This week’s gift theme is cheap (but thoughtful and unique) gift ideas. We have all heard thousands of times that it is the thought that counts. However the post I stumbed across last week and linked to here, I think has really got to the essence of gift giving:

When you receive a real gift, you are receiving so much more than the present; you are receiving an impression of how that person thinks about you, you are receiving the time and effort that it took to come up with the idea, and most importantly, you are receiving that person’s attention.

Weekend: So anyone that knows me is aware that my iPhone changed my LIFE! I love it! Now, if they could just work out a way for my iPhone to also straighten my hair I would be in heaven (sorry GHD, you have been the favourite device for a while, but…)

I really like the ability to gift iPhone applications – on the drop-down box on each application’s page (next to the “Buy” button) there is an option that says “Gift This App.” From that point, you then just enter in details like name, e-mail address and the message that you want to include.
Alternatively, know anyone that is new to the iPhone? Why don’t you help them out by ‘gifting’ them a list of your favourite free apps.

Here are just a couple of the free apps that I really like and use regularly:

• Keeper – password and data vault
• miCoach
• Urbanspoon
• P Tracker Lite
• TripIt

What apps are you loving right now??

Friday: I love New York – I’ve been for two visits and can’t wait to go back (my best friend has just moved there, so of course I going to NEED to make it a regular destination!). So when I saw this NYC map poster in a magazine I instantly loved it!

Of course I’ve already freely admitted that I am a map nerd, so this poster from IKEA would be the perfect cheap gift for me – at $14.99 – its an absolute bargain!

It made me think about what other cheap gifts could IKEA provide – I’ve had a browse and here are a couple of others I like:

Decoration stickers – the ones for grown ups are $19.99, but I also rather like the kid’s ones, which are $24.99

Collage drop frame – just $14.99 – fill it with some photos and it would a lovely gift.

Thursday: for some fabulously unique (and useful) gifts that wont cost you a fortune I throughly recommend checking out the ArteryStore.com. They have put together a list of over 40 fantastic Christmas gifts for under $40. Here are some of my favourites:

Polaroid Magnetic Frames with Pen ($21.95) – pretty cool, you can write and erase your messages on them as many times as you want!

The ‘Leg Opener’ ($29.95) made me laugh – what girl doesn’t need this bottle opener!

Cable Turtle ($11) A practical, but very useful gift for storing all the cables we seem to need these days.

Wednesday: how about gifting the opportunity to try something new. Has your hard to buy for friend or love one mentioned that they would like to try something?? Maybe yoga, golf or kickboxing…

Lots of places have introductory offers, so why don’t you gift them a starter pass – it may just be that extra bit of encouragement they need to give it a go!

It might take a little research, but I’m sure you can find something in their area. Around here I have found:

• Mind, Body and Life – 2 weeks unlimited yoga for $25
• Boxing Works – 8 day kicking boxing pass for $25
• Moore Park driving range – for just $21 you get 85 balls and club hire

Tuesday: So I’ve actually thought of another free gift idea – how about ‘gifting’ a personalised YouTube playlist. It’s like the 2010 version of a mixed tape! J

Here are some instructions on how do it.

You could of course do a lists of all the YouTube clips that you enjoy and you think the recipient would also enjoy. Or theme your playlist – like your favourite TED talks or the best ‘first’ wedding dances.

Or what about a playlist that could teach them a new skill? I know people that have taught themselves latte art and belly dancing.

Monday: Ok – so I thought I would actually start off the week with a free idea – that’s right FREE. For that hard to buy for person, why don’t you register their name to appear in lights during the Sydney Festival (8 -30 January 2011).

US artist John Baldessari is calling for more than 100,000 people to register so he can put their name up in lights for 15 seconds each, on the wall of the Australian Museum for all the world to see!

So get registering – as I understand it if your registration is successful you will be advised via email the exact date and time the name will be in lights. How cool would it be to arrange a little surprise stroll past the Australian Museum at just the right time!

Of course if that hard to buy for person can’t make it to Sydney for the actual event you could always take a photo of their name and give them a framed photo of their name up in LIGHTS!