We've been invited to a few housewarming parties this month and have been scrambling at the last minute to come up with a unique (and affordable) gift to bring. We decided to dig into AT's own archives and roundup our faves...
- Homemade stationary with their new address and information printed on it.
- If they've moved to a new part of town or relocated from another city, give the homeowner a gift certificate to a local restaurant.
- Green cleaning supplies in a basket is a safe bet for the recently moved homeowner. Even if they already own some supplies, it's likely that the items are still packed away in a box.
- Give the gift of a plant or a tree to plant in the yard. As the tree grows, the homeowner can reminisce that the tree was planted the year they moved in.
- Create a housewarming bucket that you can customize. Some items to include are light bulbs, rolls of toilet paper, paper towels, garbage bags, extension cords, a nail and screw set, a flashlight, etc.
- How about a copy of a home design book or a subscription to a home decor magazine.
- A laminated map of the city paired with a Zagat guide (with your own highlighted faves noted).
[Image from eyeliam]
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Comments (14)
I think the best housewarming gift I ever received was a dried durian fruit. Unique and a little quirky. It lived on the kitchen windowsill.
The nicest housewarming gift I received was potted herbs -- basil, cilantro, etc. We cooked with them all summer.
Things that can be consumed (food, candles, wine, nice soap, etc.) make the best presents if you don't know the people well enough to guess their taste.
The most well-received housewarming gift I ever gave was box full of take out menus from all the restaurants that would deliver to their home.
When you're moving into a new home, sometimes you just don't have the energy to cook. Sometimes, you can't even find the damn pots!
I think it depends on there person. These days a gift certificate is nice when it use to be considered not personal.
For my single girlfriend that bought a loft recently I bought a stylish step latter and a cute bucket filled with light bulbs, flash light, tape measure and I googled all the good spots in her hood- dry cleaners, take out, coffee, etc printed and put into an envelope.
For another friend that loves salads I got a planted head of greens from the farmers market and made my own salad dressing put into a pretty vintage jar and a salad bowl.
Its fun but life gets busy so with most people I know always like a bottle of wine, or it could be something special like a dessert wine.
When I bought my first house, someone gave me a betta fish. I love animals, including fish, but this gift was just so wrong for reasons I won't go into (other than to say that the fish died 3 months later).
I really really love the the idea of green cleaning supplies, including bottles of Method. It's one of those gifts that the recipient might not initially appreciate, but then realize, "Damn, that gift came in handy when I most needed it."
nice list with creative, practical, and inexpensive ideas (and more from the comments)! I love that most of them are more gestures (compiling lists, menus, etc.) than 'stuff'.
but I have to say, while it's lovely to get someone a gift if you truly want to, no one should ever feel obligated to take a gift to a housewarming party (or any other celebration). parties should be about bringing people together, not an indirect way of asking for stuff. a gift is not a ticket to get in. if you're strapped for cash, get invited to too many parties, (or if you just don't want to), you should never feel guilty about not taking a gift or taking a simple token gift. but this is just my little crusade against expecting gifts...
Amy Sedaris recommends giving postage stamps. I think it's great! Often when you move, everything is packed up and you need those little things right away...
Most thoughtful housewarming gift I've received was a fire extinguisher. Such an essential item that's so easy to overlook when moving. (interestingly enough, I see fire extinguishers mentioned in related links although not in the article itself)
It might not be the most creative gift ever, but my favorite housewarming gift was a potted orchid from my mother-in-law. The apartment was a shambles, but that orchid was one perfect and beautiful things amid the chaos.
My favorite housewarming gift was from my Dad, he gave it to me the day before I moved - a cool old metal bucket with light bulbs, a bar of hand soap, a roll of toilet paper, a roll of paper towels, a pizza menu and $50 to buy pizza for the people who had helped me move, because he couldn't.
I think the gestures and the thoughts are what's imporant, not the actual gifts.
In Germany we use to give something more symbolic as ( additional ) housewarming gift: things that should NEVER miss in House: bread, salt and money. I usually buy a little bread, cut a slit on the top where i put a piece of small change and a small jar for the salt. All wrapped up nicely.
It's a Jewish and European tradition always to give the gifts of bread so the new residents will never go hungry, salt to season the new life, and a broom to sweep troubles away.
Jany's comment reminds me of other traditional gifts for new residents: a candle so they will always have light, wine so they never go thirsty, honey so the couple's life will always be sweet, and a plant to represent a long life.
We rented two houses when we lived in Germany. Both times our new landlord/landlady gave us wine when we moved in. I've never received a housewarming gift from a landlady/landlord in the states.
When we first moved into our new place in Portland, Oregon our next door neighbors welcomed us by bringing over a fresh caught and cleaned salmon, with no expectations that we cook it for them. It was seriously the best salmon I've ever had! But that's Portland... where people are freakishly nice. We're happy if our neighbors give us a wave here in the D.C. area where we now live...