• A bottle of wine is one way to say thanks.Maria Toutoudaki/Photodisc/Getty Images
  
  A thank you gift says a lot when your friends help you move or pick up your mail while you're out of town. When choosing the ideal thank you gift for friends, it does not have to be a stressful decision. Consider why you are thanking them as well as their interests when choosing the gift.
  
  

Souvenirs

• If your friends watched your dog or house while you were out of town, thank him with a souvenir from your vacation destination. Skip generic magnets and coffee mugs, and bring back an item that is specific to that area. For example if you are visiting San Francisco, bring home sourdough bread to share with your friend, or if you are returning from Milwaukee, share some beer from the Lakefront or Miller Breweries.
  
  

Restaurant Voucher

• Give your friends a restaurant voucher or gift card as a thank you gift. Especially after a long day of moving, an intimate dinner out allows your friends to relax and have a night out. Restaurant gift cards are available at restaurants or as prepaid cards at drug, department and grocery stores. Make sure to consider how many friends will be eating off the voucher and that the restaurant is nearby.
  
  

Wine

• If your friends are wine connoisseurs, pick up a bottle of moderately priced wine as a thank you gift. Select a brand you know they enjoy or something new if they like trying different flavors. Visit a wine shop or your local grocery store to purchase a bottle. A large selection of wine is available at World Market and Trader Joe's, often with bottles that you cannot find in most generic stores, and you can even buy bottles by the case.
  
  

Coupon

• Return a favor to your friends with a thank you coupon. Write an IOU to your friends along with a small gift to say thanks. If you are willing to help your friends move, babysit or house sit, they are more likely to help you in the future as well. This is a creative way to say you have their back when they need help, too.