Martha, I like the first site. It has great info, thanks for sharing it.

Someone mentioned the movie basket but it's not one I would do for my husband's family. Those baskets would cost more than the ones I do as his family are major movie viewers with vast video collections. It would be hard for me to find cheaper movies they don't already have.

I was thinking of a "Bare Necessities" basket -- things you might use when naked, lol!  Soap, body wash, shampoo, maybe toothbrushes, toothpaste, TP.  The thought is to address the economic needs.  Of course, I realize some could go crazy and make risque baskets, but that wasn't the intent.  Soap, body wash, shampoo!  Remember, this is a family site and keep it clean -- soap, body wash, shampoo. 

Cute ideas!  I have been doing themed baskets/boxes/gifts for the past few years for my extended family members and friends . . . one per family type of thing.

I have done a movie one with a couple of bags of microwave popcorn, those theatre sized candy & a movie rental gift card.  Everyone loved those!

I've done sweets as well, and everyone seemed to like that pretty well though I had several people say I ruined their diets!

I have done cookie mix in a jar.

I did homemade bread with honey butter.

I also did soup mix one year with a bread mix on the side to make drop biscuits from.

This year, I am thinking about doing an italian food one (I think someone mentioned this one already!).  Am thinking about pasta, some marinated veggies, pasta sauce, focaccia bread mix, maybe a small wedge of parmesan, and maybe a dish towel if I can find them inexpensively to match.  Haven't fully decided but that one has been on my mind for the past few years so I may do it this year.

For me, these are fun to make and I am able to do a nice gift fairly inexpensively for family members and friends.  I usually make around 8-10 but I think this year it may be more like 12-15!

I'm getting excited for the holidays!

jennylyn:

one per family type of thing.

That's what I do. My husband has several nieces and nephews. Now that they are mostly all teens, it's hard to buy for them and keep it affordable. The baskets are fun and keep the cost down.

jennylyn:

This year, I am thinking about doing an italian food one

I posted that this is one idea I am considering for my parents. I am leaning heavily towards this one as I can slip the items into my regular grocery budget and buy something for it every week.

My Mother has gotten where she hates to cook and they are struggling to prepare meals that are good for my Father. I was thinking an Italian basket with prepared or easy to prepare foods would be appreciated by them.

• Spaghetti sauce- I was thinking a more expensive one than they usually get and maybe organic or the like so it's something new to try.
• Pasta- whole wheat.
• Ready made bread sticks, Dad doesn't eat the herbed kinds but Mom would love them.
• Mushrooms
• Olives
• Some organic or low salt canned veggies
• Biscotti
• Sugar free cookies for Dad
• Capuccino mix
• Chocolates, both regular and sugar free

I have done the movie basket for people at work etc. People you know but not well enough and you have to do secret santa.    Blockbusters here has  a microwave popcorn tub/basket.  kind of like the jiffy pop idea.   So that makes a perfect basket on its own.  I add as many pops/sodas (or packs of hot choc) as people in the house, candy and dvd that is good but older so it is cheaper.  It is a family I make it a cartoon or something.   I pick out something that works for the age group.

MarthaMFI:

and dvd that is good but older so it is cheaper

That's the trouble I would run into with giving a DVD as a gift. My husband's family are big movie watchers. They each have vast video collections and I have no idea what they already own.

This however is another great idea to consider for my oldest daughter. She loves movies and I know which she already has. Now I have to decide between a movie basket and a bath bliss one.

 another fun site-

http://www.angelfire.com/on2/SantaClaus/baskets.html

Brandy, do you have a movie store that sells the pre-viewed DVD's for a few bucks?  You could get your oldest a little stack if you could find them for cheap, maybe by your parents house, I think there is better shopping over there. 

latenightleader:

another fun site-

Thank you for that site! The cookie tin suggestion gave me a great scaled down idea for the gifts I have to mail. That would be cheaper and still a nice gift.

latenightleader:

Brandy, do you have a movie store that sells the pre-viewed DVD's for a few bucks?

Yep. There is a Movie Gallery store near my parents and we have Blockbusters near us. I think both have the previewed movies. Knowing what my daughter likes, actually wants and already has would make that one an easy gift and easy to actually buy too.

I bought my oldest dd movies like Legally Blond, Zoolander, etc. at the movie store for a few bucks.  I have bought kid ones like Toy Story 2, etc.  I think it is a bargain.  

How many gifts are you mailing this year?