I also write a blog on saving for college the site is http://www.giftingforcollege.com

Also, I REFUSE to knit gifts for people who are not either immediate family, or are themselves knitters.

/grinch

I have gone out and purchased numerous CDs based on really liking a song a friend put on a mixtape. Mixes are great publicity for artists. Incidentally, iTunes lets you make up to 7 copies of a any given playlist that contains purchased songs onto CDs. Apparently they don’t consider it stealing.

Some people are so totally conditioned to bow down to any perceived authority, regardless of its legitimacy. It’s pathetic.

To close, here’s a relevant quote from Cory Doctorow:

“People who study the habits of music-buyers have discovered something curious: the biggest pirates are also the biggest spenders. If you pirate music all night long, chances are you’re one of the few people left who also goes to the record store (remember those?) during the day. You probably go to concerts on the weekend, and you probably check music out of the library too. If you’re a member of the red-hot music-fan tribe, you do lots of everything that has to do with music, from singing in the shower to paying for black-market vinyl bootlegs of rare Eastern European covers of your favorite death-metal band.”

For the record, I am one of those people. I love, love, love music. I don’t download illegally, either. I buy music from iTunes or eMusic, or download it free from artist sites, or go to the record store (I went to Minneapolis’s great record store The Electric Fetus on Tuesday and plunked down over 30 bucks for the latest by R.E.M., LCD Soundsystem, and Vampire Weekend, as well as concert tickets to see Stereolab).

I don’t consider there to be anything remotely morally wrong with mixes.

I know that handmade gifts are not necessarily frugal, but I believe the point that Trent was trying to make is that handmade gifts are more thoughtful and meaningful than just picking something off the shelf. Being frugal is as much as being inventive and thinking creatively as it is about saving money. With that being said, if you’re going to give someone a handmade gift, you should always take the time to find out what their style is or what they like and what they don’t like.

I received two homemade gifts when I was married, from people who were friends of my in-laws and that I really didn’t know very well. (The in-laws asked us to invite them, these things happen.) I knew one gift was from a woman who prided herself on being cheap (not frugal) so that didn’t feel very thoughtful, more like a victory in cheapness for the other person. And it wasn’t something I used much. The other gift was a cross-stitched picture with our names on it. I appreciate the sentiment, but it isn’t the kind of thing I would hang up and I didn’t feel particularly attached to it because I hardly knew the person. My in-laws thought it was wonderful (because they knew the person) but it had little meaning for me.

I think decorative objects are risky gifts, unless you absolutely know the person’s style and likes. I’ve received homemade and store bought gifts that are very “Americana” in style which is the polar opposite from the colors and style in our home. But often this is what they like, which again, doesn’t come off as thoughtful.

The most thoughtful thing you can do, really, is to ask someone what they like or don’t like. Or what they would like-that shows you care. Assuming things, like that people who have a pet cat would like many cat oriented gifts (please, no!) is not likely to get you as far.

I think one of the best frugal things to do is a group gift, which stretches everyone’s dollars and is a thoughtful gift that the recipient would really love and use, but would be hard for just one person to buy.

My 7 y/o, who can sew a little, made two potholders into a little purse for one girl by sewing them together and adding a handle. Don’t get me wrong – - it looked like a 7 y/o made it, but it was the hit of the party, and all of the other moms oohed and ahhed over it, as did the birthday girl. It was the only handmade gift she received.

You stated: One of our closest friends is a great photographer who likes finding personally meaningful things for people, taking the photographs, framing them, and giving them as gifts. Could you give an example or two of such “personally meaningful” things to photograph?

A few years ago for my birthday I invited people to go out for beer, and said I didn’t want presents but would happily accept dinner invitations for home-made meals. It was great – my birthday lasted for months and I got to share home-made meals with several people I didn’t usually get to spend time with.

Finally, I have friends who have had a baby and don’t have local family. We’re pretty friendly but I don’t think they’d be comfortable asking for babysitting from me, but I think that if I make them a certificate they’ll cash it. I think it emphasizes that my offers are sincere and gives them a way to take me up on it. I’ll try it and we’ll see!

The bereaved lady approached me several months later and mentioned that she had burned candles twice daily for months, several times over the grave. She had remembered my kindness each time.

I’ve used them for weddings, and housewarmings and birthdays. It’s a relaxing hobby that gives.

You can use certain websites now to “create your own cd.” You pay 99cents per song (or something) and they will send you a cd. I agree that you shouldn’t make a mixed tape on your own, but there are legal ways to create a mixed tape if you know someone who would really appreciate it.

I purchase gifts for her now. Taking the time and effort to make something for people who don’t appreciate it is not worth my time anymore.

I consider mix tapes stolen property. I just got two mix CDs for a birthday gift.

I think it’s ok to SAMPLE the music on them — but not OWN them. I did not pay for that right.

I will listen to them one time, make note of any music I like, then throw them away.

I am always surprised that people don’t see mixed tapes/cds as stealing.

I completely disagree with the frugality of sewing/knitting/crafting gifts.