Ideas for Christmas gifts under $20
This post has been featured at Festival of Frugality.
It’s a little harder than it used to be to get a nice Christmas gift for $20 or less.
But that is a reasonable range for families on a budget, or gifts for people outside your immediate family (hostess or teacher gifts, for example). And the typical range for gift exchange parties in the Monroe, Mich., area, in recent years has been $10 to $15.
So what can you look for in the frugal price bracket?
Kids
- Art supplies such as construction paper, stickers, chalks.
- Barbie doll from the less expensive “pink box” play line. Look for holiday-themed Barbies that are in the $10 to $15 range at the supermarkets and drugstores.
- Mitten, hat and / or scarf. Remember that kids need multiple sets of these items because they frequently lose their winter accessory pieces.
- Fun-looking socks.
- Christmas tree ornament to start or add to their ornament collection.
- Sweatshirt in a favorite color, sports team or character design.
- Add-on or accessory pieces to their favorite toys such as their Lego collections, doll house or action figures.
- Picture books, story books or chapter books.
- A toss pillow, fleece blanket or afghan in their favorite colors. (This is an easy do-it-yourself project or craft show purchase.)
- Coloring books with crayons.
- Tote bag or case to carry favorite toys to a relative’s home or friend’s home. (Remember the Barbie and Hot Wheel cases from years ago?)
- Christmas themed or kids’ title DVD.
- Holiday themed hairbow or barrettes.
- Night light.
- Nativity set with pieces that are safe for little hands to act out the baby Jesus story.
- Santa hat, reindeer antlers, angel halo or other fun holiday headband attire.
- “Old school” board games such as Twister, Life, Scrabble and Monopoly.
- Rechargeable batteries for their favorite electronic toys.
- Handcrafted outfits for the favorite dolls. (Look for those at the craft shows if you can’t sew.)
- Cash. (I’m serious. It’s a rare treat for kids to do their own shopping).
Adults
- Flower arrangement or potted plant.
- Box of Russell Stover candy or a similar product line (You can frequently find sales on boxed candy at the drugstores during the Christmas shopping season).
- Wall calendar or desk calendar.
- Gift card to a coffee shop or bakery.
- Gift card to a bookstore, craft store or office supply store (This is particularly good for teacher gifts).
- T-shirt, winter hat or ball cap for a favorite sports team.
- Cookbook for their favorite cuisine.
- Gourmet coffees or teas.
- Christmas tree ornament.
- iTunes gift card (for those with mp3 players).
- Christmas music CD.
- Umbrella.
- Slippers.
- Key chain with a unique charm or design.
- Handcrafted beaded necklace or earrings (these are frequently seen at craft shows and Fair Trade booths).
- Coffee grinder.
- Magazine subscription.
- Homemade goodies such as a cookie plate, jelly in a jar, “gifts in a jar” cookie or coffee mixes, freshly baked bread or coffee cake. (Look for the bake sale notices as an option to do-it-yourself.)
- Holiday themed pin or holiday tie that can be worn at the office.
- Nail polish or lipstick assortment (there are fun holiday colors at the makeup shelves this time of year).
- Bird feeder.
- Carry-case for a wireless phone or digital camera.
- Decorative tote bags (think eco-friendly shopping bags that actually look good).
- Decorative kitchen towels or guest bath hand towels.
- Decorative cookie jar.
- Assortment of handcrafted all-occasion greeting cards.
- Pretty picture frame.
- Lovely flower vase (You can purchase fresh flowers to put in the vase just before presenting it).
- Beaded or fabric lanyard for those who have to wear ID tags at work.
- A handful of instant lottery tickets.
- Family photo calendar. (This service is available at various photo labs and office supply stores. You could also handcraft one.).
- Bottle of Michigan wine, six-pack of Michigan beer or another regional beverage that’s common to your area.
- Flameless / battery-operated candles. Yes, there finally are some nice ones on the market. Look in the household and cleaning supply aisles at the drugstore or supermarket if you can’t find them with the holiday gifts.
- Cat’s Meow or Open Window collectible wooden building. (These are typically found at gift shops that focus on local or country items.)
- Cooking or barbecue utensil set.
- Wineglass charms.
- Charity donation in his or her honor.
Feel free to add your ideas in the comment section! In the meantime, if your Christmas is on a tight budget, I have a lot of tips and resources throughout this blog. Start at Help! I Can’t Afford Christmas!
Posted: November 3rd, 2009 under Frugal living, Holidays.
Comments: 21
Comments
Comment from Kelly
Time: November 3, 2009, 12:22 pm
This is a great list Paula! If you watch the sale ads you can get many of these items for a very good price over the next month or so. I picked up some 100 piece kids puzzles at Meijer yesterday for $2.50 each. Great gift for my kids as well as put a couple away for that last minute gift for a little one.
Comment from Paula Wethington
Time: November 3, 2009, 1:00 pm
You’re right about the sales fliers, Kelly. Most of these gift items are easy to find in November and December.
Comment from Bag Lady
Time: November 3, 2009, 8:32 pm
A paperback and a package of coffee, it’s a great way to spend a weekend in, coffee and a book, one year I gave winter car essentials to people for Christmas, ice scrapers, lock deicer and that sort of stuff you may need to replace every year.
Comment from Bag Lady
Time: November 3, 2009, 8:35 pm
Just another note to say, I think a $20 gift is very nice, even if the person is in your immediate family, we just have gotten so used to everyone spending MORE! (or maybe I was always cheap!)
Comment from Paula Wethington
Time: November 3, 2009, 10:57 pm
I think you’re right about the “spending more” expectation, Bag Lady. But I have known for years that my family’s Christmas spending was lower than average!
We have a lot of extended family, so we still have a lot of gifts circulating even with our smaller budget. If there’s something one of us really wanted that was a bigger budget item, the Christmas cash and gift cards could take care of at least part of the expense or a couple of the relatives might pool their efforts.
You’ll also notice, readers, that none of these items are typically Black Friday specials. If you are into Black Friday, fine, I’ll help you out as much as I can with the sales posts. But I have had to be far more resourceful in my own shopping. I’m working on an afternoon newspaper’s deadline when the Black Friday specials are in effect – by the time I can get to the mall or the other stores in Monroe, most of those deals are done.
Comment from mikemax
Time: November 4, 2009, 1:58 am
I’d like to add that anything warm scores extra points with me! I am one of your national readers and, just like in Michigan, it gets cold where I live. Go to an outdoor store and buy GOOD wool socks, sock liners or glove liners. Expect to pay $15-$18 per pair. They are worth it. A good pair of wool socks will last for YEARS, and I wear them every day for about 9 months of the year. (OK, I’ve got terminally cold feet!). I really like Smart Wool brand. Last year, my son gave me Smart Wool glove liners and sock liners. Believe me, when it was 5 below with a wind chill, they felt GOOD. They are also good, lightweight items to wear on their own when it’s not too cold.
For adult kids–last year I gave my son and his fiance “dinner and a movie.” I made a batch of lasagna, split it into two 8×8 pans, kept one and froze one for the kids. I made a batch of my son’s favorite lemon bars, threw in a bag of salad and his girlfriend’s favorite salad dressing, and sliced and buttered French bread. I tied it up in a basket about 10 minutes before they got there (because the lasagna was frozen) and added a gift card for a video rental. This is a huge gift for a little work, a lotta love and considerably less than $20. They loved it!
Comment from curious_girl
Time: November 4, 2009, 2:55 am
Its so hard to shop for gifts especially when you’re on a budget. I for one have started thinking of gifts way before the -ber months came along, but of course, I haven’t bought anything yet.
For more ideas, see my list-
http://curiosityisasin.blogspot.com/2009/11/definitive-guide-to-christmas-gifts.html
Comment from Paula Wethington
Time: November 4, 2009, 7:26 am
Curious Girl does have a comprehensive list of gift ideas, but for this price range scroll down to her “friends / acquaintances / office mates” list. Many of the other gift items she suggests are out of this budget.
Comment from Karinsky
Time: November 4, 2009, 11:35 am
If you have to buy a present for someone that wears a badge for work you could go to http://www.BooJeeBeads.com They have really nice bead lanyards and ID reels that are not expensive at all. And they sell these cute little cloth pouch gift bags that are (I think) 6 for $2.50 if my memory serves me right. Go! You won’t be disappointed, promise!
Comment from Paula Wethington
Time: November 4, 2009, 11:42 am
Karinsky’s link about beaded lanyards reminded me of the craft show schedule. Here is where you can find the craft shows that are taking place in the Monroe, Mich., area now through December. http://tinyurl.com/yzg5l9e
Pingback from Tweets that mention Monroe on a Budget — Topsy.com
Time: November 4, 2009, 12:24 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Paula Wethington and Julia Kelly, Live Solid. Live Solid said: Way to Live Solid! RT @MonroeOnABudget Ideas for Christmas gifts under $20 [...]
Pingback from ModernMommyBlog » Blog Archive » Debt Diet Month 7
Time: November 4, 2009, 11:42 pm
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Pingback from Festival Of Frugality #203 – American Flag Edition : Domestic Cents
Time: November 10, 2009, 8:08 am
[...] Wethington from Monroe On A Budget shares Ideas For Christmas Gifts Under $20. This is a thorough list with some great [...]
Comment from Joy
Time: November 14, 2009, 12:35 pm
Love this post!!! Wanted to let you know that I’ve linked to it from my blog @ http://myreasonstoblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/this-n-that-thursday.html
Hope you’re having a great weekend!!
Comment from Mike Ingels
Time: November 14, 2009, 1:22 pm
Most stores have inexpensive digital photo frame keychains. I think I bought a bunch last year for $5 at Big Lots.
Then I went through all of the pictures that I took throughout the year and divided them into “family,” “friends,” “whatever.”
I downloaded the appropriate category to the proper keychain with a little bit of customization.
Lots of people really appreciated that gift. It was high-tech, inexpensive and contained a personal touch.
Comment from Katie
Time: November 26, 2009, 3:06 pm
Great list! How about adding cell phones to the list. I just discovered TracFone has holiday bundles for $10..which includes a car charger, handsfree set, a case and in some stores double minutes! A practical gift at a cost that’s hard to beat. I got one for my 11 yr. old daughter and nother for my 70 yr. old dad 
Comment from candygiftbaskets
Time: November 27, 2009, 11:43 pm
Thanks for posting . I love the decorative kitchen towels or guest bath hand towels and decorative cookie jar. This year all our gifts are homemade . I have sewn some gift bags and made some spa and bath products. I find that they are more valued and remembered. I just hate to see recycled gifts.
Pingback from ¤ Creative Gift Ideas To Get A Loved One And Where To Purchase Them This Holiday Season ¤
Time: November 28, 2009, 3:46 pm
[...] Monroe on a Budget » Ideas for Christmas gifts under $20 [...]
Comment from Paula Wethington
Time: December 5, 2009, 10:30 am
If you’re looking for holiday food gifts that doesn’t involve sugar or sweets, look for the seasonal coffee. You’ll find some nice ones now at your favorite coffee shop or supermarket.
I bought the Millstone cinnamon gingerbread and peppermint coffees yesterday at Wal-Mart in Monroe MI. The gingerbread coffee is really good.
Comment from FreshDeals.com
Time: December 10, 2009, 6:20 pm
We took inspiration (and linked to) this article from here:
8 Rules for a Frugal Christmas in 2009 (+ 686 Gift Ideas Under $20)
http://www.freshdeals.com/shop/8-Rules-for-a-Frugal-Christmas-in-2009–23.html#686_Frugal_Christmas_Gift_Ideas_Under_$20
We counted your list for 59 of the 686
Merry Christmas!
FreshDeals
Comment from Paula Wethington
Time: December 10, 2009, 8:26 pm
That is an insanely huge link and idea list at Fresh Deals! Well done!
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