Last Minute Gifts... The most expensive gifts tend to be the ones we put off finding until the last minute. There's nothing worse then heading to your in-laws house on Father's Day and having to make a 'quick stop' at the mall to find a gift. Eddie Bauer will be more than happy to lighten your bank account by $85 for a nice new shirt for Dad. Keep a running list of holidays and birthdays in your purse and always be on the lookout for gifts at a great price. We found an unbelievable online sale recently when an e-toy company went under. We spent $75 (including shipping) for a full years worth of toys..for our kids as well as our friends' kids. Now when a birthday arises, we simply go shopping in our garage. If, despite your best planning, you've been caught unprepared, consider whipping up a present in your kitchen. Home baked goods are becoming a rarity these days, and a ready to cook meal (lasagna..ummmm) or several decoratively wrapped loaves of homemade bread can be a perfect gift! Another last minute idea is a homemade 'gift certificate'. For example, you could give your best friend 5 hours of babysitting while she goes on a guilt-free date with her husband. How about a certificate for cleaning Grandma's garage? For a child, try a picnic at the park followed by a swim in the community pool.

Get-Out-Of-The-House-Quick! Bag... Here's a terrific idea for a baby shower or New Mom gift. There is nothing more frustrating for a new mom than the hassle of trying to remember to pack a "one-of-everything-baby-could-possibly-need-for-a-fifteen-minute-trip" bag. This can be solved by having a Get-Out-of-the-House-Quick! Bag waiting in the trunk or closet. Packed with a few necessities, Mom can grab the baby and head out the door for a quick trip without any prep time at all. Here's what you'll need to assemble the bag:

• A Diaper Bag - The easiest cheap source are the 'freebies' the formula companies give away to new and expecting mothers. If you've given birth within the last few years, you probably have a few of these sitting around the house. You'll also find these at thrift shops and yard sales for next-to-nothing. If you can't find a suitable/cheap diaper bag, any large purse or backpack in good condition will do.
• Disposable Diapers - Pack a few in the bag and wrap the rest in a receiving blanket as an additional gift. Put a washcloth in a zipper bag to be used as a wipe. Mom can put the rinsed out washcloth back in the zipper bag and throw it in the wash when she returns home.
• Extra Outfit - Throw in a hand-me-down or yard sale pajama or jump suit that can be used in case of a poop or spit-up emergency. It doesn't need to be brand new or in perfect condition as its purpose is solely for 'back up'.
• Samples & Coupons - - I get samples and coupons for just about everything in the mail. Hand lotion and soaps, sunscreen, diaper rash ointment, etc. Anything that might be useful for a Mom on the go can be tossed in the bag. Be liberal with diaper coupons. There is nothing worse than running out of diapers and having to pay full price at a grocery store!
• Snacks for Mom and Baby - Add a packet or two of crackers and a jar of baby fruit. Don't forget a plastic spoon (recycled, of course)and a napkin to wipe up spills.
• Extras - You might also pack: a sippy cup, a toy or two, a small board book, a band-aid, a few quarters for a phone call, an index card with blanks for the mom to fill in the number of her pediatrician or other emergency numbers. Toys, cups, and books are all easy yard sale finds.

When presenting your gift, be sure to add a note explaining the contents and the purpose of the bag. Mom will most likely pack her own bag for longer outings, but will be happy to have the Get-Out-Of-The-House-Quick Bag ready when she is rushing the new baby's three-year-old sibling to the emergency room for his first stitches.

Gifts from a Green Thumb... If you like to garden or have a nice collection of houseplants, you can use cuttings from your plants to create much appreciated gifts. Find pots (or any ceramic container that could be used as a pot) at yard sales and discount stores. If the pots are too plain, use some paint to spruce them up, glue on buttons, 'sea glass', or other found trinkets, or tie a ribbon of raffia to make the pots more decorative. Cultivate cuttings of your favorite plants or flowers and then transplant into your pretty pots. Plants make terrific housewarming, Mother's Day, birthday, or "for the person who has everything" gifts.