Gifts on a Budget

In today’s world everyone is looking for ways to save money.  Holiday gift giving will be no exception. Here are some tips on working within a budget and some great ideas for gift giving on a budget.

Get creative in finding gifts to fit your budget.  We hope our lists can give you  ahead start in checking everyone’s name off your list.

Create a Budget

1. In working with a limited amount of cash it is recommended that you first establish a budget of what you can afford to spend.
2. Next, make a list of everyone you wish to buy for.  Separate them into categories if necessary. For example you may spend more on each family member than you would on the people in your office.
3. Lastly, look for cool gifts that still make a statement but stay in budget.

Great ideas for gifts on a budget

• An exclusive Maggie Bags gift bundle (you can enjoy the savings and split the items of the bundle into separate gifts)
• A Maggie Bags Key Chain
• Give the gift of time (take time out of your busy schedule to spend time with someone)
• A Maggie Bags Small Messenger Bag – it’s the perfect size to hold a Kindle, Tablet or iPad.
• Donation to a non-profit cause in the name of your gift recipient
• Have gift cards lying around?  Trade them in for another gift card to get a gift for someone else.  Check out sites like http://www.giftcardgranny.com/ or http://www.swapagift.com/.
• Regift something brand new and lying around the house
• A Maggie Bags Belt
• A Maggie Bags Small Cosmetic Bag
• Eco-friendly makeup (here is a good list)
• Make a gift yourself

Still need more inspiration?  Check out these other great gift guides:

• Gifts for everyone on your list
• Fashion Gift Guide from Glamour Magazine
• Eco-Friendly Gifts
• More Eco-Friendly Gifts

Happy shopping!

~The Maggie Bags Team

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Gift Giving Guides

Holiday shopping can be quite the challenge. In today’s world we are all working to make each dollar stretch farther.  We have put together a few gift giving guides to help you shop this 2011 Holiday Season.

Whether need gift ideas for Mom, for your student or gifts specifically on a budget we have put together some great suggestions.  Each guide includes eco-friendly gifts, budget gifts, cool gifts and fashion gifts too.

Don’t forget to take along your Maggie Bags Tote of Many Colors to carry all those fabulous gifts you will be buying!

Happy Shopping!

-The Maggie Bags Team

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Gift Guide: Stocking Stuffer Ideas

Stocking stuffers are often an afterthought during the gift buying process.  We often dismiss the task thinking it will be easy.  Sometimes that is not the case.

Buying the right stocking stuffers can be a challenge. Space is limited in a stocking so it is best to determine your goals first.  Are you looking to fill it with a few “big” thins or many “little” things? Having a game plan before you start shopping can save you time and energy.  If you buy too many little knick knacks it can end up taking an hour to pull everything out of the stocking!

Finding a unique stocking stuffer can become a real conversation piece long after the Christmas tree is gone. Here are some stocking stuffer ideas for everyone on your list. The lists include everything from the practical to the entertaining to the truly unique.

Stocking stuffers for anyone on your list:

• Maggie Bags Key Chain in their favorite color
• Socks
• Favorite candies
• Movie or video game
• CD
• Jump drive
• Gift Cards
• Underwear
• Favorite Coffee
• Watch
• Phone accessories
• Other Fun knick knacks: headphones, coffee mugs
• Gag gifts

Additional ideas for Him:

• Sports items: golf balls, fishing lures, pocket knives etc.
• Small tools
• Small auto accessories
• Recycled bottle openers

Additional ideas for Her:

• Favorite makeup items: lip gloss, lip stick, eyeshadow, mascara, make up brushes etc.
• Maggie Bags Cosmetics Bag: small or travel size to put make up products in
• Maggie Bags Wallet in her favorite color
• Small Jewelry: there’s a lot of really cool jewelry made from recycled material, like these Bike Chain earrings

Eco-friendly stocking stuffers:

• Any Maggie Bag (of course)
• Recycled Glass Owl Nightlight
• My Eco Can

These things should get your stocking stuffer wheels turning and maybe you will come up with some even cooler ideas. Just remember…

1. Stockings aren’t that big!
2. Good gifts can come in small sizes
3. Don’t over think it!

Happy shopping!

~The Maggie Bags Team

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Gifts for Mom

Many times Moms handle the bulk of the Christmas shopping for the family.  As a result sometimes purchasing Mom’s gifts are forgotten or are shopped for at the last minute.

Moms are precious. We want to help you get Mom great gifts this year.  Here are some gift ideas. Hopefully these will get your creativity flowing to uncover gift ideas that your Mom will love.

Great Gift Ideas for Mom

• Favorite makeup items: lip gloss, lip stick, eye shadow, mascara, makeup brushes etc.
• Take Mom to lunch (you buy the lunch)
• Personalized item like this casserole dish
• The new Maggie Bags Bucket Tote
• Recycled Sari Photo Album http://www.greenheartshop.org/recycled-sari-photo-album.html
• Wine of the Month Club membership plus a Maggie Bags Wine Tote
• Wine Tasting Gift Set and Maggie Bags Wine Tote
• iPad or Netbook for Mom (don’t forget a Maggie Bags Small Messenger for her to carry it in)
• Maggie Bags Diaper Bag or Tote of Many Colors for the new Mom
• Family keepsake gifts like the Family Handprint kit
• Eco-friendly gifts like the Tye Dye Scarf
• A great pair of sunglasses so she can access her “inner-diva”

Do-It-Yourself Gifts for Mom

• Give Mom the gift of time.  Give her a coupon for a certain number of hours of your time.
• Clean the house, wash the dishes or do the laundry for an entire week (note: you have to actually do the work)
• Coupon to complete the “Honey Do” List before Dec 31^st 2011!

Still need more inspiration?  Check out these other great gift guides:

• Gifts for everyone on your list
• Fashion Gift Guide from Glamour Magazine
• Eco-Friendly Gifts
• More Eco-Friendly Gifts

Happy shopping!

~The Maggie Bags Team

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Gift Guide: Gifts for Students

The Holiday Season is upon us,and there much shopping to be done. Shopping for students can sometimes be difficult for aunts, uncles, parents and grandparents. You could try and buy the latest laptop, cell phone or iPad only to have your student ask for the upgrade in a week! High school students, as well as college students always want the latest and greatest products.

We suggest another idea…gift cards! You can get gift cards for so many things restaurants, grocery stores, iTunes, your students favorite clothing store or just give them a bank gift card they can use anywhere (BEWARE of hidden fees). Now w know what you’re thinking  “I don’t want to just hand them a gift card!” A creative way to give your student this particular gift is to slide it into a Maggie Bags Wallet, Tote, Cosmetic bag or Executive Laptop Bag. This allows you to give an actual gift that lets your student be the next “Green” trend setter, as well as gives them a surprise.

Where can you get gift cards?

• Drugstores and Superstores: They have walls full of gift cards from any place you could imagine. You can run in and run out or grab these gifts while doing your grocery shopping
• Online: If you can’t make it out to a store to pick up one of these little plastic super gifts you can always go online and have one mailed to you.

High School Students like:

• Gift cards from:
  • Their favorite clothing store: so they can get that shirt they saw last week
  • The movies: they can go see the new Twilight when it comes out
  • Gas stations (if they have a car): help them get where they want to go

College Students like:

• Gift Cards from:
  • Restaurants: College students love to eat! Try fast food gift cards to places like McDonalds , Starbucks gift cards are great for those late nights of studying OR give them a gift card to their favorite sit down restaurant they can treat themselves and you can pick up the tab without even being there
  • Gas stations: This  is really helpful if your student lives off campus
  • Target or Walmart: College students adore these one stop shops

From Maggie Bags for Any Student:

• Medium Tote: a great everyday size bag, not too big or too small
• Executive Laptop: If your student carries their laptop to class this bag will hold it in style along with pens, pencils and notebooks
• Cosmetics Bag: high school girls love experimenting with makeup, give them something to keep it organized
• Campus Tote: good everyday bag with thicker straps, looks great weather you are wearing sweats or dressing up.
• Large Tote: I have this bag and it is great for everyday, on campus or just running errands.
• Exclusive Student Bundle: buy a bundle and save a bundle combined into one package

Maggie Bags make great gifts and they make an excellent conversation piece. Exclusive Maggie Bags bundles are eco-friendly and a great gift for any student.

Happy shopping!

~The Maggie Bags Team

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Video Holiday Gift Guide by Chantilliscious

Here is another Video Holiday Gift Guide by Chantilliscious featuring Maggie Bags.  Enjoy!

You can find more information on her blog as well.

~The Maggie Bags Team

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Video Gift Guide by Cindy’s Fab Reviews

Check out this Holiday Gift Guide by Cindy’s Fab Reviews. It is full of Maggie Bags and other great gift ideas.

You can also read about her gift guide in her blog post.

Enjoy!

~The Maggie Bags Team

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Ready for Black Friday & Cyber Monday?

18 Days until Black Friday 2011 – are you ready?

This year will be an excellent year to find great discounts on the products you love.  Sometimes it is hard to sift through all the discounts and offers available for Black Friday and Cyber Monday shoppers. Planning ahead can save you time and money.

The Maggie Bags team is always looking for great deals when we shop too. To help us all we have put together a quick list of Black Friday and Cyber Monday deal sites.  These sites, along with others, provide comprehensive lists of deals, discount codes and coupons.

Stores and Shopping Sites

• Overstock
• Target
• Pricegrabber
• Amazon
• BestBuy
• Bfads
• Shopping.com
• Pricescan
• Shopzilla
• DealTime
• Shop It To Me

Black Friday / Cyber Monday Deal Sites

• Dealio
• Blackfriday.fm
• Tgiblackfriday
• Blackfriday2011
• Blackfriday gottadeal.com
• Fatwallet
• Savings.com
• Shoppers Resource
• Coupon Winner
• Promotional Codes
• Webcouponcodes
• Deal Taker
• The Black Friday
• Black Friday Deals (for free shipping)
• Cyber Monday 2011
• My Cyber Monday Deals
• CyberMonday.fm

What are your favorite deal sites for Black Friday and Cyber Monday? Please leave a comment and let us know.

Happy Shopping!

~The Maggie Bags Team

p.s. Keep checking our blog for Black Friday and Cyber Monday coupon codes to use on your favorite Maggie Bags!

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