How To Create a Gift Drawer
Are you familiar with the concept of a gift drawer?
It’s drawer (or a box or a bin) in your house where you store gift-worthy items.
The magic happens when you are required to bring a gift to an event. Instead of going to the store and buying something brand new, you simply open the drawer and pick something out.
The Genius of a Gift Drawer
A gift drawer is a simple and smart idea that can save you:
- Time: Don’t have time to go shopping for a gift? Open your gift drawer instead.
- Stress: Choosing the right gift for your recipient can be stressful. When you fill your gift drawer with quality gifts, you will have a variety of gifts to choose from.
- Money: I am always on the lookout for high-quality, discounted items to add to my gift drawer. I purchase these at regular stores, thrift stores, and garage sales. I take advantage of buy-one-get-one sales and free gift offers. Some of my Birchbox items were added to my gift drawer (ones that didn’t work for my skin tone, for example). The items in my gift drawer are high quality – but I didn’t necessarily spend a lot of money on them.
But Isn’t That Tacky?
Many people have a gift drawer – but not everyone admits it.
Personally, I see no shame in collecting gifts. I often purchase gifts well in advance of Christmas, birthdays, etc. – especially when I find something that suits a particular recipient.
Some people may scoff at the idea of a gift drawer. But when you realize how practical it is – and when you realize how much time, money, and stress it can save you – you’ll be a convert.
What To Put In Your Gift Drawer
Fill your gift drawer with practical, well thought out gifts. Items that you would enjoy getting yourself such as:
- Candles
- Lotion/hand cream
- Homemade sugar scrubs
- Soap
- Jewelry
- Scarves
- Journals
- Stationery
- Spices
- Homemade canned goods
- Gourmet olive oil
- Kitchen gadgets
- Cookbooks
- Wine
- Wine gadgets
- Kitchen towels
- Items for children (coloring books, colors, toys, etc.)
Be Ready For Any Party
What are you waiting for? Start assembling your own gift drawer today. Stock up on low-cost, quality items when you find them on clearance, at garage sales, consignment stores or thrift shops.
Don’t forget to stock your wrapping station. Reuse gift bags when you get them. Now you’re truly ready for any party or event where a gift is required!
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The best idea! My mom always have a gift box while I was growing up. We all knew to pick from it when we needed a gift for friends. Target Clearance is probably the best place to find things to stock up on !
I actually have a gift closet!! I have 5 kids and they get invited to parties all the time. It is great to have gifts that I can grab and quickly wrap up. I love the gift drawer idea!
I need to replenish my gift drawer! My son was invited to a last minute birthday party and I scrambled to find some cash and threw together a homemade card. Whoops!
We have a pretty good stash for kids, because my MiL used to sell Beanie Babies online. I need to do more for the grownups though, because picking stuff up over time and having a stash is brilliant.
This is such a great idea and now I don’t know why I don’t have one! I’m going to get on this right away!
What a great idea for having gifts on hand! As Lisa said above, I’m not sure why I have never thought of doing this either. A great thing to remember when purging items as well (or regifting…)
I’ve used a gift BIN for ages… I always have gifts at the ready. I’m a bargain shopper… and can’t stand when I have to buy something last minute for FULL price. Thankfully that RARELY happens.