Discount Gift Ideas - Part II

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• For my older son whose friends have outgrown toys these days, I try to buy blocks of giftcards in varying denominations in advance. It's harder (though not impossible) to find gift cards on sale, but at least I save on my time, gas and wear and tear on my car by buying the cards in advance. Then when they get invited to a party, especially those that happen on short notice, I don't have to make a special trip to the store for one gift.
  
  
• For children's gifts, I try to stock up on perennial toy favorites like Lego sets, Bionicles and board games. I buy mostly boy type toys, but I always keep some gender neutral board games on hand in case one of my sons gets invited to a girl's birthday party. Before Christmas this year, Kaybee Toys had Lego on sale for about 33% off and then selected sets had an additional 25% off. After Christmas they were selling some popular board games for 80% off the original price. So I stocked up for the year on these gifts.
  
  
• In early December of each year, I take all of the discount toys l didn't use during the year and donate them to Toys for Tots for needy children. Then I start the cycle over again for the next year, buying gifts for the coming year with the pre- and post-Chistmas sales.
  
  
• I keep a supply of generic gifts in the house for when I need a gift on short notice. Picture frames, bottles of wine, general interest books, etc. all make good last minute gifts.
  
  
• For birthday and other special occasion cards, I usually just either use small gift tags or make cards on the computer using card making software. Some of my friends have their kids make handmade birthday cards for their friends, which is always cute (and frugal, too!)
  
  
• I keep a list of gifts I usually give each year and buy gifts as I see them during the year. I like to give books as gifts, so I always check out the sales at book stores like Barnes and Noble and Borders whenever I go to the stores. It's great when December rolls around and most of my holiday shopping has already been done.

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