Posted By ATLCheap on November 24, 2009

I’m putting the final touches on the gift guide’s restaurants & specific gift posts. But here’s Round 1—Your ideas for holiday gifts on the cheap:

• From Traci R.: Check the gift shops at area museums. Many don’t charge admission for you to browse in the store, and you’ll find great buys at the clearance table. If you’re a member, check to see if they’re offering an additional discount for members during the holidays. For instance, at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, members save 15%-20% off their purchase during the Member Holiday Sales, and the Garden is offering a 10% off to everyone (members or not) during the week before Christmas.
• From Nichole: And you can use sales & discount certificates to stretch your budget: For instance, Nichole uses Yankee Candle’s Buy 2 Get 2 Free sales to stock up on candles & then pairs one with another small item, like a picture frame or a bottle of wine, for a gift. And her brother & sister-in-law use their credit card reward points to buy holiday gifts.
• Also from Nichole: Take advantage of deals on sites like Groupon. Nichole buys the spa & mani/pedi deals and uses those as gifts. Know your audience on this one though: If you want to give the illusion that you spent more than you did, try a site like HalfOffDepot.com & opt for the plastic debit card deals when they’re available. HalfOffDepot.com’s paper certificates don’t indicate that you bought them from HalfOffDepot.com, but they’re not identical to those issued by restaurants and other merchants. In addition to restaurants, spas, & theatre tickets, you’ll sometimes find certificates to retailers on HalfOffDepot.com, too—the Atlanta site has certificates to Trendy Twin (and Kid) Shop.com & Beadazzles, so you can shop for personalized gift & hide your savings. FYI—You can get free shipping at HalfOffDepot.com with promo code “GIFTGUIDE09”. The deal is good through Dec. 12, 2009.
• From Kathy P.: Buy a box of individually wrapped gourmet hot cocoa mixes at Costco, mini bottles of liquor (such as peppermint schnapps, Irish cream or Amaretto), and mugs. Fill the mugs with a couple of packs of cocoa, a bottle of liquor & a few chocolates if you have a few on hand. Add a bow & you’re done.
• Also from Kathy P.: She’s a fan of brewery tours, and she has a few souvenir pint glasses on hand from previous tours. For a gift, she may give someone a gift certificate for a brewery tour & regift a pint glass as packaging.

–Jennifer Maciejewski

FYI–I’ve linked you to my Groupon kick-back page. Translation: If you buy a Groupon within 72 hours of clicking on the link, and it’s the first time you’ve bought a Groupon, I’ll receive a small credit toward a future Groupon. I tell you this because a) My site’s rules require it. and b) The FTC requires it of bloggers, though I think my site is technically exempt.

If you’re going to buy your first Groupon ever & feel like sending a little love my way, use the link. Otherwise, just go to Groupon.com. Thanks!

Tags: free shipping, gift guide, gift guide 2009, groupon, half off depot

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