Cheap Wedding Gifts: When You Have More Weddings to Attend Than You Do Cash in Your Pocket

As wedding season quickly approaches, you may find yourself confronted with a barrage of invitations to "parties" ostensibly thrown to allow the bride (or groom) to share this memorable event with all her near and dear ones.

But who are we kidding?

These aren't "parties" in the traditional sense, in that a group of friends meets to drink, eat, and shoot the breeze. It isn't a "party" in that you can show up an hour late, make an appearance to show that you were there, and quickly determine whether or not it's worth you while.

All that's really expected of you is the gift.

Short of sequestering yourself in you house for the entire season and declaring yourself opposed to all things romantic, you are required to fork over gifts for bridal showers and bachelorette parties, not to mention the big event itself. This may not seem like a big deal to some, but when you stack three or four of these weddings in the span of a few months, even the most elastic pocketbook starts to hide itself underneath the dusty corners of your couch in fear.

Fortunately, there are ways to save you from declaring bankruptcy while still declaring your joy at the coming nuptials. Chances are, the bride (or groom) is going to be so overwhelmed by the number of gifts that your carefully-budgeted ways may actually go by unheeded. The trick is in thoughtfulness and of course, the packaging.

* Most wedding registries have several smaller kitchen utensils listed (things like spatulas, ladles, etc.). You can get away with only buying about three of these - just make sure they are all the same relative height. Purchase an inexpensive but pretty vase. Arrange the utensils as though they were flowers (you can even throw in a few plastic flowers, should you be inclined). Tie a ribbon around the vase, and you have a beautiful and whimsical gift.