Does the Amount you Spend on a Gift Matter?

Hip2Save may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you via trusted partners and affiliate links in this post. Prices and availability are accurate as of time posted. Read our full disclosure policy here.


I received this email from a reader:

“I have a question for you. I made a basket for all the moms in my life for Mother’s Day. I put some great stuff in there. Well, my husband’s mom asked me if I got my stuff with coupons. Because of course everyone knows how I love couponing. She didn’t ask in a bad way, but it kind of made me feel uncomfortable. Because I had gotten everything with coupons, I was able to give them 3 times more than I would have normally.

So, my question is, if you give a gift for the holidays to someone that knows you coupon and they ask or put you on the spot about it, how do you, or would you handle it? I have a million of the Glade oil candle burners and refills and thought they would make awesome gifts along with something else, but everyone knows I got them for free. While I love being frugal I don’t want to come off as cheap when I give gifts. But at the same time, like I said before, with my couponing I can give way more.”

After reading the email above, I definitely thought this would be a great topic to discuss.

My response to her email basically stated that is shouldn’t matter if you spend $50 or $2 or even get something free! The money that you put into a gift is NOT the important part–the thought is what counts! Plus, as most of you know, getting a great deal or snagging a FREE product does take time and energy. Way more time then going to a store and throwing a few random gifts in your shopping cart!

My opinion, as harsh as this may sound, is if people ever make you feel uncomfortable regarding this, then…well, I wouldn’t consider them “real” friends! We are all helping our families save money and learning how to stretch those hard earned dollars! There’s absolutely NOTHING wrong with that. In fact, other people should commend you for your efforts!

Being able to pay it forward with free or inexpensive products you receive is NOT something any of you should be embarrassed about. Be proud of the gifts you’re able to give–no matter what the cost!

What are your thoughts on this topic?
I’d love to hear and I’m sure others would too!

Join The Discussion

Comments 200

  1. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    I am still reading these comments, but I wanted to throw my 2 cents in here because this is something I have wondered myself… But I totally agree with Anon 1:28. I put time and effort into thinking about the people I love that I need to buy for, and what they might like. I think this should mean more to people than me just tossing a generic full price movie, or gift card, into my basket in a frenzy on Black Friday. Of course, nobody else in my family coupons like I do, so they are always amazed and impressed with my deals! My Mom was always a bargain shopper, so she’s proud that I am able to save what I do now 🙂 Thanks for this post, it was a great topic and very timely (for holiday shopping) too. I felt this way before, but I’m glad to know that everyone here agrees! Here, here to “It’s the THOUGHT that counts!” 😀

  2. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    To Michelle 1:49: I agree with your thinking.

    To those saying “screw you, you’re getting what I’ma sending and you’re rude because you even thought of asking how much is that gift. I’ma gonna be cheap so screw you” – well…you might want to reread your comment because you’re not being very polite yourself.

    To anon 2:30: I agree with your spreading the word – I like the idea of “year round gifting”.

  3. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    My reply would be, “Of course I used a coupon! I knew this would be a great gift for you!”

  4. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    Totally agreed! A true friend doesn’t care how much an item costs or where it was bought, etc. A true friend appreciates the thought without giving thought to $$.

  5. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    I would like if you posted gift basket examples.

    The most important things is if you think the person will like it. I understand some people don’t have a lot of money but find that cheap/free best gift for that person. Try to add something personalized with the candles or do a movie basket for the movie lover.

    Whether it is free or cheap is not the issue. It whether you are just giving something to someone to say you got them something without putting any thought into whether they will like it.

  6. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    Anon 1:28
    How long as I on your mind when you got those 50 Glade? Come on now, people, I’m sure you’re not all thinking that this razor will be for Suzie, Annie, and Beth as much as “If I buy 10 Glade, I will get $15 back in gift cards…a $24.95 profit after rebate!”

    Never realized gifting is such a touchy subject – I guess this is why we don’t exchange gifts with friends anymore…we just get together for a pot luck and bust out bottles of 2 buck chuck for kicks! Yee-HAW!

  7. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    Are people really gifting free sample items and travel sized items? I guess I could understand if they’re being given to easily amused kids, but for adults? Aren’t these tiny items kind of a nuisance unless you’re actually traveling?

  8. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    MY response: ABSOLUTELY! Isn’t it great that I took the the time to coupon and therefore was able to get you a better gift then I would have normally been able to do. Then smile real big. Hopefully she was just asking because she realized the gift you got would have been out of your budget and wanted to know how you did it.

  9. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    SHOW ME YOUR BASKETS PLEASE!

    I would love to see them & I agree with most on here- a personal touch makes all the difference between “you just threw some free crap in a basket” or “you really thought about what I like”.

  10. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    Finally, someone said it! People who have so many Glade tins that they need to unload them in bulk are probably motivated more by their compulsion to bargain shop rather than purely generosity of spirit. Hey, I’m a shopping junky, too! I get it! But give the tins and personal care articles away “just because,” not as gifts. Thanks, Anon 2:30!

  11. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    My gift test is … If I can’t wait for that person to open their gift from me – If I’m excited about it – then it’s a good gift.

    Some people are on budgets so if you can’t afford a great present how about writing that person a letter about how much they mean to you. That would be a nice addition to any basket of freebies.

    As long as you know your heart was in it then nothing else should matter.

  12. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    And if you are giving Tag readers this year, buy a couple *good,* classic books to go with it (i.e., not Po’s Tasty Adventure!). Otherwise this gift could be a burden to the recipient’s family.

    I can’t tell you how many “un-gifts” my child receives–those toys that you can get a great deal on the “starter” item but that require pricey upgrades or add-ons that the parents are stuck with. Usually, such toys are a waste of money, no matter what was paid for it. (Anyone want a TeleStory system still in its packaging, two years later? : ) The Tags are much better (especially the new ones that hold ten books), but if I didn’t know how to work deals to get the good books cheaply, it would go to the TeleStory graveyard, too.

  13. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    I completely agree and an happy to see this brought up. Unfortuately the one who does this to me is my own mother. She has in her head that if you got something for next to free, then it’s cheap. That coupons somehow make the item worse, even if it’s a top name brand. Don’t fully unterstand the mentality…

  14. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    I think it needs to look like a gift. Not like a discount bag. The kinds of things I’m going to put together use a lot of my freebies, but add in extras that make them cool. Like for a man who likes to grill out, a set of big oven mitts and grill tools, then fill out the basket with red hot sauce and seasoning packets. Or for my sister in law, I have an ultimate facial set that I got as part of an internet offer, and I’ll stick some lotions and stuff in the bag too. When I go to one holiday party, I’m going to have small gifts for everyone, but I’m planning to take a box of freebies too so people can just grab what they want or need.

    Someone gifted me a Clinique bag for my birthday, filled with goodies. I knew it was one of the free with purchase deals, but I loved it. I also love getting homemade cookies and candies. And I think candles are always a hit. I make my own candles, so if I’m gifting, then it will be my brand. But I like receiving candles, no matter what type. Even cheap candles are good for ambiance even if the scent isn’t strong enough.

  15. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    A yankee candle is one thing b/c of the high value, but a glade candle screams cheap. Giving a gift of shampoo and razors you got for free or super cheap is crossing the line from being frugal to being cheap. Giving these as a supplemental gift to something you already got, fine but not alone. I too a teacher…I would rather have a card from the child than another mug!!! (When I was a teacher I got a gift one Christmas from a student that was a Christmas decoration from Target- the box said made for Target. anyway the year these are in the store is also printed on the back and it was obviously purchased on clearance the year before. Now this is not thoughtful b/c they didnt even know me at this point and was just unloading something bought cheap…..

  16. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    First of all, that was very rude of the mother-in-law to ask that. Here are my personal coupon gift rules:

    Gifts for close friends, I just buy them more if I get stuff on the cheap. They do the same for me!

    Gifts for more random people (kids’ preschool friend b-day party that we don’t know well, for example), I will usually guage off how much the gift is worth, not how much I spent. I end up spending less this way.

    Most importantly, I don’t give people random stuff just because I had a coupon for it. I pick out the gift first and if I can get it cheaper with coupons, then great! But don’t give people random stuff they might not want just because you were able to get it free/cheap.

  17. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    I’m sorry I ever mentioned the travel soap and lotions. First of all they weren’t from budget hotels, they were from unique little Bed & Breakfasts in Europe, and secondly they were for 8 & 9 year old little girls. The packaging was trendy, and anything but generic, and as I previously mentioned just part of a fun smattering of little gifts wrapped into one. My post was only meant to be a suggestion of things to do with small little items.

  18. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    I make sure they KNOW that I got the items using coupons and that I likely did not pay anything at all for it. In fact, everyone asks me if I got the items I give them for free. It is a source of pride for me and I wear it proudly. i’m just smarter than they are:-)

  19. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    I think if they complain then they dont get anymore of my great finds.. I am able to give to more of my family and friends BECAUSE i find great deals or freebies.. I jsut sent my aunt the free edable fruit from being a fan on facebook.. I had the coupon but we have not got a stor nearby. BUT my aunt did and it was her birthday.. SHE HAD NO IDEA IT WAS FREE.. and LOVED it.. so I say give and if they say anything aobut the gift.. x them off your list for next year.. then watch what they say.. and tell them why…
    By the way my daughter and I have this friendly competition too when i get a deal I immedently call her and she does me.. its great to have fun saving and couponing…Happy Holidays to all..

  20. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    I think if they complain then they dont get anymore of my great finds.. I am able to give to more of my family and friends BECAUSE i find great deals or freebies.. I jsut sent my aunt the free edable fruit from being a fan on facebook.. I had the coupon but we have not got a stor nearby. BUT my aunt did and it was her birthday.. SHE HAD NO IDEA IT WAS FREE.. and LOVED it.. so I say give and if they say anything aobut the gift.. x them off your list for next year.. then watch what they say.. and tell them why…
    By the way my daughter and I have this friendly competition too when i get a deal I immedently call her and she does me.. its great to have fun saving and couponing…Happy Holidays to all..

  21. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    This is such an interesting topic and over 100 reponses so quickly! I was also thinking of giving gift baskets, but now I don’t think I will. I certainly don’t want someone to think that I am “trying to unload crap” or that I think they have “bad hygiene.” My brother has a new girlfriend (they are in the late 40s) and I really don’t know her and she and her 10 year old daughter will be coming over to the house with my brother for Christmas and I thought I’d give her a gift basket of lotions, candles, etc. but now I don’t think I will. Since I can’t really personalize her gift (I really don’t know her) I thought a number of candles and lotions would be something anyone would like…I don’t want her talking about me and my tacky gifts in the car on the way home. Anyone want some candles and lotions?

  22. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    I believe that if you are giving a gift you are giving it because you want to and it is coming from within your heart to give a gift. Regardless if you have gotted the items with coupons or not, it is the thought that counts. I give my daughters friends gift baskets/bags all the time and they love it. They also come to me when they need a gift and I let them go in my basement and pick out the items they want and when I tell the the price, the say wow, are you sure. I usually charge 50%-75% off retail prices.

    remember giving a gift is coming from within, its the thought that counts.

  23. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    If you have someone who you think will look down on your good deals give them a card that says “$XXX in supplies were donated to NAME OF CHARITY HERE in honor of you. Merry Christmas” and then donate your freebies to the charity instead of gifting them to that person.

    Besides all the charities that are getting tons of freebies I’ve been gifting my pastors and all the families in my homeschool co-op with freebies (anonymously, so don’t tell) all year. It’s so fun. Giving really is more fun then receiving. I love overhearing someone talk about this great gift they got that was just what they needed, but they don’t know where it came from.

    For those of you who wanted to see pictures of gift baskets I have a bunch on my blog yournewsfromtheinside.blogspot.com that you can look at under Coupon Basics.

  24. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    “If I received a basket of Glade, I would probably laugh knowing my friends are couponers, but also be a little galled knowing that they gave me a basket full of crap they’re trying to unload, while trying to score a free Wii for themselves. I know there’s a lot of work involved with getting these deals, but most of them are a result of our own compulsions to shop and the gloating of getting something for free.”

    THIS! 100x..THIS.

    and for everyone saying “i put a lot of time and effort into couponing..” please…enough already…this site and sites like it make it so easy its hardly work at all. its a fun hobby more than anything, and some people do have good hearts about it and put it to good use.

    I had enough 1.00 off 2 healthy harvest coupons paird with targets 1.00 special i have 10 boxes of pasta i got for 50c each i dumped in the st marys food box @ curves this morning. In went those dirt cheap boxes of cereal i bought in excess just because i could a couple months ago as well (2 $5.00 target cards worth) thats 10 free bucks i can pay on the wii game bill @ target after i work the buy 2 get 1 free/ 10.00 coupons at target..on the EXPENSIVE ones that my nephews actually WANT this weekend.

    you can be frugal, chariatable, and still give gifts this christmas that will actually be loved if you work it right.

    trust me, no one wants a basket full of GLADE. take the packaging off a votive or two as an accent in a gift box sure..but dont just toss them in a basket with a bow.

  25. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    A gift is just that- a gift… regardless of the amount spent! why pay full price when you don’t need to ? why spend money when you can get it FREE? the best part is- is passing the freebies and inexpensive items on to others instead of hoarding it all for ourselves. I LOVE GIVING STUFF AWAY- haha… and my bank account does not allow me to spoil others in the way I wish I could, so using coupons and deals is the BEST way.

  26. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    Jennifer K, I like your last paragraph.

    I think being “cheap” and being “frugal” are two entirely different mindsets. The cheap person is the one who could give more but chooses not to, because he is miserly. The frugal person spends wisely so he can give generously. For example, I know a man (no mention of names!)who makes a generous salary, but will give his son golf paraphernalia he won at golf tournaments with that particular golf course logo emblazoned on it for his birthday. I call that cheap. From the golf course to the closet shelf to the son. No thought whatsoever, and the son could care less. When I give a gift I like to think it will bring joy to the receipient, and most always it is something I would like to receive myself, whether it be large or small, expensive or inexpensive.

    To me it is commendable to be frugal, but stingy to be cheap.

  27. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    It surprises me how worked up people have gotten over this. I think you can choose to be offended or choose to let it go. Why let it ruin your day? I would just brush it off why waste your time feeling bad when you did nothing wrong. If you gave a gift you feel proud of there’s no reason to be ashamed and don’t allow someone to make you feel that way.

  28. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    “I’m sorry I ever mentioned the travel soap and lotions. First of all they weren’t from budget hotels, they were from unique little Bed & Breakfasts in Europe, and secondly they were for 8 & 9 year old little girls. The packaging was trendy, and anything but generic, and as I previously mentioned just part of a fun smattering of little gifts wrapped into one. My post was only meant to be a suggestion of things to do with small little items.”

    that is completely different …thats kinda cool. standard hotel fodder tho..ehh. i think that is the vision people get when first reading what you said.

  29. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    I think this is mostly a generational thing. Older people, like for instance my mother, always though it would make her look like she couldn’t to pay full price if she used coupons. She didn’t want to look like she wasn’t “rich” enough to buy what she wanted or needed. Silly? Yes, very much so.
    Stand tall, y’all, at least most of us aren’t losing our homes from overspending and NOT watching our budgets like some folks are. A friend of my daughter’s who is rumored to be rich, told my daughter and her other friends that if her parents don’t pay their mortgage in the next few days, they will lose their home. You can look rich, but be very poor. If you watch your pennies, you can build wealth over time. My family is doing great in this economy, but then, I have always been frugal with money.

  30. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    I hope your mother in law wasn’t trying to make you feel bad for putting together a frugal gift! If she was, shame on her. I taught my children to be frugal and am nothing but proud when I see them making smart decisions with their money. A gift is a gift, regardless of what you paid (or didn’t pay) for it. She still got the benefit of the gift and your thoughtfulness.

  31. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    I don’t always take advantage of the deals I see on this site because I don’t always have the coupons, I’m just beginning couponing. But I do get a lot of stuff free with the deals that I do and the freebies in the mail. I don’t have a lot of money this year for Christmas so I am going to make my nieces gift baskets with the full size freebies I’ve been able to snag with coupons. They’ll probably know that it’s all free stuff but it’s stuff they use and will really love so I know they’ll be happy with my “freebies” gift basket.

  32. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    ok, here’s my 2 cents……I am so tired of seeing people spending thousands of dollars on Christmas gifts. That’s what wrong with our children these days….they feel entitled….they don’t understand they value of money or what it takes to earn it. When I was a sales manager all the 20-30 year olds couldn’t understand why they weren’t getting promoted. Why they’d been at the company for 5 years, they thought that should be enough. Hard work, tops sales and pride didn’t even come into their thoughts. Playing on the computer and personal calls was a daily challege. Sorry, on a tangent. These things are not FREE…..our time and energy were put into them. It takes me hours each week to plan and organize my shopping.

    I am also guilty of spending too much money and giving my kids everything but this is going to change. I WOULD LOVE ANY OF THESE GIFTS THAT WERE FREE OR REALLY CHEAP. I don’t have to coupon or work, I am fortunate but I like to and it gives me a sense of accomplishment. I have 3 neices (24, 20 and 15) and one of their gifts (cheap of course) will be a cosmetic style bag with sample items (free or cheap) to throw in their bags for an overnight stays. Things like shampoo samples, clean and clear freebees, toothbrush….and so on. Who couldn’t use that. My goal is to have all my shopping done by Thanksgiving so I can enjoy Christmas and the real meaning. And help others in need. I’m tired of running around trying to find the perfect gift only to spend too much money for a gift they won’t appreciate. I work hard for my deals.

  33. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    One year for Christmas my SIL gave me an glass bowl resembling a punch bowl with some very distinctive markings a ziploc bag of rocks and a single floating candle. What she failed to do was hide the matching glass set in her hutch. I’ll take the Glade candles! Please!

  34. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    Anon – B&B travel soaps and lotions – that’s a great idea and I would love them……. Girls big and small love those things……Do you know how much people pay for those lotions and soaps from Europe? GREAT IDEA

  35. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    As long as the gift is personalized, I see no problem with using coupons. I’ll get my friends a couple little freebees, but they are only little additions to their main gift. I only get them fun items like candles as extras, not things like free toothpaste or razors (they would look at me like I was crazy if I did that). My husband’s stepmom clearly puts no thought into her gifts for me, and it’s so obvious that she just grabs random things. I eat organic and use only natural body products, but yet I get junky snacks and cheap lotions. I would so much rather that she spend those few dollars on a burts bees lip balm or some other small item that I like, instead of a bunch of junk that I’ll just throw out or donate.

  36. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    I like to put together R&R/spa baskets. They include a large candle, homemade bath salts and sugar scrubs stored in mason jars, a gel eye mask, a loofah, massage oil, body lotion, slippers, and a bar or box of chocolates. Sometimes I’ll even make a CD of relaxing songs. I make sure to color-coordinate everything and wrap it up nice so it ends up looking super expensive and professional. I can put together one of these baskets for around $5-10. Holidays can be extremely stressful, so lots of people appreciate this kind of gift!

  37. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    1st of all I would say that if I give someone something that would have cost $20 without a coupon but I managed to get it for less does it mean less than the person who gives the same gift but (foolishly) spent the full $20? No, I don’t think so. If someone gave me something they got a great deal on then I’m happy and proud of them! My 2nd opinion on this is what about a homemade gift. A friend of mine cross stitched my son’s name and framed it for my baby shower gift. It means WAY more to me than the clothes he has already outgrown. Not that they didn’t mean anything but she spent her TIME on that gift and we spend our TIME couponing. I guess that maybe people who don’t coupon don’t realize the effort it takes. I too worry about coming off as cheap vs. frugal since everyone knows I only buy sales/clearance/coupon items! But my husband and I also work very hard to make sure our guests are always welcome, comfortable and have anything and everything they could need or want while staying with us. The couponing/sales shopping is what allows us to do that!

  38. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    I say don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.

  39. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    I have put a lot of thought into my Christmas baskets for my family members. (These will be going to: my parents, grandparents, in laws, aunt/uncle, sister in law, brother/sister in law.) I asked for everyone’s favorite brands/scents and filled their baskets accordingly. For instance, in one basket I have: Cascade dishwasher detergent, Schick razors (men and women), Softsoap body wash, Blade body wash, All laundry detergent, Snuggle fabric softener, 2 Colgate toothbrushes, Colgate toothpaste, Renuzit air freshener, Air Wick I-motion air freshener, Softsoap Ensembles pump with 2 refills, Glade soy candle, Mr. Clean magic erasers, Tag body spray, Herbal Essences shampoo/conditioner, Blade shampoo, Dawn dish liquid, Nature’s Source all purpose cleaner, Glade scented oil tins and refills, Vaseline lotion, Dove deodorant, Old Spice deodorant, Febreze Noticeables, Glade Plug Ins, Swiffer Duster, Swiffer starter kit, Febreze Fabric refresher, Rimmel eye shadow, Almay mascara, and some Purina dog food-so the puppy doesn’t feel left out. 🙂 I have gotten pretty much everything with a coupon and have gotten a lot of good deals, but I’ve still put a lot of time and money in. I will be able to give my family at least $200 worth of things that they would otherwise be spending their money on. I know they are excited to get them and so am I!

  40. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    im about to start throwing gum 😉

  41. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    I think it was Ann Landers who so wisely said “Why do you ask?” This response to someone will usually shut them up from further stupid questions, and it will get you out of answereing the question as well. Or you could just ask your mother in law if she buys her gifts on clearance/sales. Good luck. I think your gift giving basket was a good idea. Maybe leave her off the gift list this year.

  42. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    Give what another would like or need. If you are just trying to pass off Glade products (just for an example) to someone who doesn’t really want them or need them…then it wouldn’t be appreciated. I am a huge re-gifter and never see waste in anything I get. BUT, I always try to give the “second hand” gift to someone who would love it…or at least like it.

  43. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    There’s one in every family. Mine is my sister. Know matter what I buy for her, $100.00 dollars or $1.00 she’s never happy. Last year after the gift basket that I made for her, with all of her favorit things that I didn’t get with coupons she said “well .. I guess I can use that.” was the last straw.

    This year for her birthday, I made a big basket full of stuff and donated it to the Women’s Shelter. I included a self addressed birthday card for my sister, which ” Lucy” sent her. It was great!!!! All she said was Thank you to me and I plan on doing the same for christmas.

    Donate in their name!!!!!!!
    It’s the best way to pay it forward.

  44. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    It unbelievable how anyone can be so ungreatful for any gift. There are some many people who would give anything to get a gift basket like that. What it cost is no ones business. If you paid full price or not! My in-laws are a big family so everyone always buys the kids christmas gifts but the adults do a grab bag. I have been married for 10 years and my father-in-law past about 7 years ago and my mother-in-law always put a goodie basket on her list requesting thing like soap, shampoo, detergent etc.. these things can be very expensive and I personally think its a blessing to be able to pay it forward and share them with someone else. Even if I did use a coupon. Actually I’m proud to say I used a coupon because that means I’ve saved the person I’m gifting money and myself as money as well. I’d call that smart if you ask me!

  45. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    Ha! Complain and NO GIFT FOR YOU!

  46. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    I agree! It’s the thought that counts, not how much you spent.

    In the case with the MIL, I would have said that yes you did use coupons, but they got 3 times as much stuff than they would have, had you not used them.

    I try to only buy things if they are on sale and have a coupon. One thing I get caught up in is I have a $15 budget for that person and I’m able to get a $15 item for only $10, do I spend $5 more on something else?

    Saving that $5 here and there can go a long way!

  47. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    I can’t believe I read all of these! I love BECKY’s post. I would love to see some basket ideas, too. I have some pictures of baskets I’ve made (not necessarily from FREE products). BUT…it’s the thought that count.

    DH and I have lots of neices and nephews. This year, we’ve been pondering NOT getting any of them gifts this year.

    BUT…I’m encouraged to do ‘something’. Whether it’s free or not, it should NOT matter. We don’t make a big deal about Christmas gifts in our home; never have. Our children know the the true meaning of Christmas.

    So…with that said…thanks for starting this discussion. Since finding this site, I actually venture to Target.

    Speaking of Target, let me find that DVD Q:)

  48. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    I have the opposite feeling…sometimes I don’t want to come off as too generous…cause most people don’t really understand my good deals.

    For instance, I try to keep to 15 dollars for some of my friends kids for Christmas. But after the Target Toy Clearance in the summer, 15 dollars can go a long way. I worry that they will feel bad if they did not give as much to my girls.

    Am I making sense? And then I wonder if I should tell my friends not to worry because I got some great deals.

  49. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    I can’t believe you were asked that question! And from your Mom-in-law no less!! A gift basket is usually very expensive and you can get great stuff with coupons, which I am sure you did! Like people said, it takes a lot of time and organization to get stuff with coupons, so while you may not have paid so much cash for it, you paid for the products with your time! The thought is what counts, not how much cash you paid for it! Talk about looking a gift-horse in the mouth!

  50. Collin (Mrs. Hip)

    Who in their right mind, in this economy expects anything from anyone. Free or not….I am really surprised at the teacher comments…. I think the fact you get anything is amazing…..My husband lost his job after 23 years in July so I am a bit “peeved” by some of these comments…..

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

It's not your Grandma's coupon site!

Sign up for a Hip2Save account (it's free) to access all of the awesome features!

Forgot Password?

Don't have an account? Register

Forgot Password

Don't have an account? Register

Become a Hip2Save Insider

Don't Miss Out! Join our large community of insiders - it's totally free! Once you join, you'll be able to save & share your favorite deals, rate posts and recipes and add items to your HipList and Cookbook! What are ya waiting for?!



Already have an account? Login

Thank you for rating!

Would you also like to leave us a comment?