Ideas
Explore the world's #1 largest database of ideas and innovations, with 476,386 inspiring examples.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,282 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 304,168 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Consumer Insights
Uncover major shifts and emerging opportunities with our exclusive PRO research.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,282 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 304,168 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Trend Reports
Get fast, customized trend reports, presentations and deep dives 20x faster than traditional research.
Plans
Get started today with a free consultation, our self-serve tools, or a dedicated program.
Articles & Magazine
Get inspired with our 4,230 innovation strategy articles, keynote, videos and innovation tools.
Innovation Awards
Trend Hunter’s Innovation Strategy Awards recognize the best innovation tactics gathered from our interviews with some of the world's most notable business leaders, authors and change makers.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Innovation Assessment
Enhance your innovation potential with a deeper understanding of your unique innovation archetype and how your organization benchmarks.
FuturistU
Prepare for the years ahead with 100+ lessons, tactics, tools and frameworks with our full learning database.
Innovation Books
Join 20,000,000 people getting better and faster with our New York Times Bestselling books and keynote videos.
Jeremy Gutsche
Ignite your event or virtual event with our CEO, a NY Times Bestselling Author and one of the top innovation keynote speakers.
Our Team of Speakers & Virtual Presenters
Inspire your group with our most popular speakers on innovation, trends, change and futurism.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Custom Masterclasses
Join the world's leading brands who leverage our custom programs to accelerate innovation.
FuturistU 5-Day Program
Become a Futurist with our immersive 5-Day program at Future Festival World Summit.
Online eLearning
Learn the fundamentals of futurism and trends with 100+ online courses about innovation.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Contact
Get in touch to learn more, ask a question or submit a tip.
About Us
Learn more about Trend Hunter and how we accelerate innovation.
Follow-Us
Join our 3,500,000 social media followers, on the cutting edge.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
FAQ
Get answers to common questions about Trend Hunter.
Community
Stay on the cutting-edge with the help of the Trend Hunter community.
Team
Meet the team trusted by hundreds of leading businesses worldwide.
Jobs
Find opportunities to accelerate your career with the #1 Trend Firm.
News
Catch up on noteworthy Trend Hunter news and media mentions.
Join
Build a portfolio and put your trend-spotting abilities to the test.
Advertising
Supercharge your marketing by partnering with Trend Hunter.
Portfolio
Visit your public portfolio and browse your past articles.
Add a Trend
Write up an article and showcase your trend-spotting skills.
My Trends
Edit your articles and see how they stack up on the leaderboards.
Settings
Edit your profile, connect your social media accounts, and more.
Add a trend, customize your dashboard, or track topics.
Future Festival
Innovation Events
Join the world's top innovators at our in person events.
Free Webinars
Learn to innovate through chaos, navigate the new normal and maintain work culture from home.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Search our database of 476,386 cutting edge ideas.

31 Creative Gift Ideas for the Recession

— November 22, 2008 — Special
Economy got you down? Being tight on cash with Christmas right around the corner may put a damper on some people’s spirit, but you don’t have to let it get you down. There are plenty of incredible gift ideas that are even better than anything you could possibly buy. DIY projects, for example, result in much more meaningful gifts, and you don’t even need to be a top notch artist to make crafts that will be appreciated. Of course, for brand snobs there are also always knock-offs.

Best gift idea on the list? A stick of Secret deodorant: if you pick up the lucky winner, you might just be giving your sister a hidden diamond. And even if not, she’ll appreciate the convenience of a little hygiene gift.

This slideshow highlights some of the best gift ideas for the recession that will still leave you feeling abundant. It includes gifts that are easy on your wallet, as well as those that will help your loved ones manage their cash in the new year.
5.4
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
30
Credit Crunch Email Alerts
Credit Crunch Email Alerts
ShoppingNotes.com
<
29
Upgrading Gift Cards
Upgrading Gift Cards
Best Buy Cards Come With iPod Speakers
<
28
Calculating Money Saved by Walking
Calculating Money Saved by Walking
The Taxi Walker Pedometer
<
27
Gift Card Bonuses
Gift Card Bonuses
Target Cards Come With Free Digital Camera
<
26
Credit Crunch Food Certificates
Credit Crunch Food Certificates
Mega Restaurant Discounts
<
25
Credit Crunch Chocolate
Credit Crunch Chocolate
If You Can't Beat it, Eat it!
<
24
Cheap High Fashion
Cheap High Fashion
The 'Truly Madly Deeply Karl' Tee
<
23
$10 Fair-Trade Alcohol
$10 Fair-Trade Alcohol
Sam's Club Launches ‘Neu Direction' Wine
<
22
USB Plug-In For Phones
USB Plug-In For Phones
Cheap Calls With MagicJack
<
21
Cheap Tickets to Promote Albums
Cheap Tickets to Promote Albums
Metallica Surprises with $9 Concerts
<
20
$1 Baby Monitors
$1 Baby Monitors
iPhone App Calls You When It Detects Noise
<
19
$1.75 Foreclosure Homes
$1.75 Foreclosure Homes
Credit Crunch Hits eBay
<
18
Free Diamonds to Sell Deodorant
Free Diamonds to Sell Deodorant
Secret Flawless Promotion
<
17
$100 Laptops Now Online
$100 Laptops Now Online
Amazon.com Sells Hand-Crank Laptop
<
16
Faking Status With Counterfeit Cars
Faking Status With Counterfeit Cars
Knock Off Ferraris
<
15
Credit Crunch Cell Phones
Credit Crunch Cell Phones
Cricket Launches MOTO VE240
<
14
Credit Crunch T-shirts
Credit Crunch T-shirts
“I Can't Afford to Heart NY”
<
13
Fake Diamond Ring Mugs
Fake Diamond Ring Mugs
The 2-Carat Cup
<
12
2 for 1 Truck Sales
2 for 1 Truck Sales
Extreme Dodge Dealer Incentives
<
11
Piggy Banks With Panache
Piggy Banks With Panache
Unique Ways to Save Money Stylishly
<
10
Recycled TV Bars
Recycled TV Bars
DIY Green Liquor Storage
<
9
Seasonal Jewelery DIYs
Seasonal Jewelery DIYs
Autumn Acorn Crafts
<
8
Recycled Money Jewelry
Recycled Money Jewelry
OriginalBliss
<
7
DIY Credit Crunch Fashion
DIY Credit Crunch Fashion
Dame Vivienne Westwood S/S 2009
<
6
DIY Presents
DIY Presents
Budget-Friendly Holiday Gifts
<
5
Peel and Stick Picture Frames
Peel and Stick Picture Frames
Stickr Frames
<
4
Budget-Savvy Storage
Budget-Savvy Storage
Recycled Kitchen Gadgets As Decor
<
3
Recycled Toy Lighting
Recycled Toy Lighting
DIY Doll Chandeliers
<
2
DIY Custom Flip-Flops
DIY Custom Flip-Flops
Switchflops
<
1
DIY Gifts for Geeks
DIY Gifts for Geeks
From Keyboard Cufflinks to Cassette Tape Belt Buckles
<