| In the current economic climate we are all looking | | | | 5. If you have a friend who loves takeouts, save |
| for ways to cut back on the outgoings whilst | | | | a whole bunch of deals that you get delivered in |
| trying to improve the incomings! Well with most | | | | the mail, cut out all the offers in the local papers, |
| people sending 30 gifts per annum and each of | | | | print out any deals that you can find on the |
| those gifts costing an average of $35 it means | | | | internet as well. Make sure they won't expire |
| that we are spending over $1,000 a year on this | | | | before the targeted Birthday! Try to get around |
| area of our budget alone. Imagine the difference it | | | | 50 to a 100. Make sure you have an extra large |
| would make if you could send half of those gifts | | | | Birthday card, write your message inside and |
| for free. This would leave you with either more | | | | pack with all the coupons and seal. When opened |
| money to spend on the other half or to save | | | | all the coupons will spill out creating a great |
| yourself a whopping $500 each year. Now that is | | | | surprise ... and I bet they will use some of the |
| a saving worth putting the effort in for. Below I | | | | coupons. |
| have listed 10 Birthday Gift Ideas that won't cost | | | | 6. Great sources for free gifts are the hundreds |
| you a cent. (I didn't include postage in the above | | | | of thousands of online competitions that you can |
| example as some of the 'Cost Nothing Gift Ideas' | | | | enter online. Even if you don't fancy the item |
| may incur postage if the recipient lives to far | | | | yourself I bet you will no somebody that would |
| away to personally deliver to) | | | | like it. They are free to enter and don't take that |
| 1. Find a good online e-card website and send | | | | long to do and even your return on entries is |
| them a really nice online card. Inside enter the | | | | 0.5%, you only need to enter a couple of hundred |
| following message 'For your gift this year, I have | | | | to get yourself a 'Cost Nothing Birthday Gift' |
| subscribed you to a Joke a Month service for the | | | | 7. Sign up online for free samples; you will be |
| entire year. Don't forget to check your emails on | | | | surprised what you can get. You could go for all |
| the 1st of each month!' Set a recurring reminder | | | | make up and pamper products. Maybe get |
| on your computer to let you know that you need | | | | yourself 10 to 15. Decorate a smallish cardboard |
| to email your joke. When you receive the | | | | carton like a shoe box and place all of your |
| reminder, check all those emailed jokes you have | | | | freebie samples inside. Label the box with |
| received over the last month for a suitable one | | | | something like 'Chloe's Pamper Box' and hey |
| and send it on. Not only does this cost you | | | | presto you have a great 'Cost Nothing Birthday |
| nothing but you are also give the gift of laughter | | | | Present'. It also works well with a whole bunch of |
| which in my book is priceless. | | | | food samples that you can get from online |
| 2. If the live locally, why not organize a Birthday | | | | shopping malls and manufacturers, these make a |
| get together for them and a whole bunch of | | | | great mini food hamper. |
| friends at your place. You can set it up as a total | | | | 8. Look through your book collection for ones that |
| surprise without them knowing and then just | | | | you have read, but look like they have never |
| invite them round on the night using some excuse | | | | been opened. Alternatively check your DVD |
| such as 'I really need you to help me tune in my | | | | collection out for ones that show no signs of |
| TV set' or 'I have this strange damp patch in the | | | | having been previously watched. They are only |
| bathroom I would like your opinion on'. OK, so | | | | cluttering up the house, they make great gifts, |
| how are you going to do it for free? Easy, all you | | | | and again, they cost you nothing to pass on. |
| have to do is to be organized up front. Firstly you | | | | Works well with CD's to! |
| draw a list of nibbles up (max 20 items), then you | | | | 9. Check through all you digital photo's on the |
| invite 20 friends assigning a nibble for each of | | | | computer for pictures containing the Birthday boy |
| them to bring. Along with this the odd numbered | | | | or girl. Print them out and cut them into different |
| friends bring beer and the even numbered friends | | | | shapes. Collect some rusty colored dried leaves |
| bring wine. Pick a few of the extremely eager | | | | from the back yard and build a collage of the |
| friends to pop round early to help you decorate | | | | pictures framed with the dried leaves. Using |
| and now you have organized a great Birthday | | | | different colored pens add a witty or loving |
| bash that will be really appreciated and you | | | | caption to each of the pictures and you have |
| haven't had to dip into your wallet or purse once. | | | | yourself a great homemade gift (always worth |
| 3. Save all those unwanted Christmas presents | | | | extra points) that costs you nothing. |
| you receive. Place them in a strong cardboard | | | | 10. For loved ones you cant beat a really |
| carton and put them somewhere safe. Once | | | | meaningful and heart felt poem. It may take a bit |
| Christmas is over, take them out and assign each | | | | of time to put together and if you are struggling |
| one to your Birthday list for the year. You will be | | | | for ideas you can always have a check on the |
| surprised how many can be recycled. NOTE - | | | | internet for a little inspiration. You can put your |
| Make sure that you don't end up giving somebody | | | | poem straight inside the their Birthday card or |
| a present of the gift that they gave you for | | | | you could try it with a collage as in point 9 but |
| Christmas! | | | | maybe use rose petals instead of dried leaves |
| 4. When you are out shopping for yourself and | | | | (you would need to dry these out by pressing |
| you see something that you fancy buying but you | | | | them first our you will find they will go all brown |
| only need one and they are doing a 2 for the | | | | and yucky!) |
| price of one deal, have a quick mental scan down | | | | Well that's the lot; Even if you don't fancy any of |
| your Birthday list and see if there is anyone on | | | | the 10 'Cost You Nothing Birthday Gift Ideas' I |
| there that you could give the second item to. Not | | | | have suggested I hope that it has given you a |
| only do you get what you want but a friend or | | | | few ideas of your own to help with keeping the |
| relative also get a great gift that costs you | | | | outgoings down a little this year. |
| nothing. | | | | |