Is there anything, anything at all, that one can buy for another person that is in the neighborhood of $25.00, that isn’t just crap?
Damn it, I’ve been shopping three times and I am striking out. And I’m running out of time. I have 7 adults to buy for.
Ideas, Please!
Chromecast is on sale for $25.
It may be late to order online, but here are some ideas:
Brookstone $25 and under
My husband is giving a lot of headlamps, laser IR sensors, and tiny LED flashlights this Christmas.
I’m giving $10 bottles of bubbly (for the women) and firecrackers (for the kids), both to be used on New Year’s Eve. Both under supervision. Or something.
You might be pushing it for shipping (though I think you can speed it up) but you might want to take a gander at Woot.com. It’s always worth double checking their prices against Amazon, but they do tend to have REALLY good deals and they change everyday at midnight (central time).
If any of the adults has children, $25 will buy an absurd number of batteries, plus a cheap set of tiny screwdrivers. Batteries are like gold on Christmas morning.
One year, all of our parents received rechargeable flashlights that plug into an outlet and light up if the power fails. Made by Energizer, I think, and about $20 each. Very handy.
A decent bottle of wine can be had for your budget, or a DVD and movie snacks. Edible gifts are good generally - chocolates or a big basket of citrus fruits. Or an inexpensive stocking filled with candy and small tchotchkies.
Books. Especially nice if recipients are flying, since they’re reasonably simple to transport. Or a nice suite of stationery.
Speaking of batteries, maybe backup batteries/battery chargers for phones. My mom got me one last year for Christmas and I love it. It’s a little brick that I can charge up from a wall charger, then have in my bag to recharge my cell phone if I need to. I don’t use it every day, since if I’m in my office I can just charge my phone from a normal wall charger, but it’s a godsend when I’m traveling or at a big outdoor festival or somewhere else where I won’t have access to wall outlets. There’s different ones available, and I’m pretty sure you could find good ones for around $25.
Wine, chocolate, candy, fancy soap or lotion, restaurant GC, movie tickets… I mean, how well do you know these people? Would they like a handmade mug or scarf or jewelry (try artisan fairs/farmers markets), a book or Amazon GC, a fancy water bottle or thermos or insulated lunch bag, …
Where are you? Here in DFW, USA, stores like Whole Earth Provision Co. and The Container Store have zillions of stocking-stuffer type gifts that are inexpensive but nifty.
Something consumable. You can probably get them something they would eat or drink that they would not normally buy themselves. They will enjoy it, and it won’t be crap to collect dust.
That’s about what I generally spend on my aunts/uncles, and I like to flatter myself that the gifts I give aren’t just crap. Of course, I’m also the queen of the stacking discount and hit the online Black Friday/CyberMonday fairly hard, which isn’t a strategy that will benefit you this year. But Kohl’s is still offering percent-off discounts on top of their sale prices, Amazon still has awesome deals on stuff if you’re willing to hunt for it, and you can find awesome stuff at low prices at places like TJ Maxx/Marshall’s/Gordman’s.
Things I’ve bought people within your price range this year:
-Flannel sheets for my grandparents, who shiver like chihuahuas all the time. A set of full and a set of queen, at $20 and $25 respectively at Kohl’s Black Friday. I also had a 20% code, so they actually cost $16 and $20. The same sheets are on sale now, and you can take 15% off any order or 20% off orders over $100.
-A ride-on toy for my baby niece. Normally $50, got it for $20 online Black Friday. (Minus discount code.)
-A jewelry box for my tween niece. Normally $30, $12 on Black Friday. (Minus discount code.)
-Batman socks with cape for my brother. $10, minus discount code.
-Cuff links for my uncle who makes more money in a month than we do in 5 years. $22, less discount code.
-A photo collage jewelry box for my sister in law. Regular price $80, I paid $30, less discount.
-A woodworking book my dad had on his wish list. $15 from Amazon.
-A pretty ring for my sister-in-law. $20 on Amazon.
-A Superman watch for my brother. $20 at Burlington Coat Factory.
-Mason jar glasses for my brother. $5 at Gordmans. (Long-running family joke.)
-A basic beading starter kit for my tween niece. $10 for the tool set at Walmart, $7 for a reference book from Half-Price Books, $10 for a storage case at Walmart.
-An automatic card shuffler for my grandfather who can still deal, but has to have someone else shuffle. $10 at a junk store I happened through in the summer.
-A nuno felting scarf kit for my aunt. $20 at a fiber fair, available for $24 from The Woolery.
-A clip-on Kindle light for another aunt. $15 on Amazon.
Assorted pens and cutlery sets for various folks. $10-$20 from my daddy’s workshop, though I freely admit that’s not a viable option for most folks.
Gifts I’ve given or gotten in the past for about $25 or less:
-A purse hanger. They are seriously the most awesome things ever. You will take mine when you pry it from my cold dead hands. Available at pretty much every department store and Amazon for $10-$20 depending on manufacturer and design.
-A stick blender. Specifically this stick blender. We own one and it’s so great (it’s outlasted the KitchenAid one by years) we bought one for my sister-in-law a few years back. You can get stick blenders for as low as $15 on a pretty regular basis. Amazon appears to have a steel malt/shake/smoothie cup for $6 that would pair awesomely with a stick blender.
-Fancy nail polish. Sally Beauty Supply has gift sets of smaller bottles of China Glaze for $10 or so. Or the regular bottles run between $6-$10 apiece.
-Ghinger dressmaking shears. The most awesome sewing scissors ever. I want to be buried with these scissors. Currently available for $25 on Amazon.
-Gift certificates to Lowes and various craft stores. Love them. Love.
In my opinion, you can’t go wrong with bottles of wine. Well, maybe if you buy Yellow Tail or something.
Are you any good in the kitchen?
Perhaps you could do some baking; biscotti, gingerbread men, Scottish oatcakes. How about some mixed nuts coated in honey and allspice and toasted in the oven. Put these in some nice bags or jars and put a personalised label on them.
You could supplement your efforts with some Stilton to go with the oatcakes and a few bottles of wine, liquers and champagne perhaps.
All cheap to do and I find that people really appreciate the effort.
May I suggest the Leopard Skin Combat Boots.
I don’t know if or how this may apply to you but gifts of your time are neat.
I will maxi-clean one room in your house.
I will bake X pans of bars for you over the next year.
I will entertain you and several friends to a cook-out.
I will do your nails for X weeks.
Whatever your skills may be. This is a great gift to give to people who have everything.
Wine, as has already been suggested.
A packet of **decent **coffee (either beans or freshly ground) or some really exotic tea. I’m assuming you have shops that just sell coffee/tea…do not buy it from a supermarket!
Home-made soaps or hand creams.
Pure linen or cotton tea-towels (dish-towels).
Food: a selection of fancy mustards, or pickles, or a bottle of infused vinegar? A selection of wee cheeses like brie, camembert, stilton, cheddar etc?
Are any of them gardening types? Perhaps an indoor pot plant or potted herbs to brighten the gloomy winter’s days there, or a trowel or plastic gardening apron?
ALL of these will cost well under $25, so you can combine two (or more) into the one gift.
Wall calendars. Plenty of choices for every taste, plus there’s always “America’s National Parks” if you have no idea what they like, and you can pick up a bunch of them at one time and place.
They’re useful, and even if the recipient already has one, they can always put up another.
candles are a good gift option for people who like that type of thing. my local publix has some nice candles buy one, get one free this week, and they’re nice candles, similar to what you’d get at yankee candle and places like that. that’s two gifts for $10 right there. maybe your local stores have some similar sales?
i second the option for gift cards, especially to places where people can’t always justify spending the money, like starbucks, a smoothie shop, etc.
Another vote for wine or chocolates, or something I bought for a few people on my list-- delicious flavored olive oils and vinegar. Olive Del Mundo sells a sample box for $24.95 at Olive del Mondo: Olive Oils - Vinegars - Plant-Based - Olive del Mondo: Olive Oils - Vinegars - Plant-Based and they are really lovely. The amazing Penzey’s Spices also has a few gift boxes under $25.00 for those who like to cook (or eat). Gift Boxes | Penzeys
I apologize for the delay in returning to the thread, my internet was out last night.
You guys rock! Thank you so much for all the good ideas.
This will really help me when I go shopping today. Luke, I like those boots! Cat Lady, you are really good at this. I wish I could hire you to do my shopping for me.
These gifts are for in-laws mostly and I don’t know them all that well. We’re all older and pretty settled these days, so it just gets harder and harder for me to figure out. I need to start sooner next year so I can take advantage of all the online stuff.
Thanks again everyone. Off to woot I go.