Even if you plan ahead, it’s all too easy to suddenly have an occasion – an unexpected birthday, a last-minute invitation to a dinner – where you’ll need to bring a gift. It’s no fun having to buy gifts when you’re broke so you need to keep an eye out and use your imagination during the year for sources of gifts.

Stationery stores - I gave my grandfather’s next-door neighbour a hamper from Officeworks to thank her for having us for Christmas. The stationery company buys in bulk, and the hamper included the same amount of food that the equivalent one from David Jones would contain – for a third of the price.

Free movie passes – Sometimes the companies I work with provide free tickets to premieres and it’s usually for two people. I also joined SeeFilmFirst where you can get invitations to advance screenings in Australia. A movie is a low-cost way to treat a friend, one of your siblings or your mum.

Local deli – one of my friends has a real sweet tooth so I always add a bar of fancy nougat, biscotti or other Italian delicacies to my shopping basket to be prepared if she invites me over for dinner.

Manicure salons – if your manicure salon is like mine, you get 20% off for every six visits. Invite your best friend to join you in a mani-pedi and treat her to some pampering.

Frequent flyer schemes – if you know you’ll never get enough points for that first class around-the-world airfare(!), why not cash in your points for gifts instead? The Velocity Rewards program for example, has a 5-piece Bunnykins dinner set right now for just 6,700 points or a RedBalloon Days gift voucher for $50.

After profiling eWrapz in my post of 20 March 2010 about eco-friendly gift wrapping, the very lovely Erin has contacted me with an exclusive offer for Gifts By The Stars readers!

Just in time for Mother’s Day (though of course you could be a clever cookie and stock up for the year for upcoming baby, birthday, christening, Christmas, Father’s Day, housewarming, wedding gifts etc!), you can save 40% off the cost of individual eWrapz until Mother’s Day (Sunday 9 May 2010).

Enter the promotional code GBTS1 at checkout to knock 40% off your purchase. Erin said customers can purchase as many individual eWrapz within the one transaction but please note there is a limit of one transaction per IP address.

Not a problemo! Do all your gift wrapping shopping in one go (it’s a bit of a hassle having to hunt for internet cafes, anyway)!

If you read my post on how to work out whether you’re saving on that special offer, you’ll know you save big time on a percentage discount, especially if you spend over $100, doing as many purchases as posssible in one transaction. 

Thanks Erin!

Did you buy any of the top 24 gifts listed for 2009 for an anniversary, birthday, christening, Christmas, engagement, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, new baby, Valentine’s Day or wedding gift? I bet you did!

According to consumer insights company Unity Marketing, they were:

1 (46%). Books (I gave one each as a Christmas prezzie and a thank-you gift for Dad, to Mum for Mother’s Day, and to nephew Sol for his birthday but I’m sure I gave many more!)
2 (36%). Chocolate – boxed or pick-your-own (hmmm – does that count buying them for yourself?)
4 (28%). Men’s clothing (to brother David for his birthday)
5 (26%). Bath and body soaps and lotions
6 (24%). Toys including action figures, building sets, sports toys, vehicles
7 (22%). Games/puzzles
8 (22%). Children’s clothing (for niece Camille, and nephews Lachie and Sol for Christmas)
9 (20%). Candles and/or candle accessories
10 (19%). Flowers, plants and /or garden accessories including bouquets
11 (17%). Wine and/or wine tasting gifts
12. (16%) Gift baskets including cookies, snacks, fruit, candy, wine (I gave this to Audra for her housewarming)
13 (15%). Video/DVDs (I gave a boxed set of the Marx Bros to my grandfather for Christmas)
14 (15%). Fragrance/perfume
15 (15%). Electronic games such as Wii
16 (14%). Women’s accessories eg handbags, belts, wallets, scarves, shawls
17 (14%). Coffe and tea gifts
18 (14%). MP3 players, iPods and personal audio devices
19 (13%). Plush/stuffed animals
20 (13%) Teenage clothing (I wonder if so few were bought because we’re afraid of getting it wrong?!)
21 (13%). Dining/restaurant experience
22 (12%) Liquors and spirits (I gave someone champagne…)
23 (12%) Gift card – discount department stores and mass merchants eg WalMart, Target etc (I’m surprised this was so far down the list but Mum got one for Mother’s Day and stepmother Jo for her birthday although it was really a gift voucher)
24. (12%) Baby/infants’ clothing including booties and hats (I got a personalised one made for niece Camille for Christmas – she was running a bit late being born though so it really became her birth-day present).

I’d love to know where personalised gifts came in on the list… As well as homewares that all of us seem to be asked to buy on wedding gift registry lists!

On Monday 12 April 2010, MasterCard will launch the MasterCard MarketPlace which will feature more than 28,000 merchants. MarketPlace will work with NextJump, a company that specialises in personalised shopping aka “Customers who bought this also bought this”.

MarketPlace members can access special promotions those as well as hear about ones from favourite merchants and be notified when they have in-store specials.

And similar to American Express’s Daily Wish discount offer, MarketPlace will feature an “Overwhelming Offer” which lists a limited quantity of product at a particularly good price, such as a $100 Best Buy gift card for 50% off.

None of the merchants will receive the customers’ details but instead can create promotions to target particular groups, such as mothers with young children and so on.

They may fine-tune it as time goes on but if they could include an important date/occasion calendar so that MarketPlace members (I’m thinking about men, here) get notified in plenty of time about an upcoming anniversary, birthday or wedding with special offers to match, that would be well….priceless.

Noticed any invitations to spend your tax return flooding your inbox?

Thursday 15 April 2010 is US Tax Day, the last day when US citizens, and aliens (gosh, I love that term – hilarious!) can mail their tax returns for federal and state government taxes. April 15 has been Tax Day since 1955 so people are pretty used to it.

Retailers are also used to it and invite you to spend your return – the average tax return was $US2,100 in 2004 – with them.

While the sensible thing to do would be to use it pay off your mortgage, credit card, car or student loan, to (gasp) save it or even to buy shares or superannuation, if you get around $2,100 back as your tax return, why not use it to cover most – if not all – of your gift-giving responsibilities?

Make use of those post-April 15 sales to put gifts away for Christmas, birthdays and other gift-giving occasions and you’ll be ahead. $2,100 would cover 40 x $50 gifts and one x moderately fancy $100 gift, say for a wedding, or you could splurge on a $500 weekend away with your partner, and you’d still be able to afford 32 x $50 gifts, or even 16 x $100 presents…

If you buy clothes, shoes or accessories* as birthday or Christmas gifts for babies, kids or teenagers (or your dieting sister or best friend), you’ll know you run the risk of giving them the wrong size!

Too big and the kids will just have to grow into it (and bad luck if they’ve got to wait til next season to wear it). Too small and it’s useless for them and sends an awful message to your dieting sister or best friend). And if it’s too big or too small as a birthday, Christmas or Valentine’s Day gift for your girlfriend or wife – well, ouch!!!

Belgian website OrgaSizer lets you organise all your (or your kids’) sizes and preferences in one place. You’ll never again have to wonder again if little Jimmy has now stretched out to become a Harlem Globetrotter or if Aunt Diana had any luck with that watercress soup diet.

You can also create wishlists and get reminded about important dates, too. I can just see this appealing to Virgos!

* Many people who have lost 5kg or more also find that their fingers lose weight too which means their ring finger sizes change. I’m not sure how much weight they’d have to lose to have a different hat size…

Facebook, Twitter and other social media websites have made it possible for everyone to know about an amazing deal in your neck of the woods or your area of interest.

A number of US social media merchants have sprung up where merchants can entice new customers to try a new product, get an amazing deal on a close-out item or to be one of the first to trial a brand-new service.

The biggest and best-known are Groupon (which pays you $10 if you refer friends), LivingSocial, BuyWithMe and NimbleBuy.

You simply sign up with one or more of them to get daily emailed deals for your city (or for national and/or online-only deals).

Is there a catch? Natch. To make it worth the merchants’ while, they require a minimum number of customers to ”buy in” to the deal. So if you’re keen say to pick up a luxurious massage in Miami or a baby hamper in Baltimore for a ridiculously reduced price, you’ll need a number of others in your area wanting that same thing.

Which is where social media comes in. You Twitter it and/or facebook it like crazy to your mates and get them to pass the word on so you can all benefit from the low, low prices.

This could be great if you’re seeking some bargains on upcoming gifts for an anniversary, birthday, christening, engagement, Mothers’s Day, new baby or wedding gift.

If you’re one of the 19% of consumers who received a dud Christmas present (and you’ve managed to get hold of the receipt), you’d better get cracking if you want to return them for a refund!

While some stores will allow refunds up to a year later, many will refund goods brought in their original packaging (hmmm – how often does that happen!?) and tags up to the end of January.

Other stores won’t give you a refund at all but merely an exchange or credit for something else in their store. According to the US National Retail Federation, American retailers took back an estimated $17 billion of unwanted gifts. What’s more, 17% of retailers have tightened their return policies.

If you can’t get cash and you really don’t like the item nor feel you could regift it to another, think carefully how you could use the credit note to “purchase” another gift which will save you spending your own money. You could always select one of the items there for Valentines Day, your anniversary, birthday, Mothers Day or even for Christmas 2010.

OK, well I guess this appeals to the nerd in me but I love a list!

Considering we’re just two weeks into 2010, and it’s oh, 49 weeks to Christmas, now is a great time to set up a gift fact file on your friends and family. You can use it for anniversaries, birthdays, Valentines, graduations, housewarmings, weddings too.

So what are some of the things you should take note of, ask or discuss so you give them someone perfect (or close to it)?

1. Favourite colours. My younger nephew loves red, the older one goes for green while my niece is a sucker for pink. Makes it easy knowing this when it comes to cute t-shirts etc. Same goes for adults. My brother thinks pink and purple (not worn together) are completely gay. My stepmother won’t wear anything with a floral print, thinking she looks like a sofa. Dad is mad on chocolate brown and navy. Easy. Make a note of what colours they love to wear (and particularly the ones they look good in ie don’t forget it is your chance to help them wear something that suits them and stops hurting your eyes). Hint: it can be an insight into their favourite decorating colours, too.

2. Favourite metals. No, I’m not talking about Black Sabbath! If you’re giving jewellery, think back to whether you’ve ever seen them wear silver. Do they prefer yellow gold to rose gold? In home decor, are they a silver-frame kinda girl or do they go for brushed steel? It’s not just the metal, it’s the way it is finished that can make all the difference between a dud and a great gift.

3. Favourite decor. If your little niece’s bedroom is pink gingham, her mother is not going to appreciate something batik. Do they like French provincial? Then they won’t appreciate anything that belongs in an architect’s office. If they mention they’re buying new furniture, ask a bit more. Have their tastes changed? Are they buying more of the same style? A white mohair throw won’t suit people with kids. A gift certificate for more storage accessories (Howards Storage World is great) will suit almost anyone.

4. Size. Kids under 15 years old change rapidly. If you’re buying clothing or shoe sizes, ask within 2 weeks of buying and giving it to them. You never know when they’re going to have one of those crazy growth spurts. If you’re planning on giving your girlfriend or best friend lingerie, if you live together check the sizing on her underwear on washing day. Some brands, like Country Road and Sportscraft, are known for vanity sizing so if she’s really a 14, she’ll be delighted to fit into their 12. Sneakers tend to be one half-size bigger. I’m normally an 8 1/2 but need a 9 for trainers.

5. Fragrance. Mum has no sense of smell so I get all her perfume gifts. Jo is allergic to anything not made with essential oils. Kirsten doesn’t wear it. Next time they smell particularly good, ask them what they’re wearing. You could always give them the soap or moisturiser that goes with that fragrance. Know they like spicy style perfumes but still afraid to guess? You could always give them berry-scented candles or pot pourri.

6. Flowers. My stepmother loves violets. My sister-in-law is partial to camellias. I love oriental lillies. My grandfather however associates lillies with death and can’t bear them. In fact the only flowers he has in the house are silk ones which are getting awfully dusty. Check if they have allergies!

7. Foods. A homemade dish can be ideal if you know what they love to eat. My sister is vegetarian. David swears he won’t eat quiche. Audra prefers savoury snacks and strong coffee while Kate has a real sweet tooth and prefers herbal tea. Caz hates pate while our pregnant neighbour can’t eat brie right now and Jo is allergic to peanuts. If your best friend only likes green M&Ms for example, they sell packets of M&Ms in red and green colours at Christmas. Pick out the red ones, wrap the rest in a cellophane bag and there you have a very sweet (literally!) gift.

8. Music. Are they into their iPod or do they prefer vinyl? Are they fans of one era or do they have wider musical tastes? An iTunes card might suit some people while others would prefer the CD soundtrack of that really cool movie you saw together.

9. Hobbies. Do they like outdoorsy, camping type weekends? Do they potter around market stalls looking for antique objets d’art they can pick up for a song? What about gardening? Or doll collecting? What hobby would they do if they had more time? How do they like to see themselves (everyone has a fantasy version).

10. Books. The first clue is: if they picked up the newpaper on the weekend – what section would they flip to first? The business section? They might prefer the latest book on wealth creation or on creating your own business. Hollywood gossip? Juicy, unauthorised biographies could be the ticket. Those who flip to the home & garden part could appreciate a beautiful coffee table book on New York/Paris/Tuscan/Thai/Scandinavian living etc. Do they read their stars religiously? What about giving them an astrology report for Valentine’s Day? If they just like reading the news, what about the latest Guinness Book of Records or a Life picture book.  The travel section? Indulge them with an Eyewitness Guide or a Lonely Planet on their favourite city/country/continent.

People love receiving personalised gifts as it makes them feel special and cherished.

But unless you have a rough idea of what the item’s going to look like, you can worry that you’ve got the spelling right, ticked the right colour or even the correct size.

There are quite a few websites now which provide real-time personalisation so that you can see a mock-up of what your completed gift would look like. Here’s some of my favourites:

American Medical ID – great for family members who may have a serious condition, you can “engrave” in real-time a necklace or bracelet from 14kt, 10kt, sterling silver or stainless steel, and it has engraving samples and tips so you know what to add. If your mum or grandmother is a Cancer, this might stop them worrying.

Just for fun, create a magazine cover with their photo, the theme (ie wedding, anniversary, new baby) and magazine-style headlines ie “6 Things You Never Knew About Samantha and John” or whatever. Perfect for Aries and Leos.

If you really know their favourite colours for their lips, eyes, nails and blush, you can custom-blend cosmetics for them, even including the colour intensity and exras like shimmering glitter for nail polish. Even better, you can send in your old, discontinued favourite lipstick or nail polish etc and get them to colour-match it for you! A lovely gift idea for Taureans and Librans.

One of the most imaginative customised gift websites I’ve ever seen is Shapeways which lets you create 3D printing of your designs. You could have the words of a favourite poem, for example, laser-cut into a candle-holder or into cool napkin rings which would have to be one of the most amazing Valentines Day, anniversary or wedding gifts ever!

Hardcover photo books are not really that new now but Pixable lets you select your photos from Facebook, Flickr or your computer, upload AND receive them within 3 days! Great for Geminis.

For the aviation buff who has nearly everything, you can order a customised airline cart (yes, the trolleys that the hosties roll down the aircraft aisle) from Alcarts in one of 10 colours. Ideal for those with their own plane(!), this storage item is also an original conversation piece as you serve food and beverages in your office, garage, patio, shop or kitchen. I can see this appealing to Aquarians and Sagittarians!

Everyone loves their own name! A cute gift for a new baby or perhaps a housewarming gift is letter art photography by Alphabet Photography. Each “letter” is a photo of an everyday object (such as a door handle) that resembles the letter of the alphabet. A sweet gift for a Pisces as is this one from GrowShow which lets you upload photos in chronological order so you can see the development of your child over time. It also has interlocking photo frames so you can add to them as your child gets older.

Love to theme a party all the way through? Now you can personalise your disposable party plates with photos, text and colour for anniversaries, birthdays, Halloween, with a fun service from Hallmark. I see this being particularly popular for children’s parties!

Candles are always popular with women and now you can customise them with Lumnique, packaged in a nice rectangular glass jar. Select the intention ie peace, love etc, the colour and from 72 fragrances, ranging from the traditional, such as rose, to the frankly unusual, such as Hansel and Gretel (which I’m guessing must smell like gingerbread)!

If you’re looking for a gift with a difference for your favourite health freak, look no further. Now you can customise your own energy bars (chewy, oaty, cripsy), add fruits, nuts and sweets (ranging from chocolate chips to maple syrup), and even fibre or other nutrients, all the while seeing the nutritional panel adjust in real time for sugar, fat, carbohydrate etc. And to cap it off, you can even have your name on the packaging – how cool is that?! I’m going to order some from Element Bars for my Virgo sister!

Most people are familiar with the Successories framed prints in gift shops full of inspirational photos and sayings. Now you can customise your own, using their gallery of images but adding your own message. I think a subversive-style message (ie a straight picture and a sarcastic message) could really amuse a Scorpio, and maybe some Capricorns…

I love the mobile phone covers by GelaSkins – they’re amazing! From manga cartoons to Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, you’re sure to find something amazing here. Most importantly, you can upload your own photos, message and designs to cover covers for your mobile, iPod, laptop, gaming device or Kindle which would impress even the hardest-to-please teen.

If you find clothes hard to fit and you’re forever getting items altered, you might like to check out the customised outfits at April Marin. They make a small range of pretty, tailor-made dresses, allowing you to customise the lengths and widths of everything important!

Does your favourite friend or family member post particularly witty bon mots on Twitter? Did you know that Tweetbookz now lets you create high-quality books containing Tweets from any Twitter account? It might be a lovely gift for a small business owner! 

And last, but certainly not least, I was entranced by Princess Chic which enables you to build your own pair of shoes! From classic stilettos and platform pumps to ballet flats and high-heeled sandals, you can select your material from leather, satin, suede, snake, croc or fish skins, from 17 colours and sizes from 5-11.