It's no secret to many of this in the area, and for parents it's even less of a secret, times are tight and families don't have the extra cash for expensive gifts. So what can you do? What kind of creative gifts are approriate to give? Does being creative mean you have to be crafty?

I personally try very hard to make many of the gifts I give; If I don't make them, I like to create something that's personalized for each individual. However I am always looking for new ideas for gift giving. That's why the "Creative Gift Giving on a Budget" event came across my radar as a potential must-do for me.

This Wednesday, Nov. 10, at Paesano's Restaurant (3411 Washtenaw Ave.) from 7 to 9 p.m., the Mothers and More chapter in Washtenaw County will meet to swap ideas for fun, creative gifts on a budget. So if you are looking for a new idea, this free event might just be the place for you!

Tammy Mayrend is a Ann Arbor search marketing professional and mother of two who blogs on low-cost local activities, events, and Ann Arbor area freebies for families at annarbormom.com.