I love giving gifts to our friends and neighbors but our budget requires that I use a bit of creativity. An all around favorite is the Family Movie Basket. I visit our local hardware store and purchase some cardboard paint mixing tubs. These look very similar to popcorn tubs you find at the theater, are inexpensive and make for fun packaging. I then fill each tub with a 2 liter pop, some candy bars, a couple bags of microwave popcorn and a coupon for one or two video rentals.

Each gift is under $10 and they have been well received. In fact, oen family enjoyed it so much they started a weekly “movie night” in response.

If you want to bump it up a notch, the Schoolhouse Store has the perfect addition. For only $11.95 you can add A Family Guide to Classic Movies to your package. This 354 page book reviews over 500 classic movies – a great resource for any family. And it ships free!

Dena Wood is co-owner of Trigger Memory Systems, producer of Times Tales and the Clean N' Flip and other non-traditional educational products. She also does freelance writing and manages the Schoolhouse Store for The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. She resides in eastern Washington state and homeschools the three youngest of her five children. You can contact her at triggermemory@charter.net