I am dying for a Kindle! I am an avid reader and think the Kindle is so convenient and awesome. It’s a little pricey, but the book downloads are cheap. I would even take a used one from ebay or amazon. It has a built in dictionary and no backlight so you can read it outside. It’s only about 1/3 inch thick so you can carry it everywhere ( you never know where you’ll be stuck waiting and wish you had a book) Plus you can adjust the text size and automatically save your page.

What a sweet and smart dh you are to ask here? I love it! I honestly am having a difficult time coming up with something since if she’s frugal like me (ummm, she has this website right? lol) then she wouldn’t go for the extravagant stuff either. (Although everyone’s ideas above are not extravagant but are great!) I think Kelsey’s idea is great and pretty much what I was going to say. I guess I’ll try that if she has a good friend (including a family member, lol) that she hasn’t seen in a while and would like to connect with, may be you could arrange to either send her to see them or bring them to see her, whichever would work better for both. I know I would cry with tears of joy if dh brought my sister for a weekend visit! :D

When we lived in DC my hubby got me a “Season Pass” to the Kennedy Center and we saw several shows that summer. What about “season tickets” to a local theater? That would ensure that it wouldn’t be just one date night and she could go w/ her BFF to the ones you don’t want to go to.

I would add up all the money she saves in coupons and deals for a week, which I imagine is a pretty hefty sum…given that she is so savy… and then I would spend that money ( The exact amount, which could be interesting trying to spend the exact change, etc.) on giving her a night on the town. Take her to a show a dinner out museum… a date. Then I would give her a very toughing card saying how much her efforts have helped your family and how much you appreciate and love her. She’ll be jelly.

What a great idea for a giveaway! I would get her the IPHONE…it is so easy to be “connected”, get all the latest deals, be able to email & surf the net, listen to music, take photos, update your calendar, check the weather and post of facebook and twitter while you are talking on the phone, all at the same time!
You can even add a picture of YOU as her screen display and maybe record a romantic message as her ring tone!
Good Luck :)

I would love some diamond jackets to go with the diamond stud earrings my husband surprised me with for our 10th anniverary this fall. But, I think I may have to wait for the 20th to get them! My husband has a “secret stash” in his wallet that I’m not supposed to see (and, I’ve been good and not peeked). He also has a “TV” fund (somewhat imaginary, somewhat real) that he always teasingly wants to put rebate checks, etc.. into. Well, come to find out, he saved and saved this “secret stash” and bought my anniversary gift with it! Very sweet considering we had taken a trip earlier in the year for our anniversary and I was not expecting any other kind of gift, and also very sweet considering he could have used the money to buy the flat screen TV he’s wanted for so long.

Does she has a back-up hard-drive? Something portable to put photos, etc, on? How about a giftcard to the Container Store, so that she can buy some of their pretty organizing items without feeling un-frugal?
There are your practical ideas.

But if practicality is already the norm, here is a non-practical idea: put together a day JUST with you, where YOU have made all the arrangements. You find the babysitter, makes sure there are easy meals available for the sitter, make the reservations for everything – her favorites, of course, and make sure that you dress up your best, and treat her like you are about to propose to her all over again – get the doors, get her coat, her chair, be all over her whenever you get the chance… what wife doesn’t want to be adored all day, with no distractions? Just don’t pack TOO much into the schedule. Meals, maybe one non-closed doors activity, and then play the rest by ear. And there ought to be at least one “surprise” gift – it doesn’t have to be expensive – just meaningful, like something that is a throwback from your dating days, or something that is a bit of a romantic inside joke. And come to think of it, this gift is good to be given ANY time of the year.

I would make her a movie of your life spent with her.

Start out with about 200-300 pictures from the computer or scan in early ones… Ones of time spent together, wedding, trips taken, holidays, children etc… tell her story through your eyes.
Use “Windows Movie Maker” It’s pretty easy. (My kids make them all the time) Add music (some of her favorite songs or songs from the era and wahalaa…It does take some time but the results is something she will cherish over and over.
You might have to grab a coupon and spring for a box of Kleenex!

Even if you chose to buy her something awesome, do the movie also it will be a great touch, coming from the hubs!!

Since you have three children…have each child pose individually with a cut-out letter(like “M-O-M”), then print your photos and frame them side by side. For an extra artsy look, print all photos in sepia or black/white.

As a bonus ‘mommy’ gift, surprise her with a three-stone ring or necklace.

Finally, have the kids help in preparing her favorite meal and serve her like royalty(dress up, use china/crystal, etc). Be sure daddy does the clean-up work, lol.

Thanks for the fun and MERRY CHRISTMAS to your family! Jenny is fabulous :O)

It would be a neat surprise for you to give her a series of gift cards to use over the course of a day. You could take care of the household responsibilities for the morning/afternoon and then join her for dinner and a movie later. For example, if she loves coffee, a starbuck’s gift card to start off the day, a giftcard to her favorite place to shop for morning, a giftcard for her favorite lunch spot (make the amount enough that she could invite a friend along), maybe a giftcard for a manicure or pedicure (or both) for the afternoon. Then for the evening, a giftcard for dinner and a movie. You could also include a cute outfit in with the dinner/movie giftcards- just to add some variety. A worry free day of shopping and pampering, followed by the fun of being with her husband for dinner and a movie would be a gift that is appreciated and remembered!

I would really love a Roomba vacuum. I think it would be great to turn that thing on and let it sweep the whole house without having to mess with it myself. I would also like a new computer that is just mine and not one I have to share with the rest of the household. To me, those items are too expensive and I would not ask for one outright, but if my husband surprised me with either, I would be REALLY happy. And kudos to you for trying to find the right gift. I think a lot of people just buy the first thing they see without putting much thought into it. Good luck to you!

A nice, new, built-in desk area complete with cabinets for storing craft items and coupons stuff, shelves for decorative items and tools, and a NICE, pretty, comfy chair. This would be an IDEAL gift for me — having a nice place to work, clip coupons and craft — a place that is organized and has a place for everything — is a dream of mine!

Take her to the Melting Pot (I guess in this case, get her a gift certificate.)-a 4 course fondue meal… it is A-MAZING and SO much fun!!!

I think it would be great if for 1 day you would take over finding and posting all the coupons for her and give her a gift certificate to a day of beauty where she can get a massage, pedicure, manicure, hairstyle and makeup and then take her out to a wonderful dinner at her favorite place! Thanks and Merry Christmas!!!

This isn’t so much of a gift idea as it is a method for gift delivery. My dad did this once for my mom, and she loved it so much that I’ve always wanted to do it for someone!
Send Jenny on a treasure hunt for her gift. Hide the true gift (it has to be in a small box, so if it is something large, you could put a certificate or description in a small box, a description of how you chose her gift, or better yet, a love letter) in the branches of the Christmas tree, somewhere it can’t easily be seen.
Type or write up the clues on slips of paper and hide them throughout the house. If you’re worried about them being found early, tuck them behind or underneath objects so they are less likely to be stumbled upon. Put the first clue in a box, wrap it up and stick it under the tree like a “normal” gift.
If you want to make the clues a little easier, put key words in italics or underlined, to help her know what she should be looking for. It’s a fun way to build up the excitement. And yes, I have some clue suggestions:
First clue (in the “normal” gift box):
Just to make sure things get started off right, you should know my love is a -flame-, never -wax-ing, ever -bright.- (Answer – candle)
This leads her to a candle, candlestick, place where she keeps the candles, etc.
Second clue:
When on our love I stand and -reflect-, I can find nothing that is more perfect. (Answer – mirror).
This leads, obviously, to a mirror in the house.
Third clue:
Through all the -days-, -months-, and -years-, I’ve loved you through joys and I’ve loved you through tears. (Answer – calendar)
This could either lead to a wall calendar or to a day planner (if you keep one on the kitchen counter, for example).
Fourth clue:
Anytime I grow -cold-, your love keeps me warm. With you by my side I’ll brave snow or -ice- storm. (Answer – freezer, or ice box)
This could go to the freezer, the ice cube tray, the ice cube box, etc.
Last clue:
Our love shines out for the world to see, may it grow -ever green-, just like a -tree-.
This goes, then, to the tree, and the real gift.
Apologies for the long post, but hope you enjoy the (bad) rhymes, even if you decide it’s not for you!

If Jenny is like me she loves her family and never has enough time to preserve those memories. I am asking from my husband to take all our video taping and have them made into a dvd for me. I realized when I was taping my son crawl for the first time two months ago that I didn’t even know where the video of my daughter was. A cleaing lady to come in and do a deep clean is a winner too!

I’m not the most creative, but I think always having a romantic gift along with a regular gift is nice. One of the best things my boyfriend did for me, was actually just on a random day, not Christmas. He went around the house, because he knew exactly what I did when I came home and he taped short love notes behind cupboard doors, in the refrigerator, freezer, behind doors, etc. He knew my typical route once I came home, so I almost opened all of them in order. So, I don’t know if you can get up before her on Christmas Day, but this might be a great idea! Then I would say get her a gift that she would not purchase for herself, but really wants, even if it’s at full price.

I suggest taking her to a state park with a lodge/cabins that are open year round. A couple of years ago my husband and I spent 2 nights at Pickwick Landing State Park,TN after Christmas. A wonderful way to relax after the holidays. We were one of like four couples there. Also, if you go around New Years, you probably have family/friends that are off work and can babysit.

I think one of the best gifts you could give Jenny is a weekend away, just the two of you. You could plan out all of the details and then just tell her to pack her bags. You could have the hotel picked out, the restaurants you would eat at and throw in a few surprises along the way (massages, manicures, pedicures, shopping, a movie or a play, etc.). Time away together is so special and it is something she is sure to not forget. My husband and I went away on a special trip and it is something I think about all the time. I look at our pictures from the trip and it makes me want to go back there. Making new memories together is priceless! Merry Christmas!

I would get her some cute reusable shopping bags, maybe even get her initials on them. They can be cute and good for the environment, too.

There are several gifts my DH has given me that were much appreciated.
1. A day off! He bought me an all day spa certificate- massage, facial and a book I had wanted to read. I spent the day being pampered and lounging in the hot tub reading. Then came home to a meal ready for the kids, him putting them to bed and a special candle light dinner for the 2 of us (made with love by him)
2. Whitewater rafting weekend. 1 day of rafting, 2 days of hot tub, relaxing, and hiking in the mountains.
3. Coupon Book – Examples were- letting me sleep in, him giving kids a bath, a no-cook night, a massage, a fancy dinner out, him taking kids out so I could do my thing, scrubbing floor, etc

I believe a fabulous gift is maid service. Whether it’s for one day or maybe once a month for a year. Sometimes everything can seem some overwhelming and things get overlooked. Jenny could spend more time with you and the kids and also keep saving us all so much money! I think you both deserve it.

You didn’t specify a price range. :-)
If you want something pricier, go for a nice digital camera.
If you want something less expensive, how about some Pampered Chef stuff for her kitchen? As a practical person, I’ve been longing for some of their scrapers
http://www.pamperedchef.com/ordering/prod_search.tpc
and a kitchen spritzer
http://www.pamperedchef.com/ordering/prod_details.tpc?prodId=610&words=oil
As I said, I’m a practical person and don’t mind at all if my husband buys me practical gifts for holidays or even for our anniversary.

This has probably been mentioned, but I would suggest a day at the spa with a friend. Women always like someone to talk to and it is more fun with a friend. Give her the full treatment (even with lunch included). Let her decide whatever she wants to do that evening (date with you/shopping with friends/curled up with a book or tv), but a full day at the spa without having to worry with the blog or the kids! You also might want to do some things she has really been wanting you to do (think Honey-Do list) while she spends her day being pampered. That would make any woman’s day!

A laminator. My husband got one for me years ago and I use it ALL the time and people come over to use it all the time. It was the best present ever…I go for the practical presents!!

If she travels frequently, she no doubt dreads packing. Find her make-up bag, buy her duplicates of the things she uses daily (you may have to play “secret squirrel”). Then when she gets ready, she can just pack her “travel” make-up case. It will make her trips easier and she’ll think of you every time she does.
P.S. Most of the make-up manufacturers have bonuses this time of year. A thoughtful gift and a good deal!

If you haven’t read it yet, I recommend the book The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman. Here are the love languages:
words of affirmation – you could write her a poem or letter telling her all the things you love and appreciate about her

quality time – you could plan a date with her. arrange the babysitter, figure out the restaurant and movie, etc

receiving gifts – if she is like me, she doesn’t want you to spend money on her. but things that are important and meaningful to her might not cost much money. we have been doing major re-organizing in our house. sets of shelves for our stockpile, organizing for her coupons. how about a safety kit for her car with flashlight, jumper cables, etc.

acts of service – my husband likes to do big projects for me for Christmas. when we were dating, I came home and found him putting up a motion light outside my back door. last year he converted an unused closet space into a pantry complete with paneling, and shelves. this year he is thinking about some slide-out shelves for our cupboards to get more usable space.

physical touch – not just in bed, but make sure you are giving her loving pats, kisses when you come in or go out. holding hands, etc.

We are not just one love language, we can benefit from all of them. I find since we are more frugal, I am not into him buying me gifts. I do love his acts of service, and words of affirmation.

Good luck and you got lots of good ideas from all her readers. Thank you for sharing her with us.

The Christmas after I had my twins my husband took a huge selection of pictures to a friend who does scrapbooking (my friend- not his lol). My twins were a year old at this point so we had a ton of pictures that just weren’t organized at all and with twin babies i had NO time to do it myself.

Anyway, i ended up with two scraped books that look awesome. not only was it somthing i wanted, it was something we needed to do so that they have actual books of their pictures :)

Get her a gift certificate to one of those meal preparation places, like Dinner Done. They have delicious meals for you to make and take home with you. You can make 12 or more meals usually and stick them in the freezer. It is great for busy families and it’s really fun; something you’d enjoy doing together. Very practical gift.

Another idea……organize the garage for her. My guess is that she’s pretty organized already, but if she’s like me and it’s always a mess that would be really meaningful. I would love my husband to purchase a few storage cabinets and other organizational items and clear out the stuff so I can park in the garage. Oh, and you could add an extra shelving unit for her to store the groceries she’s stocking up on.

You sound like a good husband; I know you’ll do great. Merry Christmas.

Get her car detailed

I have not been on here to long, so I can’t imagine what Jenny would want. What I think about is, do you spend full price on someone who is frugal. It would rake me to know my hubby spent full price on something I want. It is crazy what couponing has done to me! I will tell you what is on my list and why

1. A years supply Weleda kid’s toothpaste, b/c I can never get a deal on it, and it is the only non-floride toothpaste the kids like.
2. Someone to organize a spot in my house, b/c there is no rhyme or reason to my home.
3. Time, time, time. Someone to check somethings off my to do list, especially things I keep putting off. I’d say a day where you take the kids, but for me that would only put the pressure on me do some things that need to be done that I cannot do with kids around.

Oh and if she does not pay someone to do the taxes, that might be a nice gift! No romantic but practical.

That is my 2 cents, I hope you’ll pass on $50 GC for it!

Great ideas here. She loves to save and is practical–take her to the recycle bins, get in and retrieve all the coupons–until her little heart’s content! This could be a gift “that gives all year”.

How about making 12 coupons – one for each month – where YOU would schedule, plan and completely arrange a date night for the two of you – we’ve been married 24 years and I would LOVE to do this but it seems like we don’t manage to make the time, energy, effort to plan the date nights (including getting a babysitter if you have little ones). Doesn’t have to be expensive or elaborate, just done (could be an afternoon of tennis with another couple friend, the typical dinner & a movie, a walk through a pretty area, etc) – just like in the days when you really were just dating! :)

I would love a really nice photo book from Shutterfly with pictures of my husband and I and the kids. I say shutterfly because they have the nicest ones I have seen with really cool backgrounds, picture layouts, etc. I made one for my mother-in-law for Christmas with pics of the grandkids and it made me want one too. It’s really like a scrapbook because there is room to type in stories, captions, etc. I think it would be awesome to have one that is sort of a “story of us”. Icing on the cake would be giving her a full day to go and do as she pleased while you watch the kids and finish off the evening with a date night. My husband has done this for me on several occasions, sometimes giving me a gift card, sometimes cash (which was really nice because I could shop wherever I wanted and wasn’t limited to one particular store). He has also given me a massage gift certificate which is nice but I’d probably be just as happy with a nice massage from him instead. God bless!

I don’t know if Jenny ever does anything for herself or not – things that it’s hard to make yourself budget for – but I know couponing has gotten me in the habit of never buying anything basically unless it’s cheap, free or profitable. The idea of actually having to pay for things is agonizing. Because of that, I don’t buy myself anything and I wish I did. My husband is the sweetest guy ever and he loves to get me jewelry and things like that. This year, though, what I really want is a new Bible for studying, and some good books to read, and the worship CD from The Ramp and a Strong’s concordance – things that will feed my soul and my spirit that I don’t take the money to buy for myself (but I know I should). That’s just me.

An awesome gift would be one night at the Ritz Carlton closest to your home. Room service would be a nice addition! Sometimes you can get a deal on their website for less than $300 (at least you can at the Ritz Carlton at Lake Oconee/Reynolds Plantation in GA).

The most treasured gift I ever got was from my husband when our son was born – he had a necklace made for me with a diamond heart and an emerald in the middle (my son’s birthstone).

I also love lockets with pictures in them. Anything that you wear close to your heart like that with reminders of your family hidden inside.

If you really wanted to go all out – http://www.casanatalia.com in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico – pure romance with only 16 rooms and wonderful innkeepers and a gourmet restaurant under the stars!

Money is tight this year. I told my husband that all I want for Christmas is a bottle of wine and to order Chinese food so I don’t have to cook.

I think the best gift my husband could give me for Christmas would be a day off. Let her sleep in and get up when she wants. Plan a lunch date with her best friend or friends. And then if she likes going to the movies buy her two movie tickets and either you meet her at the movies or have a friend meet her there. Then maybe you and your kids could go out to eat together at a favorite resturant. While you all are eating out or when you go to bed that night present her with a gift…. maybe a book with all the wonderful compliments from her readers.

I would like a get away with my husband for a couple days.
My suggestion to you is to get away with Jenny for a couple of days(because she probably can’t be gone that long, she’s gotta keep us updated ;) Allow it to be a time with no computer(which means that you are gonna have to get all the post ready and set them to post on the correct day.) It would take alot of work and I bet she would really appreciate it.

This is a gift that I have wanted ever since I had my first child! Their jewelry is beautiful. I love that it is a mother’s ring yet still looks very stylish. Every mommy loves to have something to remind her of her babies throughout the day! I am still waiting for mine…

http://www.nelleandlizzy.com/index.php?p=page&page_id=pre_catalog_rings

First think about how she likes you to show her love. Does she like ‘acts of service’, ‘receiving gifts’, ‘words of affirmation’, ‘quality time’, or ‘physical touch’ (based upon the Gary Chapman book The Five Love Languages)? Usually people have two primary love languages. Then dig deep in one of those categories.

From the posts already submitted, I see lots of ladies, who like myself, go ga-ga over acts of service. My husband doing a project around the house that I’ve been wanting done for ages, means more to me than his saying ‘I love you.’ because I SEE it. I FEEL it. It speaks to me. I can’t tell you what it would mean to me for him to clean out the garage or his office.

To another person, taking the time to write a love letter or poem, and have it framed so their spouse could hang near their computer, would move them to tears.

Quality time examples would include taking someone out to a special event. Does she like the theatre, symphony, professional basketball, camping? Give a planned outting along with any accessories (team jersey for game, lantern for camping, fancy scarf for night on the town).

Receiving gifts examples would be bringing something back for someone from a trip or from the mall randomly, “because I saw it and it made me think of you” or sending flowers, “just because”. This is a little harder at Christmas b/c everyone is giving gifts. Major point being that you put thought into it, which you obviously are doing.

The final category is physical touch. Options include giving massages, foot rubs, mani/pedi/spa gift cards, etc.

So to summarize, think about Jenny. How does she show others she cares? More often than not, that will be the way she would like to be shown love. Or read the book, it’s got more ideas and better explanations than my quick blurbs. Good Luck!

The best present my husband gave me was letting me go to a ladies retreat with my church . He watched our 3 boys at home and done a fantastic job. It was quite a blessing .
Maybe Jenny would like a vacation for a weekend and do what she likes to do.

Time spent alone with her husband is the best gift for a mom & wife. Get a reliable sitter and take her out to a nice romantic dinner…maybe even a movie too if there’s something playing she’d enjoy.

I don’t know if she bought them the other day, but she was very excited about getting some DVD’s of the show Mystery on PBS that you guys watch. So, you could complete her collection. Or, since you guys have just the 4 channels, you could do a little movie basket with some classic girly movies, some popcorn/candy, and a nice snuggly blanket!

I repeat what has been said above, thank you for supporting Jenny in all that she does b/c she is a God send!

How about a spa day? Or regularly scheduled spa days through out the year.

A great gift for any husband is a pair of tickets for a movie with a gift card to his favorite restaurant even if it is his favorite hot dog stand or outbacks and a bottle of massage oil for a relaxing back rub.

Not sure if this has been mentioned, as I did not take time to read all 88 prior posts. If your wife wears jewelry, and does not have a Pandora bracelet, check it out. It’s the newest spin on charm bracelets, but a step up. I gave my wife her bracelet when our daughter was born, and continually add charms to it. The charms come in every shape, size, birthstone, hobby or anything else you can imagine that would represent who she is as a mother and wife. They are a bit pricey, but will be something that you can add to for many years to come.

Is there anywhere special she might like to visit or go to? Take her somewhere special on a get away without the kids. While you are away have someone clean and organize your house for when you return, so she is happily surprised when you get back. I always feel like my house is a wreck and can’t keep up with stuff. You could hire a maid for a few months to a year to keep up with the cleaning and day to day chores so she has more time for other stuff.

The best give I ever gave my husband was the chance to drive a real nascar. He is a big fan and he got to drive 6 laps around the Talledega track in Alabama. That was 2 years ago and he is still talking about it. Any man who loves to drive fast will love it. His top speed was 174.5 mph and it was very safe. They have an instructor inside the car with them and they even have to go through a little training course. It was something our whole family enjoyed. The kids and I enjoyed watching him and the others that were there.

This is a little materialistic..but…my husband gave me $300.00 cash one year and told me he wanted me to go buy new clothes. It was great! I always felt guilty about buying anything for me and when I did, it was always under $20.00. This was wonderful!! I could buy a couple of complete outfits at one time. It was a true “shopping spree!”

Plan a girls’ weekend. You could go in with a friend’s husband for this gift. Both ladies would get the same gift for Christmas. I know you are in SC, and there are lots of great places not that far from you. Plan a weekend trip for them to Charleston, Asheville, or to Atlanta. There are lots of places that will give great deals on hotel cost, spa days, and you could splurge (depending on your budget) and give a pre-paid Visa card for a little shopping or whatever her heart desires! You could get even more creative and wrap along with the “weekend” certificate, a book that she can read while she is away or a Bible Study that she and her friend can do while they are away. Oh, and don’t forget to pack sweet notes in her suitcase before she leaves. But that’s not for Christmas, that’s just because! :)

Hey… an added bonus for you- I am also very grateful for all the hard work Jenny does for me and my family, so I will help you hunt for good spa deals, etc. if I win!

Merry Christmas!

Since your wife obviously addores coupons you could make a coupon book just for her. They could be for things that she typically does or would like to do. For me it would be things like ‘folding 2 loads of laundry’, ‘cleaning the bathroom’, ‘uninterrupted nap’, and/or other “creative” things.

One of the best gifts my husband ever gave me was a surprise weekend trip with my best friend. He coordinated everything with her husband so we were both surprised. They flew us to Florida and got us tickets to see the musical Wicked.
(My friend and I reciprocated the gift a couple of years later with a guys weekend trip to an NFL football game)

Money is very tight for us this year and honestly all I want is 2-3 days. One or two days to myself in the house to clean and organize (since I work full-time all of ‘my’ stuff gets set aside to take care of laundry and other basics.) The other day would be a designated stress-free day that included sleeping in, a little pampering (even just a haircut at the salon) and a date night.

I saw this cool coupon saver/wallet on my local news a week ago….It is backordered until January but you could give her a cute card and a picture of it in the card to show her what you ordered for her…

http://www.savvy-cents.com/index.html

Ok, here’s the thing. Personally, because I have a passion for frugal spending, it means I won’t spend any money on myself. It does NOT mean that I don’t like lavish gifts; and when my husband buys me something expensive, he is saying that while groceries and household items aren’t worth breaking our budget over, I am. It makes me feel like a queen when he buys me something that’s not on sale, because after all, money is not the most important thing. This year, when I told him I’d like a snuggie, he said fine. Buy one. For Christmas, he wants to buy me something that will make me “feel like Jane Austen”. So he’s scouting for an antique vanity, with drawers so I can keep all the free makeup I have right at hand. Hope this helps!

I started to read the other suggestions, and then stopped. I have been married for 21 years and my best EVER, most WONDERFUL gift during the time I had small children and homeschooled was this….my sweet husband arranged for a high school homeschool girl to babysit once a week for 5 hours. (4 was not enough) I could leave all or part of my kids. It encompassed lunchtime for me. We never had used mothers mornings out or preschool, because of the cost and it just wasn’t a good use of time, also it didn’t cover all of the kids. This gift gave me time once a week that I desperately craved without knowing it. Here is the important part!!! HE PAID HER EACH WEEK!!!!! He had and envelope with her name on it on the board in our kitchen. At the beginning of the month, he filled it with her money and each week she took out her pay. That way it was TRULY a GIFT for me each week. He knew that in my FRUGAL heart if I came home and had to hand over cash or write her a check, I would cancel her coming. At this time in our lives we had 5 then 6 children and I really did need the break, but just couldn’t give it to myself. So, whatever you decide, the KEY is NOT letting her know what it cost….JUST communicating to her that she is WORTH more that all the RICHES in the world to you and that you LOVE HER!!! I loved each day I had out. Once a month or so David and I had lunch, but I also spent time just getting to know myself again! AND grocery shopping, and sitting at the beach…and seeing friends…etc. Merry Christmas!

A Maid :)

I LOVE recieving shipping money and money to shop for a gift box to a missionary or Peace Corps friend. It’s so much fun to shop for cute things I know a friend in another country would enjoy.

If you have the money, a great thing might be a humanitarian oriented trip, just the two of you!!

I find these sorts of trips and shopping “sprees” are much more meaningful and last longer in my memory than gifts only for me – since I can pretty much get what I need for me.

A trip for two to Hawaii! This would make some great memories! She would love it!!!

I’m not sure if it’s been suggested or not, but my very favorite and most cherished gift would be a combination of two that I have received in the past.

A nice gift from pajamagram.com (you can probably find a coupon) and pair that with a massage. Both are my absolute favorites and if you put them together, I’m sure Jenny would be just thrilled.

Best of luck… anything you give her from the heart is sure to mean the world to her.

a 3 or 4 day romantic getaway for just the 2 of you without the kids. it can be on a long weekend that has a monday holiday. it can be a cruise, a trip to an island, a trip to a spa, a trip to the beach when it gets warmer or somewhere else that jenny would like to go. just the 2 of you get away together and have some fun without the responsibility of the kids.

They best gift my husband could give me is to surprise me with a weekend away with a friend. Idealy he has scheduled everything ahead of time so all I would have to do is drive away! With 2 young boys alone time is foreign to me so this would be the greatest gift he could give me!

It has nothing to do with the Gift. It’s the Idea. You have to do something that she would least expect. I know my wife is always spending so much time and effort with the kids that she always cheats herself. You have to give her something that she is too cheap or busy to do for herself.

On another Note: You live in Florida, what more could you want? Disney next door and some of the best weather in the world. That would be my best gift ever, to move to FL!

I started to read through some of the ideas to see if mine was already posted, but it was taking too long. So, at the risk of repeating what someone has already said, here goes:

The perfect busy Mom present:
A Spa day– But, don’t just give her the gift card and say Merry Christmas. Plan the ENTIRE day.
1.) Pick a day that you know she will not have something on her schedule (no coupon flier posting days, etc).
2.) Schedule appts for her. If you pick a salon/spa that offers several services, your job is a little easier. For ie- 9:00 Massage 10:15- pedicure 11:30- lunch 1:00- Facial, etc, etc, etc If you have to piece different locations together, consider providing transportation.
3.) Send little “goodies” through out the day: chocolates, flowers, Mp3 player with relaxing music on it, magazines/books to read while getting a pedicure, etc
4.) MOST IMPORTANT- Let her know that childcare is taken care of (and mean it.. no last minute arrangements).

The key element to this gift is not so much the pampering but the planning that She DOESN’T Have to do to get pampered.

I myself have been sitting on a pedicure gift card for a while. But have postponed my pampering becuase I always think of a more “practical” use of my time; running errands, cleaning, giving my daughter a bath, clipping coupons, etc. Even when I consider using it, my mind begins to wander to the “babysitting” decision and I give up :)

I hope this helps… I know I would LOVE IT!!!

I would say a weekend away. Take her to a bed and breakfast for the weekend, no kids, no phones, no computers. Visit some local places nearby to it or prehaps take in a show. But mostly just relax.

OK, I gave you my suggestion before but I just remembered one of the sweetest gifts I ever received and wanted to share it with you and anyone else who’s able to wade through all these awesome ideas, lol. I received a beautiful locket from my neighbors when I was moving far away and in it was the pictures of each of them, who I considered (and still do) close friends. I happened to find a close match to that locket here http://www.treasuredfinds.com/Products/9629-28-Four-Photo-Folding-Orb-Locket.htm
I think it would be great to either add to my original post of bringing in (or sending her out to) a close friend or relative she would like to see for a nice, fun & relaxing visit. It would be great to do a family photo in one spot, a photo from that day in another, a photo of you two in a third and one special photo, may be of your wedding day in the fourth. There are so many possibilities with such a unique locket! I know its one of those gifts that still makes me warm inside knowing of all the thought and love that went into that gift!

BTW, good luck figuring out the best gift! There are too many that are perfect! :D

This may sound cheesy but why not make up a coupon booklet with nice things like “Good for one free bubble bath” or “Good for one free dinner at Jenny’s favorite restaurant.”

Good luck!

OK, I’m laughing because I was on my computer downstairs and just came up to my dh’s computer upstairs and thought I’d take a look at SS … and couldn’t help to look at this post’s comments to see if there were anymore suggestions. I just want to state, that the Rebecca after my 11:57 post is another Rebecca (hey there Rebecca, lol) and not me posting a third time. Oh, that would be bad! Lol. We are totally different people. :D

The best gift I ever received was time alone with my husband. My in-laws gave us a gift certificate for a dinner cruise, we lived in Hawaii at the time so as you can imagine it was an absolutely beautiful scene. All I ever really want is a romantic evening with my husband with no worries.

Best gift for Jenny? Take over her “couponing” duties for a week and give her a mental vacation. You search for the deals, coupons, match-ups, sales, etc… that so many of us have come to rely on Jenny for that has truly saved us so much more than money. Cannot put into words how much of a “friend” Jenny has become to me & my family through this website.
So really what can you get someone to show them how truly invaluable they are? :)
Good luck & Merry Christmas!

My husband gave me a $200 gift certificate to my favorite restaurant, which last for about 6 months. It was nice to be able to enjoy eating out, without worrying about the money.

I just started couponing about 6 months ago and for our wedding anniversary he surprised me with a new coupon organizer. I used to just stuff my coupons in my purse.

Having dinner made for an x amout of time would be nice. My husband did that for me for one week and it was nice to relax from cooking for a week.

One anniversary, he made our wedding video to DVD. It used to be in VHS but I’ve always wanted to be in DVD so it would make viewing easier.

My husband, who is not a graphics person at all, created a “company” called Hubby, Inc. He’s used this “company” to create a menu so I could pre-order breakfast in bed for my birthday. Last Christmas, he printed off several coupons from Hubby, Inc. for things such as free massages, bubble baths, he cooks dinner one night when I don’t want to, we go out to dinner one night when I don’t feel like cooking, etc. It gives me a free pass, no questions asked, no arguments etc. when things get a little crazy and I just feel like relaxing or not cooking. He also included a gift card for a massage for a nearby spa. My husband’s usually not as creative as a gift giver, but last year was so thoughtful!!

You should figure up ALL the money that she has saved your family over the years by being an avid couponer…and give it back to her to spend however she likes…. :)

Go to Tiffany’s.

My suggestion is something like a maid service/housecleaning service for a year (or whatever amount of time). What a huge help that would be!

I think Jenny would love to fly to New York for a few days, see the sights, and go see a broadway show.Also, someone else mentioned a Kindle, which would be fabulous!

A day by herself to do whatever she wants to do is a great gift. Also let her choose a concert or show that she would like to see and give her tickets. Anything that has her in mind would be a great gift. My husband suprised me a couple of years ago with tickets to see the Rocketts Christmas show in Nashville. It was a fantastic nite. Really, all she wants is to feel special and probably to share it with a good man (you of course)

As a mom of three with a stay-at-home business, I can say that my DREAM gift is a hired cleaning help! Even if it doesn’t last all year…to have someone come in and clean my house top to bottom…. THAT would be a dream! (Steam cleaning the carpets would be icing on the cake!)

What Jenny needs is a “statement piece.”

Because Jenny is a saver / bargain hunter / savvy shopper, she will probably NEVER splurge on herself. But the fact is, every woman like her (us) WANTS a collection of statement pieces, be it shoes, handbags, coats, etc.

The thing with statement pieces is that they make a statement for the following reasons:
1) authentic
2) classic/timeless
3) expensive

My husband is the only one who will purchase these things for me because I feel guilty buying them for myself, but by far, these continue to be my favorite wardrobe accessories.

Here are two ideas to get you started:
1. A designer bag: clutch (my favorite), messenger bag, purse
2. Designer sunglasses

http://www.efashionhouse.com/

A new family friendly car. In the driveway Christmas morning with a bow on top like in the commercials!

Is she into any hobbies? I just got into Stained Glass making and mosiacs and that is what I am asking for. My husband has his woodworking stuff set up in the garage, so I told him I want just a corner to set up for my stuff…

As a fellow mom of twins, the perfect gift for me would be a day just for ME. Gift card for a facial or massage, lunch at a girlie spot with some friends, etc. But one of the best things my husband ever did was to book a trip to NYC for a girlfriend and me. We shopped, ate, walked around and had a blast. Best gift ever.

Husband…if you and I know Jenny (I dont, I just know what we share in common) I want you to find out something that she has been wanting on Amazon (make sure it is $50 or a couple of things that add up to $50) and if I WIN…I want to give her the $50 Gift card (use that to buy her present!) make sure you do it on a “Free Shipping Day” and that would make her very happy!
It would be my pleasure for her to get the card because she deserves that and so much more! She has helped me and I just cannot thank her enough! She gives everyday….I would like to give the $50 towards her present if I were to win!

well, this post sure has sparked many responses!! I hope this has not already been suggested, I would LOVE it if my husband made a homemade Coupon book, Coupons MUST habe NO Expiration date:
(some of the ones I would Really love)
1. Free: 30 min massage from hubby (hey, this may result in a present for you too)
2. Hubby does the dishes… no questions asked. :)
3. Hubby does the laundry… without any complaining..
4. Mommy gets to sleep late today, (Include a couple of these!!!)
5. Mommy gets a long hot bubble bath without any interruptions from the kids. (hey take a nice glass of wine, candles too, watch the kids… this may also reult in a present for you too)
6. Hubby does the cooking tonight.

As many as you want… these are just some of the ones I would really love. Print them out on the computer & put them in a little book. As much as she loves coupons I am sure she will get a kick out of this…It wont cost a penny other than paper & ink and it is from the heart… She will really enjoy the opportunity to kick back & redeem them … Hey we all need it once & a while :).

OH!!! you could do this, get bubble bath,massage oil, wine/candle etc. (put the coupon in an envelope on the outside)do each one in a seperate gift bag or wrapping, Then she has a gift to go with each coupon she will redeem!!!!

Write a letter to her telling her the things you love about her and the things you are thankful for. Don’t hold back on the sentiment. Take it to a frame shop and have it matted and framed with a photo of her. The letter lets her know you appreciate her. The frame lets her know that you love her enough to put it on display. (This would be even more perfect if you had a old love letter to frame with it.)

Then take her on a sentimental scavenger hunt. Lead her from place to place with clues. Make the locations places that are special to her (where you proposed, where she grew up, favorite place to go, etc). Make the last stop a restaurant that is special in your history and take time to listen to all of the memories the scavenger hunt brought up, give her her gift, and just spend time making her feel special.

I didn’t read all of the other because there were SO many! But one of my favorite adult christmas gifts has been the keurig coffee maker! I LOVE that thing!!!!

A weekend away…to a couponing seminar, knitting, sewing, shopping or just spa-ing. :)

I asked my husband what he thought, and he came up with the following… He knows how much time I spend on finding, clipping and organizing coupons, as well as actually grocery shopping. So, maybe you could do all of this for Jenny for a month (which is probably a fulltime job) and then use all your savings from grocery shopping to have a night out on the town (or, even better, a weekend away) for the two of you!

Have fun!

My husband is the genius of last minute gifts. Two Christmases ago I was still bounding along with my iPod mini and for Christmas he got me an 80GB iPod Video. Which I listen to every day in the car.

I asked him for a crockpot one year, and he bought it, though a much fancier version than I ever would have. It came with a case and all for transporting.

This year he’s getting a Kindle & I’m getting a Wii & Wii Fit. We’re geeky gadget people, so this just adds to the pile of electronics.

Otherwise, maybe some maid service. I know I HATE to dust, with a fiery passion and would love to have someone come in and dust for me, instead of me doing it all by my lonesome.

Quality kitchen tools like: some nice stainless steel pots and pans, some pampered chef stoneware, bamboo cutting board, nice cutting knives, oh sorry – that’s my Christmas list! But she may like some of these items too! Anything to make cooking easier and taste better!

Your wife sounds like a very thoughtful woman, so I would think she would love if you sponsored a child for Christmas, in her name. Maria’s House of Hope comes to mind since our Hope which comes from Jesus our Savior is what Christmas is about, right? Maria’s House of Hope is an organization that comes to mind because Steven Curtis Chapman’s wife came to our church to speak about it recently. This China-based orphanage is called Show Hope and it’s primary goal is to find permanent homes for those orphans. They also give medical care for special needs orphans. Each month, about You can sponsor them with 35.00 or more a month. The site is: http://www.showhope.org/home.aspx
and a great intro video is here : http://blog.showhope.org/?p=321

Blessings this Christmas, and enjoy shopping.

The best gift I ever received was a weekend with friends! If you could coordinate with Jenny’s friends’ husbands, then you would all be heroes! Just pick a nice, not so far away place, book a room (or two) and put a note with the details in her stocking! An added “detail” would be to make a CD with songs that she and her friends might enjoy!

Everything that you put off doing all year :) Fixing the squeaky door, the drippy faucet, and something sparkly! I agree with Jenny- Tiffany’s always fits and they will ship to you!

Cash and lots of it. If you don’t have cash, shoes and chocolate will work!

I just bought myself this gift… I hired a lady that is an Image Consultant. It is kind of like “What Not to Wear” and she came and analyzed my closet and gave me ideas of what goes with what. She also said what body type I had and what colors go best on me. I know that after becoming a Mom, I lost all fashion sense and didn’t know how to dress anymore. It was really fun and something that many women wished they could do. Check on Imageconsultants.com for a list of consultants in your area. I paid $75 per hour in Georgia but my friend in Ohio only paid $80 for 3 hours!

One of my favorite gifts from my husband was a half-day at an Aveda salon spa for a facial, manicure, and pedicure. It was so relaxing to be pampered. If moms need anything, it’s a chance to relax for a while.

I think you should buy her an open heart pendant designed by Jane Seymour from Kay Jewelers. The meaning of the pendant is beautiful, and Jenny has such an open heart to welcome us in without charging for her site!!!

We all love Jenny and I’m sure that her time with you has diminished because of our wants and needs. Everyone should send you $1 (since we’re all so frugal) and the two of you use it to take time for each other without anyone else (aka-kids). Jenny has saved me so much, heck, I’ll donate $5!!!!

I’ve got my eye on the Shark Steam Mop. That thing looks amazing.

what a fun way to pick out a gift for jenny! i hope you do not get overwhelmed. i almost did not respond bc i would be overwhelmed if i were you reading all these responses. my suggestion is a white mountian ice cream maker. (williams sonoma and other stores online) i got my husband one this year bc it reminds both of us of all the holidays with the family when i was a kid. everyone couldn’t wait until the ice cream was ready!!! i am getting my grandfather’s recipe and all the ingredients to have on hand so we can make it on Christmas day after he opens it. :) I will share this recipe if you want it….just email me! :)

To make a frugal woman happy you have too appeal to her frugal side and yet surprise her with thoughtfulness and creativity.

1) you can create a binder with clear sheets with pockets (like the ones for baseball cards and photos) and a make a sheet of labels for categories of grocery items, dairy, frozen meals etc.
2) place it in a new light weight over the shoulder bag to accommodate the binder, complete with pen, calculator, and a notepad for writing down those rain check items.
3) sheets of printed labels for the coupons
4) Then label just one of the pockets “Merry Christmas” and place tickets to a Christmas show ( lights at the zoo) or movie for either just the two of you or the whole family so that new Christmas memories can be made.
5) Each week slip a sweet note for her to find in the bag
God Bless and Merry Christmas.

Fill a box or basket with gifts that will stir memories or help make new ones. You could cover her from head to toe – pretty earrings, some clothes she wouldn’t splurge on for herself, those Reeboks she said she wants. A gift certificate to your favorite restaurant or store makes planning for a date easy. Add in a CD and/or movie she’s enjoyed with you and write her a little love note or poem reminding her of how special she is to you.

Sorry if this idea is posted already, there was no way i could read all the replies. :0) I want my hubby to take our girls to Color Me Mine (a franchise of ceramics stores if you havent seen one) and paint something and have our girls help out as well as incorporate their hand prints or photo on it. Also we have agreed to write each other letters this Christmas to save $, in mine for example Im going to recap our years together and fond memories along with my hopes and dreams for our future. We’ve agreed that we can buy most items whenever we want, but compliments and treasured moments are like small gifts each time they are relived.

Manicures and pedicures don’t last. But the thought in planning the day where she has not a care in the world is priceless. A facial and massage, then a surprise lunch with one of her best friends, the house maid while she is out and then surprise dinner with you or the whole family would top off the whole day! A rejuvenated woman equals a happy home :)

Good luck choosing I’m sure you will find the perfect one.

You should make her a personalized coupon book! Inside you can include a free massage, dinner date night, babysit the kids, clean the house, etc. A personal gift from the heart is the best kind of gift, and I’m sure she wouldn’t say no to a night off from cooking!

My dh got all the film developed for me one year! It WAS sweet. Well the very sweetest Christmas was when he had my rings fixed. They literally had to cut the band off me after I’d had chemo and surg for bc. I got lymphadema type swelling. It was the band that was his grandmas and the diamond was the one his dad gave his mom so they were special and I had only been wearing a small thin silver ring. I did not even know he did it at all! Was priceless. (He is my childhood sweetie and we have 4 kids -we are now in our 40s!) Well that same year my dd had all the old home videos put on dvds. Also priceless. That would be a great one.
But another gift dh gave me that I really did love- Tresor perfume- (a very romantic scent) and $100 gcs to Macy’s because the day after Christmas sales are AWESOME there.

The thing I really want- a Wii, with the Wii fit package. I know this isn’t the typical girl-gift, but I am a stay at home mom of 2, and don’t have the time, money, or desire to pack my two kids up to head to the gym where I’ll just end up feeling self-conscious and be burned out from it after 2 weeks… BUT, I really do want to make good on my desire and New Year’s resolution to become more fit! What a bonus that I could actually have fun in the process! My sister has one, and believe it or not, it can work you into a sweat! I’m sure with Jenny’s busy schedule, this sort of exercise fun would be a welcome addition to the household. And, yes, you can eventually buy games for it for yourself too… just not right away. At least let her think the Wii was for her for a little while. :)

Two of the best gifts my husband has given me were: 1. a weekend away with some of my closest friends to a spa that was close to shopping and a cruise with him to the Virgin Islands with no kids. Time to rest, relax and refresh! Best of luck choosing!

Find some old pictures, maybe of her parents and grandparents, have them printed and framed in pretty frames.

I would say a relaxing day at the spa, then you should pick her up and take her to dinner. I would also include a nice bottle of purfume. I mean if you are one a budget, alot of our Radio stations have what they call 50/50 deal you can look online for those.

I think a book created by you on Snapfish would be awesome! You can include pages on just you and her, or your lives together. You can make it large or small, short or long, provide the pics and the words and they will bind it into a book. How sweet and special!

(plus you can save 20% off right now by using the code holiday09 at checkout)

My hubby sent me to the spa for a pedicure with a girl friend so I would have someone to chat with and share the experience. It was fabulous.

One costly suggestion: one of the best gifts I have ever heard of was a plane ticket for one, and reservations for a weekend at a nice cottage on a beach. With the ticket and reservation was a note saying a surprise guest will be meeting her there. The wife went, very excited and curious, and already at the cottage was her best friend who lived across the country and she hadn’t seen in two years.

One less costly suggestion along the same kind of idea: a booklet with 12 pages, one page per month. Each page had one date on it and plans for that date. Some examples would be: On the 12th you are invited to Angie’s for hot chocolate and scrapbooking. On the 20th Sarah, Stephanie and you will go see blank movie at the theater together. On the tenth we will have a babysitter and I will take you out to the restaurant of your choice. On the 5th you will have a free night home alone to do whatever you want, I will take the kids out. And so on. Anything with friends would obviously be planned with them beforehand.

Good luck!

My family is going to play hobo santa this year. My present is the Just for Men touch of gray (with the bottom UPC symbol missing-really LOL). All the presents including time, spa, girls night out, and diamonds are excellent gifts. You should start with a prank like this and graduate to a real gift of your choosing, of course nothing with a cord!

I think I found the perfect gift tonight! A gift that is a good value and keeps on giving, is practical and delicious! I have always wanted fruit trees because being able to pick a piece of fruit at any time is so great for the whole family-healthy and convenient!! I have never pursued the idea because I thought it would take too many years and I’d probably kill them for lack of a green thumb! Went to a friend’s today and they buy these and have HUGE fruit the very next year! And they’re mostly $24-$30 each, are already about 4 feet tall, and are shipped in a box. With these, you save ALOT of money (because you don’t have to buy as much fruit), and you can give from the abundance! If you get one or more, then plant them with the kids for her, I think she’ll LOVE it!!!!