Question: What should I buy or make for birthday gifts for men as well as women?
I know this may sound rather odd, but I try to plan financially everything I do a year in advance in order to avoid any surprises in my checkbook.
Anyway, what should I buy or make for people this year for their birthdays? If possible, I want to give them a homemade gift. Any creative ideas for homemade birthday gifts?
Of course, if gifting homemade gifts is tasteless, I’m open to almost anything.
My best friend will turn 44 years old.
My brother and a friend will turn 55.
Important friends will turn 40, 41, and 43.
My boyfriend will turn 42.
A dear male friend who’s in prison will turn 33 years old
A brother will turn 50 and a sister will turn 45.
Daddy will turn 75.
My other friends will receive birthday cards.
Thank you in advance as I greatly appreciate your input and advice.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow, thats a lot of birthdays… I wouldnt know where to start with the whole home-made thing, but if you budget allows you can get some gift cards.
Wow, organization like that is amazing (if a little scary). Only you know your friends, and your talents (some people should never bake anything for anyone), so suggestions really might not be so good.
For those that like them, how about candles? They are easy to make, all you need is some wax (even from old candles), crayons for color, string (dipped in the hot wax, curled around a pencil on one end, weighted with a coin for the bottom of the candle), scent (or unscented – some people like candles but gag @ the smell), maybe one of their favorites (can get samples sometimes, but oils work best), and a quart or half gallon waxed paper juice or milk carton. This also should prob be done in one of those disposable foil pans.
Melt the wax, adding the crayons, scent (or not). Stir. Cut off the top of the carton where it starts to fold, so that you have just the square. Rest the pencil with the string (wick) on top (the weighted end should be at the bottom of the carton. Pour a little wax in to fix the wick in place in the center of the carton. Give it a little time to solidify (about 20 min-1/2 hr. Stick the whole thing in the fridge or freezer if you want to move it along more quickly).
Get some ice cubes from the tray and fill the carton with them. Stir the wax again (the wax should be hot enough to pour). Then pour it into the carton over the ice cubes. Let it cool & set (give it a couple hrs minimum, overnight is best, or do the fridge thing. You don’t want to stick this in the freezer or the water in the carton will re-ice). Peel away the carton.
The ice will have created pockets in the candle and it looks pretty cool, certainly not like a factory candle.
For your friend in prison, baked goods sound like the way to go, perhaps lots of cookies he can share. Or a cd?