Summer Gift Giving Guide

Summer is a great time for parties, and with all the invitations for birthdays, barbeques, weddings, baby showers, and themed summer parties, deciding on gifts can be hard if you’re on a tight budget.
Picking the perfect gift starts with picking a gift. Grabbing a $25 gift card at Target is easy at the last minute, but it tells the receiver exactly how much you wanted to spend on them and didn’t have the time to pick out a personal gift. Getting a store gift card also limits the recipient to the store you chose to purchase it from.
For birthday parties, personal gifts can literally be anything depending on the person’s age, gender, and preferences. For a friend that likes to decorate, head over to the home décor isle and pick out three candles of varying sizes that go well together with matching candle holders. Target.com has a great selection of single candles and candle gift sets that aren’t available in stores for less than $20.
Barbeque hostess gifts are especially easy; just call the hostess to let her know you’re attending and ask if there is anything you can bring. If you aren’t too keen on being volunteered for anything, suggest to the hostess that you can bring baked beans or corn-on-the-cob. Vegetables usually get forgotten on the food list, and she will be thankful for your thoughtfulness. Baked beans come in a variety of styles including a new “Grillin’ Beans” line by BUSH’S that can be found with the other canned beans. If you aren’t much of a cook, ask if you can bring chips, drinks, or ice.
Weddings and baby shower gifts can be purchased from registries if the couple made them. Registries tend to have items from a wide price range that should fit your budget. If the couple made a registry and you can’t afford anything on the list, try teaming up with someone else on the guest list to make a purchase together or purchase something the couple will need. For baby showers, you can pick up extra diapers or baby wipes; these are items the couple will need to buy no matter how many they receive at the shower. For weddings you can give the couple cash and it will be greatly appreciated because of any leftover wedding expenses or travel money needed for a honeymoon.
Summer party gifts can be the same as barbeque gifts, but can also include bringing things for activities like a volley ball and a volley ball net or a fun game like Mad Gab.
So get into giving, and don't forget to be fabulous!