Gifts in a basket usually look classy and expensive as long as you know how to be creative. At the end of the day, it's the thought that counts.
How?
First, get a small to medium-size wicker basket. You can easily buy wicker baskets at Chinatown near your place. It is usually cheap and looks great too. If you can't find one, settle for a small to medium-size plastic basket. Then, get some nice things to put into the basket. After that, wrap the gift with a soft transparent plastic (usually with some small flower prints) to make a gift hamper. Tie it with a ribbon and put a small inexpensive greeting card on it if you like.
Here are some budget great gift ideas for several occasions, using a gift basket:
Birthday
Buy some traveling-size toiletries such as soap, face wash, lotion, hand cream, manicure set, etc. to put into the basket. You can see the sample below, which I made for a friend of mine. It looks good even though the things in the basket are ordinary products, which I bought at the local store.
If your friend is a great fan of coffee or tea, you can put a nice mug in the gift basket with a small pack of coffee beans or a small pack of gourmet tealeaves. You can also add in a small pack of cookies or biscotti to complement this delicious treat.
Wedding or Anniversary
Get a set of nice bath towel for him and her. You can add some aromatherapy stuff like incense, candles, oil and potpourri. You can also add a small photo frame for the bedside table. Then, put all these things in the gift basket.
New born or Christening
You can buy baby clothes, milk bottle, bottle cleaning set, baby's toiletries or pacifier etc. Be creative when you arrange these things inside the basket.
Housewarming
Get a set of cooking gloves, apron, toaster cover, kettle cover and arrange these nicely in the gift basket. If you find all these household things boring, you can make your own pickles, jam, cookies or cake and pack them nicely in a container or jar. Put these into the gift basket.
Christmas
You can buy photo frames, stationeries set, notebook or CD's, etc to be put in your gift basket.
Visiting sick people
Get some nice fresh fruits at the local market. Be creative to mix the fruits of different colors. You can get some red apples, green grapes, yellow Indian mangoes, oranges and arrange them nicely in the basket before you wrap them up.
Be smart and be creative. Your gifts might be cheap but they are all pretty useful if you think about it. Perhaps these gift ideas might come in handy and help you save your money too.
