You may think themed gifts sound corny, but they can actually be delightful — and help you save money.  Especially in a group of friends or a family, you can work together around a common theme, each spending a limited amount of money, but building up to a great gift.

Let me give you some examples:

Your sister-in-law just moved into her first apartment on her own.  Help her to get ready to entertain but giving her gifts around a dinner party theme:  A set of dishes that actually match (I'm not talking china here — you can get service for 8 for around $40), a nice tablecloth or runner and some cloth napkins, inexpensive matching wine glasses, water goblets, martini glasses, a bar set, a few serving trays.  Individuals can spend as little as $15 or $20, but put together, she'll be ready to entertain. She might even invite you.

Your brother is an aspiring cook.  While new pots or a serious chef's knife may be out of your price range, there are lots of options:  small, useful kitchen gadgets, like silicon baking liners, a good meat thermometer, or a food mill, spice tins — filed with spices (shop in ethnic markets or World Market to get great deals on small quantities of exotic spices — the sizes sold in most grocery stores are too large), a pastry bag with an array of tips, an interesting cookbook or two.

Your best friend is stressed.  Get her girlfriends together to create a relaxation gift:  good chocolate, herbal tea, good moisturizer, some aromatherapy candles, bath salts, exfoliating scrib and gloves for a spa at home experience, a gift certificate for a manicure/pedicure or a kit to do her own.

Your husband loves his car.  How about getting the family together to purchase accessories or a satellite radio and several months' subscription, or monthly detailing for a year.

For the inveterate traveler, get a traveler's money belt, an iPod shuffle loaded wth a few audiobooks, memory cards for a digital camera.

Gather your friends and pick a theme for each recipient, then fill in the blanks around that theme.  It's easier than you think.