Themed gift baskets

[fourcatmom]

I have four nephews who are all in their early to mid-twenties and I want to give them all themed gift baskets this year for Christmas. This is the first Christmas in several years that I have been able to buy for my family. I don't want to go over board and spend a lot but I want to make them fun and useful. Here are the themes I have picked out, although I am open to other ideas.

 

#1 is a firefighter in his first year and I guess he's really learning how to cook at the station. So I want to do a cooking/firefighter basket for him. I was thinking the center piece would be a cookbook?

 

#2 lives in an apartment with his girlfriend and they don't have a lot of money. I was thinking of some kind of home basket with maybe a gift card to a grocery store as the main gift. What else could I include?

 

#3 in going to Vietnam in January so I leaning towards a travel basket. No ideas there.

 

#4 lives at home and is working and going to school. He wants to be a doctor but sometimes that changes. I was thinking of maybe just a movie type basket with a gift card to the movies so he can have a fun night out of the house.

 

Any ideas on things I can include to make these baskets fun and practical but not expensive! Thanks :D

[Aiden]

#1: a grill set, a hot pad (maybe personalized) ... it's a little hard because I would expect him to be using station equipment if he's cooking at the station. Is he cooking at home too? If so, that opens up a lot more possibilities. Are there things that would be useful for him to bring with him to the station--shower shoes, a comfy blanket for his bed, that kind of thing?

 

#2: a cozy throw, a couple of mugs and some hot chocolate/coffee/tea, a cook book, a candle, a picture frame, DVD and popcorn for "movie night at home" kit

 

#3: passport case--or better yet, a travel folder with room for the passport and boarding passes and a printed copy of his itinerary, RFID blocking wallet, ear buds, travel pillow. See if you can find out, though, what he may already have ... is it his first international trip? If not, he may already have a lot of the inexpensive things that make the trip easier.

 

#4: could go with a general movies theme rather than just a going out to the movies--that way you could include a DVD if you wanted, microwave popcorn, boxed candy like you'd get at a concession stand, cans/bottles of soft drinks. It's easier to fill a basket for a home movie night than a theater movie night.

 

It may be special to them if you included a Christmas ornament that reflected their interests--a fireman ornament, a "new house" ornament, a passport ornament, a student or doctor ornament.

Edited December 3, 2015 by Aiden

[Southern Ivy]

I prefer to use different delivery containers instead of baskets - things that are useful and I don't feel is a waste of money (colanders, popcorn bowls, picnic baskets, mixing bowls, etc.) I added those into my suggestions. 

 

I have four nephews who are all in their early to mid-twenties and I want to give them all themed gift baskets this year for Christmas. This is the first Christmas in several years that I have been able to buy for my family. I don't want to go over board and spend a lot but I want to make them fun and useful. Here are the themes I have picked out, although I am open to other ideas.

 

#1 is a firefighter in his first year and I guess he's really learning how to cook at the station. So I want to do a cooking/firefighter basket for him. I was thinking the center piece would be a cookbook?

Dry ingredients for a meal (lasagna, chili, spaghetti), chef hat/apron, cooking utensils
If you want to tease a bit, you could do chili with hot sauce and some antacids 

 

#2 lives in an apartment with his girlfriend and they don't have a lot of money. I was thinking of some kind of home basket with maybe a gift card to a grocery store as the main gift. What else could I include?
Mixing bowl with nice utensils/dish towel, ingredients for chocolate chip cookies
Colander with ingredients for a spaghetti dinner
Picnic basket with some fun picnic items

 

#3 in going to Vietnam in January so I leaning towards a travel basket. No ideas there.
Travel book for Vietnam, a nice journal, gift card to Shutterfly to make a memory book (or a coupon to say that you will make it for him when he gets back), iTunes gift card (to get new music or movies before his flight)

 

#4 lives at home and is working and going to school. He wants to be a doctor but sometimes that changes. I was thinking of maybe just a movie type basket with a gift card to the movies so he can have a fun night out of the house.
Popcorn bowl with boxed candy, bags of popcorn, a movie or gift card, a couple sodas

 

Any ideas on things I can include to make these baskets fun and practical but not expensive! Thanks :D
 

 

Edited December 3, 2015 by Southern Ivy

[fourcatmom]

Those are awesome ideas! I like the ornament idea too! I hadn't even thought about the blanket and shower shoes for the station. That's a great idea. I have no idea what he brings or needs. He does live with a room mate so cooking at home is an option but he's at work at lot since it's his first year. When I asked him what he needed, he said a "day off". lol :D So my guess is that most of his cooking is done at the station at this point.

 

I love the idea of using things besides baskets...great suggestion. ;)

[school17777]

For #3, travel sized empty containers.

[fourcatmom]

#1 Maybe a silicone spatula or spoon? I've seen items on kohls.com and Amazon

 

#2 Do you have any idea what items they do/don't have in the kitchen? Snacks for date night and movie passes?

 

#3 does he need a travel charger? Like this: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/dynex-lithium-ion-battery-for-most-micro-usb-enabled-devices-emerald/7435123.p?id=1219270932102&skuId=7435123(When I went to my nearest store they didn't have this model, but had another that was under $10). You can order online and I think the shipping is still free.

 

#4 if you are already leaning toward the movies, you might buy one of those huge tins of popcorn and tape the movie pass to it lol. But I don't know if he has friends to share the popcorn with or if it'd be too much.

 

Edited-- flash sale. You can get this type. It's the one I bought. http://www.bestbuy.com/site/promo/select-dynex-portable-chargers

 

This is a cool idea. Would these work internationally. I am assuming he has an iphone but I don't know for sure.

 

[Southern Ivy]

It doesn't require a wall outlet so I don't think the international thing would matter. I think you charge the battery by plugging it into your computer, then you leave the house and you can plug your dead phone into it while you sit at the airport, bus, park, while it's in your bag and you shop, etc. I gave one to my sister and she kept it in the wrapping when she went to the airport "just in case" they would give her problems. I guess because it was in her carry on luggage and she didn't know if it would pose a problem at the security check? But I imagine for day to day use it would be helpful like if you rush out of the house and your phone is dead.

I have one like this. They normally charge either on the computer or you can attach the USB cord to an iphone/iPad charger. 

[fourcatmom]

Thank you for clearing that up. Great idea!

[fourcatmom]

Are their flash sales only a few hours. I just went to order and now it's not on sale. :confused1:

[fourcatmom]

Yes, flash sales are pretty new to me and I got burned this week when I didn't realize the free shipping at Old Navy was 9 hours only. The Best Buy flash sale was even less hours. It said on the top of the link how many hours, but I should have posted the exact times from my email. I think it ended 3pm CT. Sorry :(

 

No worries. Now I know what to look for. Thanks for all the suggestions.