5 inexpensive and thoughtful gifts for any occasion

Great gift giving doesn't always come down to the price tag. With a little creativity and a lot of love, you can give inexpensive gifts for any occasion that will always be treasured.

The trick, of course, is to tailor your gift to the recipient. The more you consider the person receiving the gift and his or her particular tastes, the more likely your gift will be a hit.

To get you started here are a few fun and inexpensive gift ideas.

This is a fun twist on an old classic. In today's digital age, mix tapes are a thing of a past, but their memory lingers.

Bring them into the modern age by putting MP3s of your favourite songs on a USB drive. The best part? You don't have to rewind a USB drive to play the songs again.

Photographs are so commonly shared on phones and social media that it's easy to forget the impact a printed picture can have. Many stores have photo labs where you can print digital pictures for a minimal fee.

• By choosing photographs that are meaningful to you and taking the time to mount them in an album, you create a private, special gallery for the gift receiver. It's a great way to highlight cherished memories away from the hustle and bustle of social media.

Subscription boxes that arrive each month are a fun new phenomenon in internet shopping. Part of the fun is that subscribers never quite know what they'll receive each month. While some boxes can be quite expensive, there are also a large number available for less than ten dollars per month in categories such as food, beer or healthy and beauty.

Never underestimate the value of a good meal. The advantage of cooking a meal is that you can make it as extravagant or as modest an experience as you like. And, of course, you might even get a bite or two yourself.

• For an extra-special touch, add a bottle of wine to complement the meal you've made. Then, place everything in a wicker picnic basket.

When an author really speaks to you it's something special, so why not share that feeling with a loved one? Take a beloved book from your shelves and spend a moment inscribing a message for your recipient, explaining why you chose the book and what it means to you.

• Adding a personal note to infuse the book with special meaning will create a truly unforgettable gift.

In the end, what really matters is the thought you put into your gifts.

Spend some time thinking about the relationship you have with the recipient and how you'd like to honour it. By doing so, you open avenues to new gift ideas and special keepsakes that are truly one-of-a-kind.