When someone is in the hospital, I like to visit and take something to brighten their room or pass the time away. However, when someone I care about is in the hospital and lives far away, a visit is just not possible.
That’s when sending flowers comes to mind. That’s also when you can easily discover that doing so will cost you close to $50 even for the simplest arrangements.
Recently I discovered another option: the hospital gift shop.
Located in the hospital, there’s no delivery fee. Not only that, but their arrangements are usually affordably priced. Many gift shops offer the option of adding a book, magazine, or another gift option from all they carry in their shop.
Recently, I was able to send a friend a floral arrangement, a magazine, and a book for just $25! Using a traditional florist, I couldn’t have even sent an arrangement for that price.
I love when I discover deals like that!
What about you? What strategies have you used to send get well wishes to someone on a “living with less” budget?
PS. The No More Perfect Moms FREE Facebook study starts next Tuesday! There are over 1,000 moms signed up! You can still join the fun. Just ask to be part of the group here!
A cheaper way … for where I live… would be to get flowers at the local grocery store 🙂 and either bring your own vase or purchase one there. Our hospital gift stores are on the costly side 🙂
Yes, definitely. In my case, the person was hospitalized far from my home. I couldn’t visit them…just wanted to send flowers to let them know they were being thought of!
That’s a great tip!
I use Hallmark.com to send e-greeting cards – you can subscribe to a $12 a year e-card plan and have unlimited e-cards. You can use their online address book to keep emails of those you send regularly to, and you can set up a calendar with reminders for birthdays, anniversaries, etc. It may not be as good as sending a “real” card, but on a tight budget, something is better than nothing. And isn’t it the thought that counts anyway?