Thrifty Housewarming Gifts

When a new family moves to your neighborhood, it's only natural that you'd want to do something special to welcome them. Fortunately that something special doesn't have to cost a lot of money. Read on for several thrifty housewarming gifts that are as thoughtful as they are affordable.

Local fare - Introduce newcomers to local cuisine by giving the gift of food. This can be as simple as giving a few tomatoes from the local farmers market or a pie from your favorite diner. To complete the gift, include driving instructions to the restaurant or store where you purchased the item; this way, your new neighbors will know exactly where they need to go for more.

Custom door mat - Help your new neighbors turn their house into a home by giving the gift of a customized doormat. To complete this project, start by purchasing a plain doormat from a discount store. Then, head to a craft store and pick up a tube of paint and a letter stencil kit. Once all of your supplies are gathered, use the stencil to add the family's name to the mat, and your gift is complete!

House numbers - For a gift that's as stylish as it is functional, give a set of hand-painted house numbers. To complete this project, just pick up a few ceramic tiles from the hardware store, (one for each number of the address) some enamel paint and a number stencil kit. Then, go to work painting your new neighbor's address on the tiles. Finish by adding a few flourishes, and you've got the perfect affiliatement for those boring, standard-issue house numbers.

Address book - If your neighbor is new to the area, chances are they don't know much about the town. Put your expertise to work and compile an address book with important phone numbers-the local police, library, a good hairdresser, all the families on the street, etc. Then, to make the gift even more useful, throw in a city map and a few brochures for local attractions.

Seed packets - Settling into a new home takes a lot of time and energy, so you may want to opt for a gift that can be enjoyed once things have slowed down a bit. Seed packets are one such gift. Put together a collection of seeds that are well suited to your climate, and present them to your new neighbors upon their arrival. If you're an avid gardener you can even give seeds that you've harvested from your own garden.

Put a little creative energy into your housewarming gift, and you're sure to come up with a gesture that's the perfect blend of thoughtfulness and affordability.

-Erin Huffstetler