Oprah’s Favorite Things 2008 show which was aired on November 26th was very different from past year’s shows where Oprah gave the audience thousands of dollars in gifts. This year was very well done on how to enjoy your holidays and give gifts that won’t put you into debt.

Oprah being the person she is understands the financial stress not only the country is under, but the people themselves. So her main focus was to show you how to have a great holiday season without spending a lot of money. Things that would make a difference in someone’s life and touch their hearts, without breaking the bank.

Oprah’s Favorite Things 2008 was a combination of things such as Gratitude boxes, which Oprah says is one of her all time favorite things and she still, does it to this day. You can make or buy a Gratitude box for as little as $2 and place heartfelt notes inside to the person. These notes can be from just one person, friends or family. Words from the heart mean much more to people than something you buy them.

One thing that Oprah did this year was to take her favorite artist’s holiday songs including Brian McKnight, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”, Harry Connick Jr., “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas”, Tony Bennett, “I’ll be Home for Christmas”, Il Divo, “O Holy Night” and many, many more of music’s greatest Christmas songs available for download along with all of the CD’s cover art at her website.

A thrifty holiday gift is a Treasure Box as was shown on Oprah’s Favorite Things 2008 show. You can find a Treasure box for around $12 and some are finished wood and others are bare wood you can stain. Then get yourself some folders and plastic sheet protectors and put them in there and start a collection of mementos that the receiver will hold dear to their heart. These can be made for anyone from a child to adult. Put special photos, cards, awards, letters etc anything you want. If it is for your child then you and your child can add things to the Treasure box together and if you give it to someone special then they can add things and when a special occasion comes up you can give them something to add to it also.

Chocolate in all shapes and sizes is always a popular item, but during the holidays hot chocolate becomes even more popular. Holiday Chocolate Cones is a very inexpensive gift to give to anyone, not just children. A quick search on the internet will give you plenty of recipe ideas to make your own hot chocolate mix that gets marshmallows and topped off with chocolate chips. Creative containers such as candy bags or piping bags can be found at a local craft store and top it off with a nice piece of ribbon or a bow.

How about a Swap party? Have a themed one, and set a price that will be spent, or even a cookie swap etc. Have everyone bring a dozen cookies for each person attending, so if there are 8 people that come you bring 8 dozen cookies and leave with 8 dozen cookies, but have 8 different kinds. That way you don’t have to bake all those cookies. If you love to cook or have access to a garden you might want to make Gift Baskets of goodies that you prepared to give as gifts. How about some homemade blueberry jam, peanut brittle, cookies, add in some Holiday Chocolate cones, whatever you want to put in there I am sure your gift will be greatly appreciated and it’s another idea from Oprah’s Favorite Things 2008 that won’t break the bank.

This year’s Oprah’s Favorite Things 2008 includes a book that she has fallen in love with. It is written by David Wroblewski, “The Story of Edgar Sawtelle”. A wonderful novel about a boy who was born mute, speaking only in sign. This is a recommended read with Oprah’s book club.

There are also several other items on Oprah’s Favorite Things 2008 that are broken down by price range starting at under $25 up to $100 and then there is Oprah’s All Time Favorites list. So you can have a great holiday season and not empty your bank account.

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