Comments on: Thoughtful…or cheap? http://quarterlifefinances.wordpress.com/2008/08/20/thoughtfulor-cheap/ I'm just a girl in the world, avoiding a Quarterlife Crisis by taking charge of my life and my finances! Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:28:59 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Fabulously Broke http://quarterlifefinances.wordpress.com/2008/08/20/thoughtfulor-cheap/#comment-937 Fabulously Broke Sat, 30 Aug 2008 23:52:21 +0000 http://quarterlifefinances.wordpress.com/?p=386#comment-937 Thoughtful. Takes more work, love and effort to make something than it does to buy. But if it's a laptop :P... Not so hot to give a piece of paper with the laptop ad on it LOL! Thoughtful.

Takes more work, love and effort to make something than it does to buy.

But if it’s a laptop :P … Not so hot to give a piece of paper with the laptop ad on it LOL!

]]> By: quarterlifegirl http://quarterlifefinances.wordpress.com/2008/08/20/thoughtfulor-cheap/#comment-898 quarterlifegirl Sat, 23 Aug 2008 01:57:14 +0000 http://quarterlifefinances.wordpress.com/?p=386#comment-898 Good point...I made the mistake of telling my boyfriend how I made my Kahlua Ice cream dessert, and now he has no appreciation for it!! lol. I'll be sure to keep my recipes a secret from here on out! Hmm....cranberry pistachio sounds good, I'm looking it up as I type! Good point…I made the mistake of telling my boyfriend how I made my Kahlua Ice cream dessert, and now he has no appreciation for it!! lol. I’ll be sure to keep my recipes a secret from here on out! Hmm….cranberry pistachio sounds good, I’m looking it up as I type!

]]> By: Shannalee http://quarterlifefinances.wordpress.com/2008/08/20/thoughtfulor-cheap/#comment-897 Shannalee Sat, 23 Aug 2008 01:28:08 +0000 http://quarterlifefinances.wordpress.com/?p=386#comment-897 I just read an article--somewhere like Bon Appetit? Gourmet?--that tells the story of some English toffee a man used to give as Christmas presents, and people *loved* it. The trick, according to the article is to never share your recipe (or people won't value the food as much). There was a great recipe for cranberry-pistachio biscotti, which apparently looks very festive with red and green. I just read an article–somewhere like Bon Appetit? Gourmet?–that tells the story of some English toffee a man used to give as Christmas presents, and people *loved* it. The trick, according to the article is to never share your recipe (or people won’t value the food as much). There was a great recipe for cranberry-pistachio biscotti, which apparently looks very festive with red and green.

]]> By: quarterlifegirl http://quarterlifefinances.wordpress.com/2008/08/20/thoughtfulor-cheap/#comment-893 quarterlifegirl Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:39:21 +0000 http://quarterlifefinances.wordpress.com/?p=386#comment-893 Oh, and as for the "homemade" gifts I was thinking of making...I had vintage-style aprons in mind for a few of the older girl cousins, and maybe some handbags for the little girls. (I gotta learn to sew first though, lol) Oh, and as for the “homemade” gifts I was thinking of making…I had vintage-style aprons in mind for a few of the older girl cousins, and maybe some handbags for the little girls. (I gotta learn to sew first though, lol)

]]> By: quarterlifegirl http://quarterlifefinances.wordpress.com/2008/08/20/thoughtfulor-cheap/#comment-892 quarterlifegirl Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:38:19 +0000 http://quarterlifefinances.wordpress.com/?p=386#comment-892 Good tips. Thats why I wanted to get thinking on this now so that they don't end up ugly or half-assed. My BF is going to be real happy....I'm going to have to practice a lot! (Mmm...peanut brittle, peppermint bark, truffles, and biscotti...I'm getting hungry!) Good tips. Thats why I wanted to get thinking on this now so that they don’t end up ugly or half-assed. My BF is going to be real happy….I’m going to have to practice a lot!

(Mmm…peanut brittle, peppermint bark, truffles, and biscotti…I’m getting hungry!)

]]> By: L@spillingbuckets http://quarterlifefinances.wordpress.com/2008/08/20/thoughtfulor-cheap/#comment-889 L@spillingbuckets Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:16:10 +0000 http://quarterlifefinances.wordpress.com/?p=386#comment-889 As long as the homemade gifts don't look shoddy or rushed I find people really love them. I've never had a negative experience, usually it's the opposite - "wow, you must have spent so much time on these, they look great" - just make sure you try to make them look as professional as possible. As for ideas... I've been meaning to try these for a while (but just haven't gotten around to it) I love choc. mint candy: http://www.recipezaar.com/4075 As long as the homemade gifts don’t look shoddy or rushed I find people really love them. I’ve never had a negative experience, usually it’s the opposite – “wow, you must have spent so much time on these, they look great” – just make sure you try to make them look as professional as possible.

As for ideas… I’ve been meaning to try these for a while (but just haven’t gotten around to it) I love choc. mint candy: http://www.recipezaar.com/4075

]]> By: Melissa http://quarterlifefinances.wordpress.com/2008/08/20/thoughtfulor-cheap/#comment-887 Melissa Thu, 21 Aug 2008 02:20:44 +0000 http://quarterlifefinances.wordpress.com/?p=386#comment-887 I agree, this is a tricky subject. I always struggle with this during the holidays!! I would like to think that my family knows I can't afford tons of presents for them and that I love them enough to spend hours baking for them! But I always chicken out and go with regular presents. :( Some ideas: Peanut Brittle (I would DIE of joy if I got this as a present!!) Frosted sugar cookies Buckeyes (chocolate-covered peanut butter balls) I agree, this is a tricky subject. I always struggle with this during the holidays!! I would like to think that my family knows I can’t afford tons of presents for them and that I love them enough to spend hours baking for them! But I always chicken out and go with regular presents. :(

Some ideas:
Peanut Brittle (I would DIE of joy if I got this as a present!!)
Frosted sugar cookies
Buckeyes (chocolate-covered peanut butter balls)

]]> By: Meri http://quarterlifefinances.wordpress.com/2008/08/20/thoughtfulor-cheap/#comment-885 Meri Wed, 20 Aug 2008 23:28:29 +0000 http://quarterlifefinances.wordpress.com/?p=386#comment-885 It's really tough to know how some people will react. My mom and mother-in-law would probably love a homemade gift, but my sister on the other hand would immediately make a comment about my frugality (but then again, she does it all year too, so it wouldn't be a surprise). Personally I would love to get homemade gifts like peppermint bark or candy. We don't have any room in our apartment for anything else, so food is great! It’s really tough to know how some people will react. My mom and mother-in-law would probably love a homemade gift, but my sister on the other hand would immediately make a comment about my frugality (but then again, she does it all year too, so it wouldn’t be a surprise).

Personally I would love to get homemade gifts like peppermint bark or candy. We don’t have any room in our apartment for anything else, so food is great!

]]> By: Laura http://quarterlifefinances.wordpress.com/2008/08/20/thoughtfulor-cheap/#comment-884 Laura Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:21:43 +0000 http://quarterlifefinances.wordpress.com/?p=386#comment-884 I like the idea of baking something for someone as a gift. Homemade gifts are iffy unless you are super talented. I think if something is handcrafted and rivals a storebought item, then go for it. Or if it is really unique and can't be compared to anything go for it. I like the idea of baking something for someone as a gift. Homemade gifts are iffy unless you are super talented. I think if something is handcrafted and rivals a storebought item, then go for it. Or if it is really unique and can’t be compared to anything go for it.

]]> By: paranoidasteroid http://quarterlifefinances.wordpress.com/2008/08/20/thoughtfulor-cheap/#comment-883 paranoidasteroid Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:36:29 +0000 http://quarterlifefinances.wordpress.com/?p=386#comment-883 Oh God, I wrote you a novel, I'm sorry! Oh God, I wrote you a novel, I’m sorry!

]]>