New Homeowners (housewarming gift?)

mbcdefg

Our engaged friends just bought their first house. They've always lived with their parents so they're going to need a lot of essentials - furniture, kitchenware, decor, linens and towels, etc. I think his mom is getting them pots and pans, and I'm sure their families will give them cash or other things.

I figured we'd get them a gift card once they move in and we see the place. I don't know to where, though. Since it's slow I thought I'd poll you:

Heather822

My favorite gift when we bought our house was a big wicker basket (which I now keep towels in) FILLED with cleaning supplies & kitchen staples!!! Sounds crazy, and makes me feel old, but it was the most fun gift I ever got, and infinitely useful!

smw42

I like the idea of giving a smaller version of what Heather described with a gift card to Home Depot/Lowe's. Home Depot was our 2nd home when we bought our place and by far the most useful gift card.

DandT1206

DH and I lived with our parents up until we got married too, so we had a lot to buy.
I voted BB&B, but I would also like Home Depot/Lowe's.  We lived in those stores for the first couple of months after we moved!

uppereastgirl

I voted for Target, but if you'd prefer a real gift I like the idea of fancy cleaning products.  My sister got us some eco-friendly kitchen cleaning products from Cucina when we moved into our apartment, and that was probably my favorite gift.  I'd nix the towels because even neutrals don't got with everything (tan would clash with our stuff, and I bet white would class with others' stuff).

Other ideas if you don't want to give a gift card: kitchen candle or kitchen soaps (Williams-Sonoma has great ones), champagne or nice wine, a plant...

Laurms15

I think cleaning supplies are a fantastic idea....just make sure they aren't allergic to anything. There is something in tide and some other cleaning products that sometimes gives me hives.

ffbride_0813

I lived in Home Depot too when we got our first home.  Another place I love is home goods.  They have such great prices for everything. 

mbcdefg

Thanks! I appreciate the thoughts.

Gift basket plus a gift card sounds like a good idea. I remember when I moved out of my parents' house and suddenly getting depressed that I actually had to go out and buy cleaning products, dish towels, a can opener, toilet paper, etc. (things I always took for granted because Mom bought them, lol).

USER876

Home depot or lowes (which ever is closer to them).  I remember the 1000 dollar weekend trips were not fun....any GC would help.

diamondx423

I really like the cleaning supplies basket, and I would include paper towels. when we first moved into our apartment we had a paper towel holder with no paper towels so our counter top looked phallic until I made it to the store! lol

uppereastgirl

Wait, just read that they're engaged.  Do they have a registry yet?  If so, I would maybe buy something from it, or at least get a sense of the kinds of things they want/how they'll be decorating, so maybe you can buy something coordinating.

mbcdefg

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_new-homeowners-housewarming-gift?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:90Discussion:8e23b04d-2a1d-4de1-a71e-f03302ffa844Post:80e0ee5f-b5c4-4637-8623-dee024ea353f">Re: New Homeowners (housewarming gift?)</a>:
[QUOTE]Wait, just read that they're engaged.  Do they have a registry yet?  If so, I would maybe buy something from it, or at least get a sense of the kinds of things they want/how they'll be decorating, so maybe you can buy something coordinating.
Posted by uppereastgirl[/QUOTE]

No registry yet. I think they're on the two-year plan, or at least letting things settle down with the house first.

HeatherC37

. I voted Lowes/Home depot but any of those options will do. We just moved inot our first house Memorial Day weekend and we have been at Lowes everyother day. We have also been to all of the other store you listed for essentials and cleaning supplies.

reese511

i voted bed bath & beyond.  i absoultely HATE spending money there but i ALWAYS need stuff from there.  plus...there are always tons of coupons floating around that they can use too.

Partymixx27

Ditto a GC for either Lowe's/Home Depot.  Especially if it's a single-family house, because they have a ton hardware, yard and outdoor stuff that BBB wouldn't have. We just bought a house and are there like every other day, trust me, that will come in handy!  I like the idea of a cleaning basket too, or you could attach it to a nice bottle of wine.  Another idea is to get them a GC to a grocery store near them like Wegmans or Shoprite.  It may not be the most glamorous but groceries are super expensive, and you can guarantee they're going to get use out of it.

goaliegirl

I voted for Lowe's/Home Depot...when we first moved into our house, like others said we were at Lowe's and Home Depot what felt like every day!  We got a lot of stuff from BBB for my shower, so I was glad when people got us lowe's for when we bought our house.  we have lived in our house for 6 months and I still am at Lowe's all the time!