Are you wondering what to give that special girl for her upcoming birthday? Well, do not worry, dear reader, for you are not alone in your quest to please your lovely lady. If you have a creative streak, why not put it to good use? If you go to your local find-it-all-in-one-place shop, or even if you have a warehouse store in town, the work is almost done for you; it really is that easy. In the home storage or décor section, find an attractive wicker or pretty wooden basket. There, you are nearly finished! Does she like bath products? Gourmet food and wine? A gift basket is tailor-made to the recipient and contains any amount of small or large items, so it is inherently budget-friendly. You can set your own limit yourself.
For example, some of my favorite birthday gifts or gift baskets to receive are bath products. So let’s set the example budget at $40.00. The basket itself will only knock about $8 to $10 off of that. Browsing up and down the aisles, pick up a pretty scented shower gel, a soothing lotion or crème, and some bath salts or bubbles for about three or four dollars each. Now we are only halfway through our budget, and already the basket looks great! A packet of face mask is usually only a dollar or so, and a fluffy bath pouf for about two bucks will round it out nicely. A thick washcloth from the towels department brings the total to still less than $30.
I would also suggest grabbing a scented candle or two. Do not skimp on these, as they top everything off so well and can mean the difference between a good bath experience and a great one. Practice your arrangement in the store before you check out, so that you will know whether it will fit or if you still have room for more. A good filler can likely be found in the craft or gift wrap section.
If your girl isn’t the bathing beauty type and fancies more along the lines of a gourmet, plenty of good snacks can be found within the same budget. Picture yourself filling up the perfect picnic basket for you and your sweetie to enjoy! Same budget, same idea: find a basket for $8-10. Grab a couple of cloth napkins, an inexpensive bottle of wine, and smoked Gouda. Find a small packet of whole wheat or water crackers, and you are nearly finished. Acrylic wine glasses are easily found in any outdoor or housewares section, and can be a good addition. Don’t forget the corkscrew! A waiter’s tool can be found for a few bucks as well. All of this, depending on how you select the wine, can still only add up to $35.00 or so.
Choosing the products in a gift basket can be a fantastic way to give your girl a romantic birthday gift that she will remember for years. Once you get the hang of it, you can create lovely arrangements in buckets for summer parties, mixing bowls for housewarming gifts, cigar boxes for groomsmen’s gifts… it is all up to you.