By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of Bobbisbargains.
wrestlingentropy/flickr
Are you looking for a wedding present that won’t cost a fortune and will actually be used? Here are five wedding presents that will become staples of the new couple’s life, even if they don’t get “oohs and ahhs” when opened. Prices vary greatly depending on where you buy them and the quality you go for.
- A pair of kitchen scissors. How in the world did I ever live without these? I use my kitchen scissors five times a day to cut veggies, meat, items destined for my compost and all sorts of packaging. They are super easy to clean under hot water and soap, or I pop them in the dishwasher. I hang them on a wall hook near my food prep area.
- An electric mini food chopper. I always thought these were silly machines. After all, if I wanted to chop a little something I would do it by hand. If I had massive amounts to chop I would use my massive Cuisinart that is on the bottom shelf collecting dust. One day I saw a brand new still-in-the-box electric mini food chopper
at a yard sale for $5. I snapped it up and have used this little gem once a week for more than three years. It makes chopping onions and garlic tear-free. Clean up is simple. Plus I can tuck this machine into a tiny corner of my counter.
- A set of rechargeable batteries, a charger and a batter checker. I used to go through AA batteries by the carton-load. I’d buy the large economy size at the big box store and go through them in a couple months. Not only was this a huge amount of money spent on batteries, but it was also horrible for the planet. Now I use almost exclusively rechargeable batteries. This really makes sense for me. However, as great as those batteries are, an even better gizmo is my battery tester. I bought it for a few dollars at a hardware store. This wonderful item lets me know if the battery is dead or the item I was using it in is dead. I use it to test batteries I find in a drawer that I can’t remember if I just charged them or they need charging. I love my battery tester.
- A good set of knives in a wooden block. You can sometimes pick this up brand new at a yard sale. People who don’t cook much don’t use their knives. The good ones are meant to last for a very long time. It’s worth finding out the good brand names so you know them when you see them. I use my knives every day. Note, this isn’t a great present for folks who prefer to eat out.
- A folding card table and chairs. For a wedding gift, I received a good set of Samsonite tables and chairs. I remember thinking what a weird gift it was. But there has not been a week in my 20-plus year marriage that I have not used either the table, one of the chairs, or the entire set. I had no idea what a great present this was. Without a doubt, it is the wedding present I thought I would use the least that I use the most. The recipient might look at you weird when they open this, but years down the road they will thank you.
OK, those are my five ideas. How about yours?
Welcome to Bargain Babe! I’m Mara, and I’m so glad you’re here. I am an obsessive bargain hunter and penny pincher, and I am determined to live a full life without EVER paying full price.
The best wedding gift I ever received was a video my friend took of our wedding and the reception. During the festivities, she went around and asked all of our guests if they had any advice for us. It was wonderful because it allowed us a view into the party that we wouldn’t have seen otherwise and the well-wishes were such a treat to hear.
The best wedding gift I ever gave was having my friend’s invitation professionally framed. It was really lovely and something they wouldn’t have done themselves. It can be a really inexpensive do-it-yourself project too.
@Sam, that was a lovely gift to get!
These are GREAT ideas! I would have loved either of these gifts.
Not sure if everyone could appreciate this, but I loved getting a label machine where I coudl print out clean-looking labels to affix to my shelves and storage items. My home looks so much more organized.
@Caroline I loved my label maker too! Alas, I no longer have one but I find if I write in CAPS in very neat print, I achieve a similar effect for free.
I got a set of tv trays that were of a great quality! I’ve used them for over 35 years in a variety of ways in the several homes/apartments ! In the days before microwaves, the Revere double boiler I received was also a great gift..!
One of my friends from work took pictures, got them developed and put them in a cute album. The gift was on my desk when I got back from my honeymoon. It was so great to see the pictures so quickly. The professional photographer took weeks to get his pictures to us and the pictures my friend took were so much more candid and relaxed.
@Susan That was a very sweet and thoughtful gift! And I bet it was economical for your friend, too.
I’m going to a bridal shower for a second-time’s-the-charm bride and I think these are perfect. Any other suggestions for something that would also benefit her children?
I’m still using my blender, as well as an electric skillet, that are now nearly 50 years old, and still going strong. One was a shower gift, the other a wedding gift, and I’ve used them both regularly. While the quality of these products “ain’t what it used to be,” one can still find good bargains in small appliances for wedding gifts. I like Bobbi’s idea about the kitchen scissors, as well as the mini-food processor. I have both, and use them all the time.
I LOVE my kitchen scissors too! They work so much better when getting lobster meat out of a cooked whole lobster. So much cleaner than using a cracker or hammer to it.
@ImJuniperNow ~ You don’t say how old the children are, but an age-appropriate cookbook they could share with Mom would be something you could add as a companion piece to a kitchen item. You might consider a crockery pot “bouquet” of nice kitchen utensils (wooden spoons, silicone spatulas, etc.). I have a children’s cookbook published in the ’30s and written by the same woman who wrote The Joy of Cooking. I’ve treasured it for years, as it was a gift from an aunt who worked for Doubleday in St. Louis, and knew Mrs. Rombauer. My mom let me try out my favorite recipes, and sparked my lifelong interest in cooking.
“The Joy of Cooking” cookbook! I got this cookbook as a wedding present over 11 years ago. I use it at least once a week. It no longer has a dust jacket and the spine is ripped and taped up in white duct tape, and the pages are splattered. That book has EVERYTHING in it! From boiling eggs to making eggplant parmigiana! It’s my go-to book to make anything.
@thebondorffs Somehow or another, I ended up with one of my mom’s cookbooks that had no cover at all and the first and last few pages were gone. It is a great cookbook with, as you said, EVERYTHING in it! I finally found out that it was “The Joy of Cooking” cookbook that she got for her wedding. So, I’m going to say that, indeed, this is a great idea for a wedding present and should be on the list.
I would love to get batteries or a food chopper. I’m going to put those things on the registry hahaha!
@20 and Engaged That’s great! I’m so glad Bobbi’s suggestions were useful to you. I like her ideas, too!