I'm a fan of inexpensive or DIY gifts, even if I am awful at them! Since it's September, it's time for me to begin planning and budgeting on Christmas gifts. I start around this time and buy things weekly so that we're not completely broke when December comes.
So here's a list of gifts for family, friends, neighbors, or teachers that don't break the budget, and they aren't too hard to make look good. My categories may be a bit odd, but this was the best way I could think of to organize this list.
FOR THE PLANT LOVER
1. Recycle a can (from green beans, corn, etc.). Rinse it out, paint it, and plant some parsley (or any other indoor, windowsill herb.) Paint, parsley, and soil can be found easily for less than $3.
2. Vase and fake flowers. You can do this for $3-$7 at a Dollar Store. It's a really sweet centerpiece.
3. A little plant. They cost around $1 at Walmart or K-Mart. And they're so adorable!
FOR THE OUTDOORSMEN (OR WOMEN)
1. My Outdoor Kit: fill a travel mug or reusable water bottle with a lighter, mini flashlight, a pack of nuts, and a box cutter. This only cost around $5-$7.
2. For around $3 you can plant a flower in a cute pot & slap a bow on it. They can sit them on the edge of the porch, balcony, or deck. Just make sure the plant you pick is in-season.
3. A few garden stones, a wind chime, & wine glasses in a cute basket. A $5 gift for the backyard adventurer.
4. Also, you can take Beef jerky and fill up a travel mug. Your $5 gift will be appreciated by any Jerky lover.
FOR THE KITCHEN
1. A cute kitchen timer is anywhere from $1-$5. It is also pretty fun to go thrifting for.
2.A cute plastic basket with recipe cards, a cake decorating kit, & cookie cutters. This is $4 at a Dollar Store. And there are tons of baskets with a pop of color to choose from.
3. You can also do cookie cutters, an oven mitt with pot holders, and a pack of cookies. Also $4
(You can mix and match #2 & #3, depending on what you want to spend.)
4. Fill a jar with their favorite candy bars or candies, and decorate it. I've done this for my day, and we decorated the jar with our fingerprints. It was the easiest gift, and only $4
5. A magnet. My mother-in-law got me a magnet made one year, & it only cost her $8. It had pictures of my whole family on it & it was just adorable! Regular cute and funny magnets are great, too. I know I appreciate magnets that don't have the alphabet on them.
FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
1. Popcorn & a movie. This can vary depending on the movie, but (believe it or not) it can be done for less than $5
2. Small flannel blanket, these can cost $5-$10. Trust me, everyone will use it at one time or another
3. Playing Cards. Small and sweet gesture. Great idea for a neighbor or family you don't know too well, but still feel like you need to get a gift. $1, & you can just slap a pun on it and go!
4. Board Games. This is $3+. Dollar General usually has an awesome deal on board games the month of December!
5. Lincoln Logs. Again, around $5 or less at Dollar General during December. It's a cute gift for families with younger children.
FOR THE ATHLETE
1. My Sports Kit- Aspirin/Tylenol, sprain wrap, hot/cold pack, Icy Hot, Gatorade powder, deodorant, a little towel, protein bars (or nuts) all in a little drawstring. You can do all this for around $15.
2. T-shirt*
3. Basketball/ Soffe shorts*
4. Car Freshener & a drawstring for old gym clothes (to keep inside gym bags. This is $2, it's cute, funny, and it is doing everyone a favor!
*Shorts and T-shirts are generally cheaper this time of the year (September) because they're out of season. Anywhere from 40 to 75% of normal prices, sometimes more!
THE DRINKER
1. We all know the person who doesn't care what they drink. (I wouldn't consider myself THE drinker, but I fit in this category; there's nothing to be ashamed of.) A cheap bottle of wine, pour it into one of those beautiful colored wine bottles from Dollar Tree and place a festive bow on it. Keep the leftovers, and it's $4-$15 (depending on the wine), well spent.
2. 6-Pack of their favorite beer. Remove the labels & write fun messages like "Go home____, You're drunk". Add a bow to the case. And it's a gift you know will be appreciated and consumed.
3. Beer mug, wine glass, cocktail glass, shot glass, and a margarita glass. They'll be well equipped for their endeavors. And they can be easily found for $1 each.
FOR MOMS (AND A FEW FOR DAD)
1. Little figurines. They're sweet, adorable, simple, and can be as little as $1. You can even get a white one, and paint it to add your own touch.
2. Scented candle, bath salts, and a wine glass. Give the gift of an ultimate bath for $3-$10!
3. Coffee mug with hard candies. My mother is a fan of decaf and caramel candies, so she is the inspiration behind this simple yet thoughtful $2 gift.
4. Fuzzy socks and hot chocolate, in a coffee mug. Only $3,
5. A puzzle . You can do this 2 ways: either gift a puzzle or frame it. This starts at $1
My husband's grandmother loves bees. One year we bought a 20-piece bee puzzle, put it together, framed it, and gave it to her as a gift. She thought it was adorable.
I, personally, would not recommend the puzzle for those with young kids.
6. Puzzle Books. I'm talking Sudoku, Word Searches, Brain Teased, Adlibs, and even Cross Word Puzzles. I'd even go as far as throwing in magic cards, for the inner dork in Mom (or Dad.)
7. Adult coloring books & coloring pencil - that's become a thing now. I have always colored, but now that it's socially acceptable, they have books tailored to adults to make you feel more adulty when you color. They even have swear word coloring books for the foul-mouthed mother hens like me.
8. Another unisex one. A neat notebook and a devotion. Whether for inspiration or religion, a lot of parents I know would actually appreciate and use this. And it's an idea that starts at $2.
I'd even go the extra mile and gift #6-#8 in a reusable bag.
FOR GIRLY, GIRLS
All of these start at $1 or less, each
1. Mirror, sleep mask, book
2. Nail kit, nail polish
3. Hair bows, clips, and headbands
4. Body spray, lotion & soap
I'd bag all of these in a cute makeup bag or oversized pencil bag. It's originally and an extra gift.
FOR KIDS 5 AND UNDER
I pretty much combine any of these in a stocking. All for $1 or less...
1. Kid toothbrushes
2. Board books
3. Crazy Straws
4. Tub toys
5. Fake money
6. Candy
7. Kid Cups
8. Kid Plates
9. Kid Bowls
10. Stuffed Animals
11. Puzzles
12. Bubbles (Yes, even in December-- if it gets cold enough they'll freeze.)
13. Crayons/Coloring Pencils
14. Activity Books
15. Small Ball
16. Dinosaur/Bugs/Cars
17. PlayDoh
FOR THE WRITER
Again, any combination will make a great gift . Most writers NEVER have enough notebooks, & they all start at $1 or less
1. Stationary set
2. Pens
3. Pencils
4. Notebook/ Journal/ Spiral/ Composition
5. Tablet cover - I have actually put my notebooks in tablet covers to keep them from being destroyed.
6. This will take a little work. But find a print with a great quote. Or print a great quote and frame it,
I know everyone isn't on the list. But I am gift carding a lot of people. Not sure if I want to take on the responsibility of shopping for my teenage brother-in-law. Some people prefer to buy their own things, and there's nothing wrong with that. Hopefully, my list helps you get an early start or an idea for gifts this holiday season. But if not, you can't go wrong with a card and a gift card.
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