-worker, we all chipped in for a money 'tree,' buying a
bush they could plant and tying the remaining cash to it. We also
bought a tree for a new homeowner, because we knew their landscaping
needs or plans. Of course, gift certificates to the chain stores
for home hardware/ supplies/decorating are always useful and appreciated,
especially if accompanied by an item the person needed or wanted in
addition to the gift card for future use. With a budget in mind,
offering to clean or help pack or unpack are great ideas. Once I
took takeout chicken and all the trimmings to a family in the middle of
their move, but you could plan ahead and do a picnic cheaper yourself.
They were very appreciative, because they only had to stop long enough
to eat!" ~ Pamela |
| "I think a homemade loaf of bread or cookies is a wonderful gift however if I wanted to make it extra special. I would take a basket and put in some tomato sauce, pasta, some olive oil with 4 cloth napkins. This does not have to be super expensive. Another idea is to take a recipe box and have index cards and go to all the neighbors and have them put there favorite recipe in the box and present it. But what if they are single and not likely to cook a lot? I would probably bring a small bucket with some flower seeds and a garden shovel (that could easily be put together at any local dollar store!)" ~ Karen |
| "When we moved to a new subdivision, a neighbor we had not met yet brought us 'spoonbread' already mixed up ready to cook for supper and a written invitation to join the neighborhood watch. Lovely idea." ~ Diane |
|
"If you have a yard and some
plants/flowers then you can dig one up and put in a nice pot (that you
got at either a garage sale or at a discount plant holder store or on www.freecycle.org).
We have calla lilies in our yard and they are quite expensive so I just
dig one up and present it to a friend in a nice container as a gift."
~ Suzie
|
|
"A
great gift idea is to fill a mason jar with dry ingredients
for muffins, brownies or cookies. Decorate the lid and include the
recipe with instructions. You could also make interesting coffees, for
example, mocha coffee that can be made by adding cocoa, powdered
milk and sugar to regular ground coffee. Toss in a few interesting
tea cups and saucers from an antique store and you have a lovely
gift. Mismatched teacups can also be filled with chai teas,
healthy green teas or flavored instant coffee with biscotti sticks. Also
I've come across beautiful linens and damaged quilts that could be made
into table runners and napkins. Making
a door wreath can be inexpensive too." ~ MG
|
|
"Re
- economical housewarming gifts: 1) Fill a 3x5 card file box with copies of some of your best easy recipes. 2) Get a coupon sorter at the dollar store and fill it with coupons for things you know the new householder uses. 3) Several small or one medium easy-to-care-for houseplant(s). I start cuttings from my plants regularly, so I have one available for gifting. I keep my eye out for pretty pots whenever I visit a thrift store. 4) Take a picture of the new house and present it in a pretty frame. 5) Gift with the 'old world' presents of salt and bread (salt to give savor to the life there and bread so there will be no hunger in the house), but glam it up by giving the sea salt in a pretty bag and either home-baked bread or a gourmet loaf. 6) Present a pretty card with a note that says you have prayed every day for a month for the health and happiness you wish them in the new house -- and say the prayers." ~ Lou |
|
Editor's Note: Thanks to everyone who took the time to respond. |