Gifts on a Shoestring Budget

Oh, the holiday season with its myriad of gift-giving.  Often, shopping for the holidays requires sticking to a strict budget, which sometimes makes finding the right gift for someone even more of a challenge.  All the websites and magazines tell us to make our own gifts to cut down on costs, but there are plenty of us who don't have the skills to pull this off.  Sometimes going to a craft fair at your church or your school helps keep costs down while giving unique hand-crafted gifts. Ask around your circle of friends and family to find an event close to you. Also consider the Nob Hill Shop and Stroll on Saturday, December 8th and the Old Town Holiday Stroll on Friday, December 7th to support local merchants! You can also stop by the Friends for the Public Library Book Sale on Saturday, December 8th, the Main Library Bookstore and seek out inexpensive books for gift giving, or check out our Fiction-to-Go shelves at certain branch libraries.  If picking out a book for someone feels like a daunting task use our booklists to give you some ideas of what to get the bookworm in your life.

Of course, if you are the crafty type, the library carries plenty of books to help you out with ideas or instructions.  Search the subject Gifts in our catalog, or take a look at the short list below to get you started:

Creative and Thoughtful Gift Giving: Easy Ideas for Making Gifts Special by Leah Ingram

Shabby Chic: The Gift of Giving by Rachel Ashwell

Jazzy Jars by Marie Browning

Making Glorious Gifts from Your Garden by Marie Browning

Perfumes, Scented Gifts, and Other Fragrances: Beautiful Gifts to Give (Or Keep) by Kelly Reno

The Gift Basket Design Book: Everything You Need to Know to Create Beautiful, Professional-Looking Gift Baskets for All Occasions by Shirley George Frazier

Gifts with Heart: Inspiring Stories, Handmade Crafts, and One-of-a-Kind Ideas by Mary Beth Simmons


Sometimes gift wrapping and making cards can be fun, sometimes it can be a chore.  Here are some books that will give you some creative gift wrapping and card making ideas.  They are full of beautiful photographs which are fun to look at, even if the gift wrapping is more effort than it's worth.

Presentations: A Passion for Gift Wrapping by Carolyne Roehm

Creative Giftwraps: Ideas and Inspirations, Tips and Techniques by Constance E. Richards

Handmade Giftwrap, Bows, Cards, and Tags by Jill Williams Grover

100 Fresh and Fun Handmade Cards: Step-by-Step Instructions for 50 New Designs and 50 Amazing Alternatives by Kimber McGray

Artful Cards: 60 Fresh and Fabulous Designs by Katherine Duncan Aimone

Greeting Cards Galore by Mickey Baskett and Marci Donley