The holidays mean get-togethers, dinner parties, and all sorts of festive gatherings. If you are attending any one of these events, it is always a nice gesture to take the hostess a gift for all of their hard work. Hostess gifts use to be a common thing in the past, but many people just aren’t sure what to give these days.
No worries, as I have compiled a list of 11 inexpensive hostess gift ideas, perfect for your gift giving needs. Check out this list of hostess gifts and consider one of the suggestions next time you are invited to an event. Your hostess is sure to appreciate it!
1. A potted plant.
You can find small potted plants at most grocery stores for about $5. Take one of these plants and wrap the pot in some decorative paper. This is always a nice idea for an inexpensive hostess gift, and a potted plant will last longer than cut flowers will. Or fake plants will do too!
2. Some scented hand soap.
Try for some nice foaming hand soap found at stores like Bath and Body Works for just $4 a piece. Add some twine or ribbon to the bottle and a gift tag and you are all set. This Mrs. Meyer's Peppermint hand soap is a nice option to purchase online.
3. Scented candles.
It seems as though everyone loves candles. Give your hostess a scented candle in a soft and not overpowering scent. This set of four soy candles might be the perfect thing to separate and gift to four different recipients! They can use it that night for the event or save it for when they are ready to relax and wind down.
4. Decorative hand towels.
These are always cute for kitchen and bathrooms, and can be found for as little as $1 at your local dollar store. Snag some decorative towels on sale even and keep them on hand so when event invites arrive, you have them for your hostess. Or this dishcloth set on a Mango Wood Board would be a great option too!
5. A book.
Does the hostess love to read? Even Dollar Tree or Dollarama have a nice selection of hard cover novels and cookbooks. Book Outlet is another great place to get discounted books. Find one you think they will enjoy and include a heartfelt note with it. It is sure to be appreciated!
6. Tea or coffee.
Coffee and tea comes in so many flavors, so put a small sampling together for your hostess. If you wish, you can even include a cute mug from your local dollar store. Your hostess will no doubt think of you when she takes a sip.
7. Cozy socks.
Who doesn’t love cozy socks? After throwing a party, your hostess will enjoy having a nice pair to slip into. (These ones are so cozy looking!) Gift your hostess with some cozy socks found at most dollar and discount stores and they are sure to appreciate the gesture.
8. An inexpensive gift card.
A gift card to a local coffee house is a nice inexpensive hostess gift idea. You can place the card in a dollar store mug if you wish or just a heartfelt card. Everyone loves gift cards, and even a $5 - $10 one is a nice way to show your appreciation.
9. A notebook and pen
I would be so pleased to receive a nice notebook and pen! Grab a notebook from the dollar store and a nice pen or two. Tie them together and, Voila! Or purchase a notebook set like this and some of these highly rated pens. Divide them up and you've got several gifts to give.
10. Hand lotion
This set of 4 hand creams would be a great set to purchase and separate so you have multiple gifts that won't break the bank! Pair one with an inexpensive set of cozy gloves or a hand soap.
11. Cute Apron
If you know this hostess loves to be in the kitchen, perhaps a new apron would be a great token of appreciation! Get this set of three aprons to separate and gift to three different people!
12. Chocolate
I don't think you can go wrong gifting chocolate! Pretty much anything will go I think! But if you know specifically what your host loves, you could gift that.
As you can see, you don’t need to spend a lot of money to show your hostess you are grateful for their hard work. Consider these 10 inexpensive hostess gift ideas and see how easy they can be to give!
I'd love to know what some of your favourite inexpensive hostess gift ideas are. Let me know in the comments below!
As the chilly weather sets in, there's nothing better than wrapping yourself in a cozy sweater—especially one that doesn’t empty your wallet.
Whether you're after a classic cable-knit, a trendy oversized fit, or something soft and snug for lounging, affordable sweaters are a must-have for your fall and winter wardrobe.
To help you stay warm without overspending, I've rounded up a list of the best affordable sweaters that combine comfort, style, and coziness. Read on to find your next favorite sweater that won’t break the bank!
12 Affordable Sweaters You Will Love
Note: I have listed the sweaters at their regular price. But this price may change at any time with sales.
Stripes are so classic! I love this one that can be worn with leggings or slimmer jeans. There's a $10 coupon to apply currently.
With so many affordable and cozy sweaters to choose from, staying warm and stylish this season has never been easier. So, go ahead and update your wardrobe without the guilt because comfort and warmth shouldn't come with a big price tag!
With cold weather nearly upon us, it’s time to start thinking about how you are going to stay cozy and warm in your home. One way to combat the chill is to invest in a set of flannel sheets for all the beds in your home. Flannel sheets are made out of cotton but are heavier, warmer, and softer than your normal cotton bedding.
In this post today, I have rounded up the some of the best affordable flannel sheets to keep you sleeping peacefully until warmer weather arrives again. Because this is Simply Frugal, this list contains affordable, budget-friendly options that will keep your wallet happy too!
One fun thing about flannel is that there are a ton of fun patterns to choose from. Plaids, Christmas themes, winter themes, kid patterns, geometric designs and so many more. Here's a list of some really fun patterns I found on a budget:
Costco also has some great affordable flannel sheet sets, but I am unable to link to them as they are a seasonal item in-store only. Homesense is also worth a look for budget friendly sheets.
Because there are great solid colour flannel sheets too, I've rounded up my favourites below. Solid colours are great to dress up a patterned duvet or to simply add a pop of colour or coziness to any bed.
I hope you enjoyed this selection of cozy affordable flannel sheets! There are so many different designs and price ranges from the sources I found. I'm sure you'll find something that suits you well!
Fall is nearly here! One of my favorite seasons (besides Christmas time) is Fall! I love the comfort food, the way the light changes in the evening, the crisp fall air, and warm, cozy sweaters. Along with those things, Fall is a great time to do fun, frugal activities specific to the season.
Create the BEST Fall Bucket List with these ideas. These ideas are perfect for frugal people, who are looking for free or low cost activities to do this fall.
Here is a Fall Bucket List for Frugal People that you are going to love! There are plenty of ideas to fill up your fall calendar with frugal fun.
The Best Fall Bucket List:
Go to a Pumpkin Patch.
Have a pumpkin carving contest with friends/family.
Find fall festivals and harvest events happening in your area.
Go to a local apple orchard to pick delicious apples.
Go for a hike. The temperature will be much more bearable than in the summer time!
Try Halloween themed cookies. Like Oreos. You can only get them this time of year.
Creating a fall bucket list doesn't have to be expensive. Embrace the season by enjoying simple pleasures like exploring local parks, crafting with fallen leaves, or cozying up with a good book and a warm drink. These budget-friendly activities allow you to savor the beauty of autumn while making lasting memories without breaking the bank.
With Halloween quickly approaching, you might be wondering how to save some money on this year’s costumes.
Saving money on Halloween costumes can be easy, you just need to know a few simple tricks! Take a look at these 7 ways to save money on Halloween costumes and get the fun looks you love for less.
1. Visit a local thrift store.
Thrift stores are perfect for finding cheap dress up items when crafting your own costumes. Find scarves, hats, gloves, fabric, dress up jewelry and other items perfect for creating the look you want. And since it is a thrift store, you never know what you might find. Be sure to stop in especially on 50% off days, and stop in often as inventory is always changing.
2. Comb your own closets.
Take a look in your own closet for items you might be able to use. This includes many of the items listed above such as hats, scarves, dresses, old wedding and prom items, make up, and other accessories. You might be surprised at what you already have on hand that is usable. If you are looking for an accessory that you don’t have, ask family and friends to look in their closets before you go out and buy new. They just might have what you are looking for!
3. Swap with friends.
Ask your friends what costumes from years past they might have on hand. This is a great way to get a new to you costume for your child. You can even swap old costumes your children don’t wear anymore with friends for their old costumes. That way, you can get rid of items while getting some new to you items.
4. Shop Late
Halloween stores need to sell all of their merchandise before Halloween. Once Halloween is over these shops close their doors for the year. Try shopping one or two days before Halloween and you will probably see lots of costumes that have been discounted by 50% or more! This could mean some huge savings but the downside is the inventory is usually limited.
5. Shop Amazon
Amazonhas a great costume shop during Halloween. I highly suggest checking out their selection of costumes as they usually have really good prices on Halloween costumes.
6. Visit your local dollar store.
Your local dollar store will have all sorts of accessories that can lend a hand to homemade costumes. Look for princess crowns, magic wands, police badges, face paint, costume reflectors, glow sticks, candy bags, and other items perfect for making your costume a hit! For just a buck, the price on these accessories is right!
7. Make Your Own
Making your own Halloween costume is possible and can be done without touching a sewing machine. Look around your house and see what you already own and what you can turn into a costume. Have an old cheerleading outfit, football uniform, golf clubs or just a scary mask sitting around. Get creative and let your imagination run wild. Get your children used to making their own costumes and not dressing up in the same costume everyone else is wearing. You can also spend some time searching Pinterest for creative and fun costumes to make at home.
There you go! 7 ways to save money on Halloween costumes! See how easy it can be to create the perfect Halloween costume for less? With a little creativity, you're sure to come up with the perfect costumes for everyone.
What are your most favourite affordable Halloween costumes?
Find the best School Backpacks for less. This selection will take the stress out of shopping while saving money too.
The best school backpacks
Can you believe it? Back to school is just around the corner. Save money on back to school shopping by purchasing your school backpacks at a price that feels right.
It can be overwhelming in-store so shopping online is a great option.
Browse this list and save time while getting the best deals. No need to spend a ton of time or money when the deal hunting has been done for you!
This list truly has something for everyone to start the school year off right. There are even some backpacks listed that include lunch kits and more. Go ahead and start shopping today for the best selection.
From solid color options to school backpacks with patterns, the options are endless for the school year. This list has it all.
This Roots backpack is from Costco Canada. It looks great for high schoolers and has a lot of pockets!
7. Kids Recycled Backpack $39
I realize that this one is more than $50 when it's not on sale, however, it's from Gap Canada and they always seem to have some sales or coupon codes happening. So if this is the backpack you need, do not pay full price for it!
8. Super Mario Bros.™ Canvas Backpack for Kids $39.99
Perfect for the kid that loves Mario! This Old Navy backpack is sure to be a hit with early elementary aged kids.
9. Outbound Kids' Multi-Pocket Backpack $16.99
Great price for a great backpack! This simple backpack is perfect for younger kids.
10. Outbound Oak Kids' Recycled Backpack $19.93
This Outbound backpack is a smaller backpack perfect for daycare or preschool.
11. Skip Hop Zoo Big Kid Backpack $38
Oh man these are cute and perfect for younger kids! This is a bigger version of the classic Skip Hop backpack that I'm sure you have seen.
12. Skip Hop Zoo Little Kid Backpack $30
Here's the smaller classic version of the Skip Hop backpack. Perfect for daycare or preschool.
13. Patterned Backpacks from The Children's Place $49.95 or less
The Children's Place has a great selection of backpacks! You'll see Spiderman, Minecraft, princess, Paw Patrol, dinosaur, colorblock and more! They are currently on sale too!
14. High Sierra Swoop Sg Backpack $49.99
This High Sierra backpack has so many pockets! Perfect for the high schooler that likes to be organized!
15. SoYoung Neo Rainbows Backpack $48.98
This SoYoung backpack is a cheerful backpack in two different sizes. Like all backpacks I find, this one is machine washable.
16. Jansport Superbreak Backpack $30.20
This Jansport backpack is perfect for the kid that just wants a plain black, functional backpack.
17. Impact 3-Piece Backpack Set $19.98
You can't beat the price on this one! This is a backpack set that includes a lunch kit and a pencil case.
18. Dickies Varsity Backpack $24.97
This Dickies backpack is everything you need in a backpack. Has a front zipper pocket, side mesh water bottle pocket and interior padded laptop sleeve.
19. All Canadian Backpack $29.97
Another black backpack with lots of pockets, perfect for carrying everything that's needed at school!
20. Reebok Celeste Backpack $34.97
This Reebok backpack has storage for a laptop, sunglasses, water bottles and so much more!
21. Jetstream Marble Print Backpack $29.97
So much storage! This Jetstream backpack has pockets everywhere. Includes my favorite water bottle holders and more.
22. Dog Paw Prints Backpack $44.64
Perfect for the child who loves dogs! This Paw Prints backpack is another with lots of pockets.
23. Foldable Backpack $35.99
So this backpack is different than the others because it has a separate section on the bottom for shoes and a pocket on the front for holding wet items.
24. Lightweight Water Resistant Backpack $49.99
This one looks like a really durable backpack perfect for preschool or kindergarten. Lots of different patterns to choose from!
25. Casual Style Lightweight Bag $38.99
This backpack comes with a lunch kit and a pencil case! There are a ton of different designs to choose from too. Perfect for the high schooler.
26. Water Resistant Backpack $48.99
Sometimes, a solid colour backpack is just the thing that kids want. This water resistant backpack with high ratings is perfect for teens.
27. adidas Laptop Sleeve School Backpack $31.97
This adidas backpack is a sturdy, highly rated backpack that is perfect for higher elementary/middle school grades.
28. Solid Colour Backpack $36.99
This solid colour backpack is another option with lots of pockets. Comes in several different colours.
There you have it! A great selection of school backpacks found in Canada for under $50! Which ones do you think your kids will like the most?
