Housewarming Gift for New Neighbors
- Be sure to include a note with your housewarming gift.christmas basket with gifts image by Kathy Burns from Fotolia.com
Moving into a new neighborhood can be stressful and a little scary. Often the people are moving away from their friends and family, so a housewarming gift allows you to let them know they've moved into a caring community. You don't have to spend a lot and you can be as creative as you wish. - If you make desserts, bring over a plate of freshly baked cookies, brownies or even a pie. Baking it yourself shows the neighbors you're willing to put in the time, but you can also purchase it from a local store or restaurant. Or if you have a fruit tree or grow vegetables in your garden, bring over a basket of freshly picked produce. Put a bow on the basket and attach a card from your family. You can offer other dishes as well, like lasagna, chicken soup or a casserole.
- If you know your neighbors haven't had a chance to stock up on items for their garden, you could give them a plant or two. Or give them an indoor plant for their living room or den. According to houseplantgrowing.com, cast-iron plants do well in low lighting and don't require a lot of watering. Jade plants are easy to grow and enjoy bright light. Ponytail palms can grow up to five feet, but they can also go about two weeks without watering. All are great easy-to-care for choices.
- If you knit, you could make your new neighbors a blanket or little mittens or scarfs if they have children. You could also embroider a pillow, welcoming them to the neighborhood. If you make gingerbread houses, you could offer them one or even help their children make their own. If you have a neighborhood knitting club, invite them and even give them a starter kit. A homemade doll can also work as a gift, but typically only if they have children.
- Gift certicates to local restaurants will help introduce your new neighbors to the area. You could also give gift certificates to the local golf course. Offer to play with them if you happen to be a member of the country club, but leave the option for them to play on their own. Movie gift certificates, as well as gift certificates to a local amusement park, will surely excite their children.
- Marthastewart.com recommends offering a combination of symbolic gifts. In the movie "It's a Wonderful Life," three symbolic gifts are given: 1) bread, so the house will never know hunger; 2) salt, that life will always have flavor; and 3) wine, that joy and prosperity may reign in this house forever. Giving symbolic gifts can offer more meaning than a simple plant or pie. You can either tell the neighbors what each gift represents or attach the explanation in the form of a note.
