How to Disguise a Cheap Gift

Desember 14, 2015

Oh, c'mon, we've all done it. (At least I hope I'm not the only one.) You find a bargain and pray the price tag comes off cleanly so you can pass it off as a gift that costs more than it actually did. I, personally, don't think you should have to go broke at Christmastime. Like most households, our family has to stick to a budget, and that means being a little creative sometimes, whether it's by giving handmade items, or shopping sales. If you put thought into choosing the gift, of course, and give a little extra effort in its presentation, it doesn't matter how much you spend. Here are some ways to disguise an inexpensive gift:

Give Thought to the Gift Wrap--Don't just use some cheap wrapping paper and slap a pre-made bow on the thing. Try one of these gift wrap ideas instead for a more heartfelt way to present your gift. And for heaven's sakes, remove the price tag. No one needs to know you found that perfect item for $3.97 on clearance at Target. For price tags stuck on glass, use a cotton ball and a little fingernail polish remover to help with sticky residue.

Tie on an Embellishment--Tie something extra onto the package that complements your gift. For example, if you give something related to baking, tie on a cookie cutter, a colored spatula, or a handwritten family recipe. Find a deal on a great scarf? Print out a diagram of ways to wear it on a pretty gift tag. How about including a gift certificate for a small bouquet from a local florist with that great vase you found on sale? You get the idea.

Buy in Bulk--Buy one package of something and separate the elements into gifts for several people. For instance, a set of 4 coffee mugs can be split into groups of 2 or 4 to make coffee-lovers' baskets for a few people on your list.

Make It Yourself--It's almost always cheaper to make a gift yourself, but the trick is to make sure your gift doesn't look homemade. Check out these handmade gifts that look expensive.

Personalize It--Putting monograms, meaningful quotations, or photos on a gift always makes it more heartfelt. Etsy has lots of downloadable art you can personalize, or if you can sew, consider embroidering a monogram on an inexpensive item, such as West Elm's throw. Another inexpensive idea is to make a photo book. A few Christmases ago, I made one using a ton of old black and white photos my Dad had in a box to put together a family tree for him in book-form.

Pick It with the Person In Mind--Show you really know and care about the person you're gifting by picking something especially for him/her. There's nothing wrong with one-size-fits-all gifts, especially if they're packaged with care, but choosing something that reflects the person's interests can go a long way. But this doesn't have to be expensive! For example, bundle up a bunch of travel guides from the used book store for the adventurer on your list; search eBay for gently-used CDs to round out a collection; or pick up a vintage but inexpensive bracelet from an antique store for the fashionista in your family.

Give a Nod to History--Speaking of vintage stuff, it's genuine, it looks expensive even though it often isn't, and it has that "cool" factor that new-in-the-box items just don't have. Don't forget to check out antique stores, thrift stores, and Etsy and eBay for items that have a little patina. For instance, my friend is recently into tea and was eyeing teacups and saucer sets while shopping the other day. I plan on checking out Etsy for a vintage set that matches her kitchen colors.

You've probably got the idea by now: the best way to disguise a cheap gift is with thoughtfulness! You don't have to spend a lot, but you should try to put a little effort into choosing and presenting your gifts.

Here are some other gift-related posts you might like: