The Gift Blogger

It’s all very well being able to splash out on presents if you’ve got a regular income, but what about the kids out there!? They have to think up whole new ideas of presents for their families and loved ones because they just can’t whip out their plastic fantastic and head down to Harvey Nicholls!

Kids are brilliant at creating things, aren’t they? So what better way to treat parents and grandparents with some lovely home made gifts? Homemade picture frames are an ideal present as they are easy and fun to make and really useful. You could even put a nice photo inside. Another fantastic present idea is something edible, and homemade biscuits and cakes can be enjoyed by many people. Extra special is when you decorate it nicely which adds the personal touch too.

Showing creativity is always appreciated, and what better way than through the writing of a song or poem. The best thing is you don’t have to be the next Mozart, just a nice simple tune with a few lyrics can be a real treat for your family members.

A great thing that my sisters and I have always done is share gifts, so we each put some money into a kitty and then we could buy a present for someone together. This saves a lot of time too! How about doing a drawing and painting and having it framed? That is a lovely way to give a present, or decorating and personalizing something such as a bookmark even? It is good to know that there are so many ways to give a present without having to spend a lot of money. Some of these ideas could even be useful as we grow up too!

Flowers are always a lovely inexpensive gift, and an even better idea is planting a flower or plant for your family member. It is so nice to be able to give a present to someone that they will keep forever, and by planting something in the ground, you can certainly be assured of that!

I hope this has been at least partly helpful in coming up with some inexpensive gift ideas. I would love to hear if you have any other suggestions out there. Please leave any ideas or comments here for us all to share and enjoy!

This week I'd like to talk about a lesser-known means of choosing the right gift for your loved one. Most people are aware of star signs and how they tell us a lot about a person's personality, but even the type of star sign can give a good indication of what type of present might suit them best.

The horoscope is divided into four elements Earth, Air, Water and Fire signs where:

Aries, Leo and Sagittarius are Fire signs
Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn are Earth signs
Gemini, Libra and Aquarius are Air signs
Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces are Water signs

Each type or element in the astrological chart appreciates different facets of life and the gift you give should reflect that.

If you're choosing for an Earth sign it's worth considering that Earth types like gifts that are practical and down to Earth. Notable for their gardening prowess and need for practical tools, Earth signs enjoy a durable gift that represents their individual interests.

Air signs prefer the sort of gift that appeals to their intellect and open-mindedness. Gifts such as board games, which provoke debate and interaction, are the perfect gift for this element, as are pieces of art that will inspire comment from their visitors.

Water signs are very emotional types who love a bit of romance and sentimentality. The Water element of the horoscope is considered to be a fertile element so family and those close to them are of the utmost importance to each. Giving gifts that embrace these integral relationships such as a beautiful photo frame to display their cherished family members is always a huge hit with Water signs.

Fire signs, such as Leo, look for the adventure in life so finding presents for these people can be a challenge - but it's not impossible. With so many experience gifts around there's bound to be something that they've not yet tried. Giving a gift like this is not only a refreshing approach to gifts but presents a memorable challenge which most Fire signs will be very grateful of.

Using this indication of a person's overall personality may not tell you exactly what to buy them but it is an excellent way to check you're on the right track.

Having spoken about star signs recently and of how using a person's star sign is one of my favourite means of determining a present - especially in the case of someone who I am not very close to - I have decided to embellish upon this theme every month. I plan to take a monthly overview of how to give gifts to the astrological sign currently favoured by the stars so you have somewhere to start from if a birthday looms and you're lost for ideas.

So, let's get started with Leo. This sign comes into effect from 23rd July- August 22nd and so is in full tilt already. Let me take you through the personality of a typical Leo and I'm sure some suggestions will make themselves clear along the way.

Leo is a sign dominated by the sun planet and the fire element making those born under it warm hearted individuals who are loyal and protective of those they love. As the lions of the astrological calendar these kings (and queens) of the jungle are natural born leaders who love to see a task through to its completion, so finding a challenge to appeal to these traits is an excellent way to appeal to any Leo.

This means that generally speaking any adrenaline-fuelled experience gift is one of the best ways to please a Leo's natural enthusiasm and need to try new things. With choices of everything from a karting experience to the latest craze - a wake-boarding discovery day - your luscious Leo can explore their need to challenge themselves through an exciting mix of snowboarding, surfing and water skiing... and have something to talk about at work next week.

If however your Leo is more of the homely breed of lion whose pride rests in their family, why not try a discover your family history gift box to indulge their love of the family both present and past? This wonderful box set comes with a guide to tracing your family and even results in an illustrative certificate regarding your Leo's family name as researched by genealogical experts.

You can of course combine the two and opt for an experience day for two, with choices of tandem skydives and white water rafting for two there's nothing to stop you from booking for the whole family and creating a memorable day for everyone. Most Leo's would see this as the perfect birthday present, but you may need to get the others to chip in as well!