With Christmas less than 3 weeks away, it’s a wise idea to start preparing your items for those health & beauty baskets you might be giving this holiday.
We aren’t big gift givers at the holidays ~ and that is truly because we consider the holidays a time to focus on family; but one thing we have always done in past years is Health & Beauty Baskets.
Gift Baskets have always been my favorite item to gift.. starting off friends and family with a really HUGE lot of items that will save them money in the new year is gratifying. Not to mention it allows me to coupon my way through the year for those free or cheap items, and it also allows me to pass on things that I may have gotten that I know I won’t use (obviously with others in mind).
Here are some tips for planning Health & Beauty Baskets at the holidays:
Sign up for Shop your Way Rewards
If you aren’t a member, it’s FREE to join. Shop your Way will often times send out FREE Points to Members… use those points to pick up little things you can give at the holidays or stuff in the gift baskets ~ ie. Slippers, Socks, Wash Cloths, etc.
Keep a Designated Space for your Couponed Items
If you DO plan on gifting things for Health & Beauty Baskets, keep a separate area in the house or garage for them ~ if you don’t, you’ll end up finding you items in other areas of the house – thanks to your spouse and teenagers.
I keep a few HUGE bins in the garage, and I have garage cabinets – ONE of those HUGE cabinets is dedicated to my stockpile and the kids have no idea where everything goes.
Pick up ALL those FREE or Cheap Items
Plan to pick up any or ALL of those items you can get your hands on that are cheap or FREE ~ Nail Polish, Hair Care, Tampons, Pads & more. Prepare your recipient to have a little of everything ~ then put yourself in THEIR shoes. What would YOU love to receive (if you didn’t coupon?)
Look for Containment Devices
This is the most creative part ~ finding a Gift Basket that will fit ALL those items can be a challenge! Try to find clearance totes, beach bags, cooler bags, or even picnic baskets.
Think about your recipient and what they like ~I am NOT a Target shopper but I do try to hit the Summer 70% clearance (and did yesterday) for totes – and found that HUGE Utility tote far above – for just $4.50.
For the Men, it’s a little more challenging! In the past I have used Car Wash Buckets from Dollar General (which have a Rope Handle). I have also used Cooler Totes (that they could take to a Game, or for lunch at work). This Cooler Tote was $3.49 at Target on the 70% Summer Clearance.
One year I even used Fabric Storage Bins which they could use in an organizer at home later on …
Sears ALSO has pretty nice Tool Totes (see HERE) that I used about 4 years ago – for both the men and women. Of course it was hard to fit in everything but we really had to smush stuff in there well.
The Target Dollar Spot is a great place to look if you want smaller baskets for coworkers and friends, or for teenage girls that you may gift to in your family.
Think About Filler Items
Take advantage of all those sales on items you see between now and Christmas on things you can use to FILL that basket up – ie. Slippers, Socks, Bath Accessories, even inexpensive sleepwear makes a GREAT filler.. or LOOK in your $.99 store, too!
Did you find a sale with FREE shipping online? Perhaps on Amazon? Find items on Amazon that take 3-4 weeks to ship? Shop AHEAD so they have ample time to get here.
It’ll more of a help than a hindrance to have a pile of items set aside that you can divvy up between gift baskets to add more jazz to the items you are gifting.
Clearance, Clearance, Clearance!
NOBODY Knows that you got items on clearance, unless you keep the sticker ON the item! That means take the next SIX MONTHS to scout EVERY clearance nook and cranny — including Target!
Your whole mindset should be thinking forward for all those items you can potentially use as gifts.
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