by Patricia Proctor

Created on: March 14, 2010   Last Updated: March 15, 2010

Dad's birthday is coming up, Mother's Day is right around the corner, and your best friend is getting married in a month. Unfortunately, that means a lot of gift giving all at once which can get pretty expensive. In this economy it is important to make your dollar stretch as far as it can, especially when it comes to gift giving. So go ahead and pull out the credit card, but before you go shopping remember these ideas on how to stretch your dollar.

Think homemade. Homemade gifts don't necessarily mean a necklace made of macaroni. Think bigger...there are all kinds of gifts that can be made at home and are perfect for any occasion. For Mother's Day fill a small, short sided flower pot with sand. Buy half shells from any hobby store and fill with wax and a wick or a votive. Place candle shells inside the flower pot and voila, you have a unique homemade gift that Mom will love.

Set a low spending limit and stay within that budget. Setting a low spending limit forces you to become creative with your gift ideas. Spending $150.00 on a gift that is not personal will not mean as much as a $20.00 gift that really fits the person's personality that you're shopping for.

Shop for ideas. A basket is always a great idea, but don't just settle for a store bought gift basket. Make your own! For a friend that is moving away, buy or make your own stationary, find a fun, unique pen – maybe one from somewhere you spent time together at, pre-address and stamp some envelopes, throw in a CD and a box of chocolates and you've got a perfect going away basket.

Shop from home. Remember that bread maker that you got for Christmas last year? The one that is still in the box in the closet? As long as the person who gave it to you is not the person you are giving the gift too – go ahead and re-gift. We all know the saying one man's junk is another man's treasure - just be sure to wipe the dust off before wrapping.

Do seek help from online gift sites. There are many sites available that can provide excellent ideas for every personality type and every hobby imaginable. These sites help you get started brainstorming for ideas.

Remember, the point of giving a gift is to make the recipient happy, not to spend a lot of money. No one but you will know how much you spend, so think quality instead of quantity.

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