For those of us that have friends or clients that have recently moved, here are some great price breaking ideas for gift baskets that you can put together yourself and use as housewarming presents to welcome them into their new home.
• A meal to go - Moving is hard work and at the end of a day of moving and unpacking a prepared meal packed in microwavable containers complete with cutlery plates, napkins, cups and beverages is always welcome. Pack a picnic basket with something as simple as hero sandwiches (with all the trimmings) and hot soup. Add to that some fruit and you’ve delivered a veritable feast. The energy boost and the break from the hard work will be much appreciated.
• A Moving Day Survival Kit - Use a storage or laundry bin and fill it with a flashlight, cleaning supplies, toilet paper, tissues, paper towels, sponges, cleaning rags, light bulbs,
extension cord, soap,
some paper goods and plastic utensils, pen, paper, soap, toothpaste and anything else you can think of that you might need before you’ve finished unpacking to get you through that first day in your new home. Drop it off and have it waiting for them when they arrive in their new home with a “welcome” note.
• A Pasta and Wine Basket – Use a Colander as your basket and line it with a checkered cloth (linen or paper). Fill it with pasta, pasta sauce, cheese, crackers and a bottle of your favorite wine to toast them in their new home.
• A Spa Basket – Fill a shower caddy with bubble bath, soap, shampoo, moisturizer, body wash, talcum and a loofah sponge. After a day of unpacking they’ll welcome the chance to luxuriate in a hot bath to remove the grime and dirt of the move.
• A Gardening Basket – For the person with a green thumb or the gardener among us, pack a large watering can or planter with some gardening tools, a plant or seedlings, dirt, fertilizer, and garden gloves - something to grow
together with them as 
they grow new memories in their new home.
• A basket of Tools – Use a toolbox or pail and fill it with basic hardware supplies like hammer, nails, pliers,
screwdrivers, scissors, tape, notepad, shelving paper, thumbtacks and picture hooks. Then they’ll have on hand everything they need to fix and put together the items that got dismantled in the moving process so that they can finish the job of unpacking and getting organized in their new home.
• An Art Basket – All it takes to get the Artwork up in a home. Use a photo shelf or mini easel to place a framed photo of the new house on. Include picture hangers, picture hanging wire, nails, hooks, ribbons and a leveler. 
• A Welcome to the Neighborhood Basket - It takes awhile to orient oneself to the new surroundings. Why
not make it easier by including a map of the neighborhood with a list of some of your favorite local haunts complete with address and telephone numbers. Make sure to include the name and number of a local pharmacy, doctor, electrician, plumber and appliance repairman. A local telephone directory is helpful too. Add a gift certificate to a local Starbucks or Bagel Stop or better yet, an invitation to join you for coffee at your favorite hangout for a chance to get to know your neighbor.
I’m sure there are many other great gift basket ideas you might have. What are some of your favorites?
Why not share them.
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