To Give Or Not To Give NWR

Sharpschruter22 · February 2014

My husband and I are traveling this weekend to visit his best man and his wife. The wife's mom will be there this weekend too, taking the guest bedroom so my 330 lb husband and I will be relegated to a blow up mattress for two nights. Needless to say, I am not looking forward to it. Regardless, I need a hostess gift and am in a pickle.

We have no money right now (we are visiting them on our way to the location of my husband's business trip so the company is paying for travel) as I am unemployed and struggling to find work so I need to be creative in what to do here. They don't drink so I can't give the bottle of wine we received as a wedding gift that we are saving for a special occasion, all the candles around the house have already been lit, and any lotions/bath and body works soaps I have are unsealed.

The wife is pregnant with a little girl. I have what borders on an unhealthy obsession with cats and this past fall I found an adorable pink sleeper with kitty cat ears, a sweet cat onesie/shirt, and a very cute cat bib all on clearance for super cheap. I bought them with the intent to save them for our future child because they made me giddy with how adorable they are. Granted, I am not pregnant, have never been, and if I'm able to have babies there is no guarantee I will have a girl, but the thought of giving these items away pains me. Ridiculous, I know.

I don't see any other solution than to give them to her as a baby/hostess gift. Can you think of anything else I can give them that I might have around the house? I don't even have $5 to go buy a candle, our financial situation is that dire.

photokitty · February 2014

Do you have anything you can bake in your pantry? Cookies, bread, muffins, something like that?

Ven&Radio · February 2014

Could you write a lovely note to your hosts? A thoughtful, heartfelt note would be a nice gesture that wouldn't cost anything.

OliveOilsMom · February 2014

If I received the baby gifts, I would think they are just for the baby and not as a hostess gift. I would go with either Photokitty or Ven's ideas of baking something already available in your pantry or a heartfelt note.

jessicabessica · February 2014

I would bake something, be a gracious guest, and then send them a note afterwards thanking them (or your H can do it if they're his friends). The baby clothes are not much of a gift for hosting you, and are kind of weird as a baby gift if they're not cat people (and you want to keep it!).

grumbledore · February 2014

I'd just bake something or pick up some flowers on the way over.

TerriHugg · February 2014

First of all, I wish you luck with your financial situation. Unemployment is never easy and I know how hopeless you can feel at times. I sincerely hope that you find employment in a field you love soon.

Now for the gift.

1.I really like the idea of baking something and writing a nice heart felt card.

2. If you have a few mason jars around the home or even a spaghetti jar you clean out try layering some dry ingredients for a recipe in the jar. Here's the link to one I think is cute: http://www.sunset.com/food-wine/holidays-occasions/quick-bread-in-a-bottle-00400000015937/# Here's a tutorial for another one: http://www.bakerella.com/mix-things-up/

3. If you have a bunch of mini lotions and soaps laying around, I would throw them in a cute gift bag.

4. You can also make some scented sugar scrubs and put it in a small jar. Here's the link: http://www.countryliving.com/cooking/pantry-staples-gift-ideas#slide-1

5. More knick knacks you can put in a jar: http://www.thegunnysack.com/2011/10/everything-in-jar-handmade-gifts.html

6. Home made air freshener: http://www.theyummylife.com/Natural_Room_Scents

7. If they like italian: I would give them maybe foods for a pasta night and put it in a cute strainer with a bow. You can include some pasta, tomato sauce, and cooking wine

8. More home made gifts you can put in a jar: http://www.tipjunkie.com/post/gifts-in-a-jar/

Hope one of these ideas help solve your problem. Good luck!

Sharpschruter22 · February 2014

I thought of flowers, but as mentioned in my post, I don't even have $5 so that's out. I always write a thank you note after, so to write one beforehand seems superfluous. Now baking is something I didn't think of, even better is the mix in a jar idea. I knew you ladies would come through for me! Thank you!

Thank you also for the well wishes, Terri. I wouldn't wish unemployment on anyone.

ChemFanatic25 · February 2014

The baking is perfect! I always try to bring something whenever I go some place that will be hosting a party or staying the night and when I was in college I couldn't afford much but I had stuff for baking, I recommend baking something or even cooking something, like a cold casserole that they can pop in the oven. Then write a heartfelt card. If you came over with something like that I would be so happy I would cry because it shows you thought of me even though you couldn't spend any money.

jessicabessica · February 2014

Here are some ideas for food-related, DIY gifts if you want more inspiration

http://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/38-ways-to-give-the-gift-of-food-this-season

We got pancake mix in a mason jar as a gift, and we've really enjoyed making/eating it.

To Give Or Not To Give NWR

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