Nice free Gifts for a friend?

[mikaltemple]

This is an urgent one! I am completely broke at the moment and it is a friends birthday tomorrow!!! any suggestions for free gifts that i could get within a day?

Or any suggestions for something easy-ish and free to make?

Thanks

[thikasabrik]

I don't know the age/sex of you or your friend, which would make suggestions easier.

How about putting an IOU in the card for a future treat when you are in funds, such as a meal out? Something that would cost you nothing would be an IOU for a days ironing (I personally would love that one!) or some other mundane task. If you're any good in the kitchen, have a go at making something like fudge which you can wrap up nicely and will cost you next to nothing.

[mikaltemple]

Thanks- my friend is female- early twenties. Getting married in a months time!

[willow74]

i would make a photo album of your friend.  if you know her family ask for baby photos leading up to the present day.  make little funny captions that are quite personal to her.  hopefully you have photos of when you have been out and about. 

have you got one of her boyfriend with her? put that as one of the last pages and then put a copy of the wedding invite on the final page saying 'the future'.

if you have a digital camera then perhaps take pics of her local area, her first school or something today and print them off. 

put them all in an album

[camille79]

If she's got a car, how about a mix tape?  I love getting these - a combination of songs friends know I love and new things they think I like.  You can make a nice inset/track listing, give it a name and wrap it nicely.  You could add a nice homemade cake/cookies which you can make for a couple of quid and decorate appropriately.  Mix tapes are a dying art as MP3s take over but I find them really personal and an indication that someone cares enough to devote a couple of hours of time to thinking about what I would like to listen to.

Or if she's arty, you could try doing some beach or wilderness combing for nice rocks, shells, twigs etc then presenting them in a glass jar or bottle (try scouring your local junk shop for interesting bottles for pence)

I like the voucher system as well - really nice idea!

[roomby]

How about writing her a letter about all the things you would like to get for her if you had the money. Use your knowledge of her to think of things that she would really like, e.g. "I would buy you a month in Jamaica with no biting insects guaranteed and the sand would never be too hot to walk on"
After all, it's the thought that counts and this way you can let her know that you've spent time thinking about her.

[flaming]

You could speak on a tape cassette for her to play in the car  perhaps.  Most people have got a recording facility in the home or you might be able to borrow a tape recorder.. Talk to her like a letter - it's quicker - you can record over a tape you don't need any more. If you have time, record a chorus of HAPPY BIRTHDAY, sung with good wishes said in turn, from other friends and family members. You could read a passage from one of her fave books if you can get someone to get hold of it, or recite a poem which is appropriate.

You could do that AND make the sweets AND give the IOU for the mundane task if you think a lot of her. The photo idea is good but you mightn't have the time.

[thikasabrik]

Just being nosy here - let us know what you gave her!

[flaming]

Yeah!  We'd like to know please.