Saving Craving! Savings tip: Thrift store gift baskets for kids

I know I've posted about this a few times (HERE for example) but just a reminder...

You should NEVER have to buy new children's books!

We have a thrift store just up the street from my house called Deseret Industries (D.I). They have the BEST children's books! I went in the other day and walked out with a load of books. The best part? Many of them were brand new, the spines never bent before.

Regardless of the size, they are all $0.50. I even got some huge books that play music or have pop-up pages. They are really neat.
There are a few that you can tell are used, but just barely. Take this one for example:

It has a small imperfection on the cover, but the pages and rest of the book are in mint condition.
My son's library is really stacking up...and he's barely 9 months old!

Take advantage of these books for yourself, and remember that they make GREAT gifts. One of my best friends' sons turned 1 the other day and I made him this basket:

 I took these pictures a few days before the basket was finished, I forgot to take a final product picture!

You get the idea, though. The end result: 17 books, 1 peg puzzle, an educational Leapfrog toy, and a CD with 3 baby movies on it. The books were really cool. Lots of pop-up books, cardboard baby books, and books with moving parts. Here's how I did it:

• Most of the books I got from D.I. I have had better luck here than any library or other thrift store; I guess you just need to shop around near you. Each book averaged about $0.50. 
• Bought the basket at a different thrift store, $3.99
• Got the toy from D.I also, $1
• Bought 3 Sesame Street and Barney VHS tapes. I burned them to a cute DVD for her, made a copy for my baby, and will donate them back to D.I or give them to a friend:

• Wrapped the basket in cute blue/white polka dot ribbon (free from my house) and stuffed the basket with matching tissue paper (free also)
• Bought the puzzle from Target ($2.50)

Grand total for an ENORMOUS goodie basket?

Roughly $15-$17.

You could certainly buy someone a new baby toy for $15, but I just supplied my friend's son with an entire library of books, a new toy, 3 new movies, and a new basket for the same price. Plus, it's a unique gift that no one else gave! I'm thinking this will be my new signature gift for people from here on out.

What do you think?

Happy savings to you :)