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10 Christmas Gifts That Don’t Cost A Lot

Many people associate Christmas and the holiday season with going broke and spending lots of money on presents. We’d like to help you avoid that this year, so we’ve collected several gift ideas you can give to friends, co-workers, and loved ones that don’t cost a lot of money. Think beyond the packet of handmade task coupons (good for one free day of cleaning your house, one foot rub, a night of babysitting/pet sitting, one leaf raking session, etc.) and choose any one of these 10 Christmas gifts that don’t cost a lot.

Gift cards. There are so many choices when it comes to gift cards! You can give gift cards for food, coffee, smoothies, music, movies, wine, restaurants, spas, clothing stores, shoe stores, auction sites, and the list goes on. You can purchase them in denominations ranging from $5 to $50, so make a list of your favorite people and their favorite things and make the most of your holiday budget with gift cards. If you really have no idea what type of gift card would be best, you can always purchase a VISA or Mastercard gift card and let the recipient decide where to spend the money.

Cookbooks. Do you know a recent college grad living on their own, or a newly married couple? Chances are they don’t have a lot of experience in the kitchen and could use the help of a good cookbook. There are so many varieties to choose from; classic Betty Crocker, budget meals, crockpot meals, one pot meals, vegan, vegetarian, Paleo, Keto, whole foods, desserts, side dishes, casseroles and more. You really can’t go wrong here. Don’t tell anyone we told you this, but good as new cookbooks can be found extremely cheap at thrift stores, garage sales, and used book stores.

Screen cleaner cloth. This microfiber cleaning cloth comes in its own pouch in several designs. Since just about everyone from the kindergarten student to grandma and grandpa has some sort of device with a screen, this handy little cleaning cloth makes a great gift for everyone on your list, and at just under $10, buying multiples will not ruin your holiday budget.

Kitchen gadgets. The kitchen is probably the one room in the house that offers the most choices when it comes to gift giving. Every year there’s a new kitchen gadget that’s all the rage, and many times these items are really inexpensive. For a practical gift item, the kitchen is the place to go. Think corkscrew for your wine loving friend, dish towels for your favorite aunt, a can opener for the pet owner on your list, a set of wooden spoons for the friend who loves to bake, a coffee bean grinder for the person who loves their morning cup of java. The possibilities are endless, and inexpensive.

Socks, hats, gloves, and scarves. These are all items that everyone needs, all winter long. A favorite scarf goes missing, a hat gets left behind in a waiting room, one glove does a disappearing act, your favorite pair of socks gets threadbare. Make these gifts fun by getting them in neon colors, specialty themes (think, shark socks!), or matching socks to gloves to hats and giving them as a gift bundle. These are inexpensive but necessary items that anyone can use.

Coffee mug or teacup and saucer with bag of specialty coffee or box of tea. Match a coffee mug with a special bag of coffee or pick up a beautiful vintage teacup and saucer from a thrift store, estate sale, or resale shop and pair it with an exotic box of tea. Add a small bottle of honey or flavored creamer, a fancy spoon, or a cloth napkin for a unique, tasteful (pun intended) gift. This also works with a collection of hot chocolate mixes, a festive mug and bag of miniature marshmallows.

Themed t-shirt. Did your best friend just get her first dog? Why not make her a #DogMom tee to wear proudly on those walks around the block with her new fur baby? New pet owners need lots of things to accommodate their favorite four footed friends, like food and water bowls, collars, leashes, sweaters, special treats, pet beds, car seats, toys, blankets, scarves, and so on. If you’re feeling really creative, research how to make homemade treats and bake up a fresh batch for your favorite pet owner. Check out Etsy for custom made dog and cat collars.

Bake it yourself kit. These are super easy to make, and really inexpensive to put together. All you need is a mason jar (hello, garage sales!), a few ingredients from your pantry, and a recipe card with instructions. You can make a bake it yourself cookie jar gift, one for homemade brownies, a spice cupcake in a mug recipe kit, or one for gourmet hot chocolate. Add a mug, brownie plate, or small cookie jar to complete the set.

Holiday themed manicure kit. An inexpensive bottle of nail polish in a holiday color, some cotton balls, nail polish remover, and a nail file can all fit in a small festive container you can find plenty of in your local dollar store. Add some tiny candy cane, snowman, or Santa stickers to bump up the holiday spirit in this useful but inexpensive gift.

Sleep mask. With all the stress of holiday shopping, travel, party prep, and gift giving, sometimes its hard to unwind. Give the gift of rest with a lavender sleep mask. You can purchase one online for under $20, or make one yourself with a little satin, some flax seeds and lavender essential oil. A gift of a luxurious lavender sleep mask can also help ease headaches, tension, and stress.