Darling baby clothes. Check. Precious stuffed animals. Check. Mountains of baby diapers. Check. Although these baby gifts are useful, it can remind you a bit of socks in your stockings on Christmas morning; boring, generic and certainly not well thought out. Gifts like this can often lead mom-to-be to ask herself, “What about me?”

So what is going to blow her socks off you ask? Well, any of the following would make excellent choices:

1. Caring Postpartum Assistance (Doula, Lactation Consultant, Baby Nurse)?Any extra help a new mom can get will make her postpartum life that much easier. A gift certificate from a postpartum doula, lactation consultant or baby nurse will be heaven-sent. New moms, who often times need breastfeeding support, emotional and physical support, and have questions about caring for the new baby, can benefit greatly from the expert advice and caring assistance of a professional.

2. Nutritionally Balanced Meals?During the postpartum period, the need for good nutrition is greater than at any other time in a new mom’s life. As the saying goes, you are what you eat. Food is what will fuel mom during this precious period so make sure that she has access to foods that will help her body heal and give her strength to carry on. The last thing a new mom should be worried about is getting good, nutritious food on the table. Gift certificates for local healthy restaurants, gourmet food delivery companies or personal chefs will take the pressure off when it comes to mealtime.

3. Heavenly In-home Spa Services?Who doesn’t like to be pampered? Historically, new moms were fawned over by their female relatives, but that doesn’t seem to be the case any longer. Everyone’s lives are so busy and they just flat out don’t have the time. Send her an in-home mani/pedi or a one-hour aromatherapy massage. She won’t have to leave the sanctuary of her home and nothing will lift her spirits like being queen for a day.

4. Helpful Personal Concierge Services?Because daily responsibilities don’t stop when a new baby comes home, everyday tasks can pile up quickly. With everyone focusing on mom and baby, who will pick up the mail, clean the house, go grocery shopping, walk the dog or do the laundry? Sending a personal concierge to help manage the backlog of duties could not come at a better time for a new mom. These “on-call personal assistants” can tailor their services to each individual family’s needs.

5. Lifesaving Recovery Kits?Mom and new baby arrive home from the hospital and all is well until the dreaded back and forth to various stores picking up items that will help mom feel a little better. Recovery kits are a perfect way to take the legwork out of the search for the perfect recovery products. Send a grab bag of products that help to accelerate healing, minimize swelling and bruising, alleviate pain and discomfort, minimize scar appearance, and aid in the overall journey back to well being.

So is mom-to-be selfish for wanting a special something just for her? No! She just wants to be able to pour as much love and energy into her new baby and she is hoping that there is something out there to help her along the way. Luckily for her…there is.

How many times have you been stuck wondering what to buy for Birthdays, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Engagements, Weddings and House Warmings, just to name a few? On top of trying to select the correct present, you’ve usually left it till the last minute to decide. Right? Here are some gift-giving tips on a budget that should help.

Tip #1. Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute

When you are up against a deadline and pushed for time you can end up buying the wrong gift and also paying too much for it. Always keep gifts for others in the back of your mind whilst shopping. Buy ahead, grab a bargain. Whenever you come across a great bargain think about the gifts you need to buy. You’ll have a much better chance of finding the right gift at a bargain price if you have months to casually think about, rather than just a few days before the event.

Tip #2. Compare Prices

Don’t just settle for any item to buy. Shop around and look out for sales. If you know in advance what gifts to buy, look out for storewide sales. If the item you wish to purchase is expensive, play off one retailer against another. Don’t buy from the first available outlet. Find the best price from the first retailer, take this information to their competitor and see what their lowest price is. Do this a few times and you will be surprised at the amount of money that you can save.

Tip #3. Try the Internet

If your time is really precious and you don’t have enough time to shop around, check out the Internet. You can save time by not having to travel to the malls and not physically walking/driving from shop to shop to compare prices. You can also save money by not paying parking fees, not being tempted to stop for bought coffee or snacks and being able to see more competing products, prices and offers. Just enter “wedding present gift ideas”, birthday gift ideas” or “gift buying tips” into your favourite search engine. Also take advantage of their vouchers and loyalty programs.

Tip #4. Why Not Try Vouchers?

If you still cannot find something suitable, what about a voucher? There are vouchers available for most major retailers and some specialty shops. Why not buy some movie rental vouchers, or shoes or clothing vouchers. Just place them in a suitable card and that’s it. Done.

Tip #5. Last Minute Successful Gift Ideas

If you have left things to the last few days and you’re really struggling, try these ideas:

a) Pamper Pack – buy a little basket, some cellophane, ribbon and some face cream, body butter, shower gel and moisturiser. Add the latest edition of their favourite magazine.

b) Cheese Lovers – buy a little basket, some cellophane, ribbon and a selection of deli cheeses, crackers and seasonal fruits and nuts.

c) Motor Head – buy the latest editions of some motoring magazines or an annual subscription and place it in a card.

d) Exercise Junkie – buy a 3 month subscription to a gym and some current fitness magazines and wrap them appropriately.

Tip #6. Think Consumable

If you’re still confused as to what that special someone may or may not value, why not try something consumable, like a book, brushes and hairdo magazines (for the teen-aged daughter) or a car-wax, tyre black and upholstery cleaner for Dad. This way your gift has little chance of being consigned to the drawer or cupboard, never to be seen again.

These are just a few ideas that can save you money and reduce gift buying grief and worry, thus making your life a little easier.

These giant gift baskets that are all stuffed with fancy shredded paper, foam inserts and gilded ribbons. Yet the food in them is pure crap. Stale crakcers, boring cookies, some cheese and salami that is rubbery and tasteless. Yet they charge hundreds of dollars for these things. Rip Off!!!!!!

I want to buy a gift basket for my mom for Mother’s Day.

• AMISH HANDCRAFTED
• WOVEN BASKET
• ACCENTS YOUR HOME DECOR

Product Description
AMISH COUNTRY COLLECTIBLE SQUARE WASTE BASKET. MEASURES 6″ X 12″ X 12″. THIS COUNTRY BASKET WOULD BE APPEALING IN ANY RUSTIC HOME DECOR. DESIGNED TO BE USED AS A WASTE BASKET, IT REALLY HAS BETTER USES, LIKE A DECORATIVE BASKET FILLED WITH ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS OR ADD TOLIETRIES AND A BOW TO MAKE A UNIQUE GIFT BASKET FOR A HOUSE WARMING PARTY. HOWEVER YOU USE IT, YOU’LL LOVE THIS BASKET. COLORS MAY VARY (BLACK, BROWN, RED, BLUE, GREEN, PURPLE, BURGUNDY, NATURAL)… More >>

Amish Country Collectible Square Waste Basket. Measures 6″ X 12″ X 12″. This Country Basket Would Be Appealing in Any Rustic Home Decor. Designed to Use As a Waste Basket, It Really Has Better Uses, Like a Decorative Basket Filled with Artificial Flowers or Add Tolietries and Ribbon to Make a Unique Gift Basket for a House Warming Party. However You Use It, You’ll Be Sure to Love This Basket. Colors May Vary

• AMISH HANDCRAFTED
• WOVEN BASKET
• ACCENTS YOUR HOME DECOR

Product Description
AMISH COUNTRY COLLECTIBLE SQUARE WASTE BASKET. MEASURES 6″ X 12″ X 12″. THIS COUNTRY BASKET WOULD BE APPEALING IN ANY RUSTIC HOME DECOR. DESIGNED TO BE USED AS A WASTE BASKET, IT REALLY HAS BETTER USES, LIKE A DECORATIVE BASKET FILLED WITH ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS OR ADD TOLIETRIES AND A BOW TO MAKE A UNIQUE GIFT BASKET FOR A HOUSE WARMING PARTY. HOWEVER YOU USE IT, YOU’LL LOVE THIS BASKET. COLORS MAY VARY (BLACK, BROWN, RED, BLUE, GREEN, PURPLE, BURGUNDY, NATURAL)… More >>

Amish Country Collectible Square Waste Basket. Measures 6″ X 12″ X 12″. This Country Basket Would Be Appealing in Any Rustic Home Decor. Designed to Use As a Waste Basket, It Really Has Better Uses, Like a Decorative Basket Filled with Artificial Flowers or Add Tolietries and Ribbon to Make a Unique Gift Basket for a House Warming Party. However You Use It, You’ll Be Sure to Love This Basket. Colors May Vary