Holidays on the cheap

 Practical, and inexpensive gifts.

Great for stocking stuffers, work gift exchanges, Dirty Santas and more.

1) Phone Power banks. This little beauty is terrific for someone who might not always be near a power outlet (sports or dance parents, crafters at shows, etc). They start less than $10, and go up. Be wary of the solar ones. If you find one that actually works, it’s even better than the plug-in.

2) Life Straws, They’re about $20, but could make a difference in an emergency or just during a boil order.

3) Candles and matches. Power outages are a fact of life. Having readily accessible light makes it more bearable.

4) Adult coloring book and colored pencils. These can often be had at Dollar Tree or Five Below or other discounters.

5) Books. Make sure it is to the recipient’s taste. Can  also be acquired at the discounters. I once found my brother a book on woodburning he had wanted (It was $30) at Ollie’s for $7. Ebooks are lovely, but paper books are a great back up.

6)  Food. This can be name brand stuff they like and don’t generally buy. It can be home-made stuff. One year, I gave out jars of hot cocoa mix, that were hugely popular. The tomato preserves less so, but still talked about and asked for. Bread. Jam. Home-made butter. Candy, cookies. Soup mix in a jar. Any thing works

7) Silk pillow case. The name brand runs $80, but you can find them for less than $10. 

8 ) CDs or mp3 players of music. MP3 players are about $15-20 on the low end. You can purchase ready made CDs, or burn your own, which lets you share some of your favorite music. 

9) DVDs of favorite movies. In this streaming age, it feels old-fashioned, but the streaming services give and the services take away. And when the movie you want isn’t available anywhere, it’s frustrating.

10) Tire pumps ($15-30). Anyone caught with a low tire light will bless this gift that saves them a tow.

11) Home-made cosmetics: bath bombs, sugar scrub, soaps, even lip balm. Check for allergies, though.

12) Ornaments. Tree ornaments are almost never the wrong answer, whether you make them yourself or purchase them specially for the person.

13)  Multi tool or Swiss Army knife. Useful whether you are repairing a semi-truck or opening wine at a book launch party. (Mine has been used for both)

14) Piezoelectric flashlight. ($5-20) No batteries ever! Wind-up, shake or friction operated, these always work

15) Cold Weather items: Hats, scarves, mittens, gloves, warm socks.

16) Ear buds or headphones.

17) Trial sized anything. I  once got my son-in-law 10 different trial sized hot sauces as a stocking stuffer. $10. He got to try a lot of different ones, without committing to a full bottle.

18) Fidgets. Whether a rubiks cube or other puzzle, a fidget spinner or cube, these can often be had inexpensively.

19) Blankets or throws. There tend to be inexpensive seasonal ones this time of year. Pair with sme fuzzy socks, a DVD and a package of popcorn for a gift basket.

20) First Aid Kit. These can range from $7-60. But better to have it and not need it.

21) Car Emergency Kit. This can be purchased or assembled: tire pump, head-light (for the one who must change the tire), extra gloves, a small blanket or space blanket. Water. Snacks. Anything someone stuck for a night or a day could use.

22) Power outage kit. This is more an assembled gift: Water, non-perishable foods, candles and matches, hand or solar powered  light and heat sources. Something to combat boredom.

23) Fairy lights. These can be had under $5 and add a touch of magic and cheer to any space

24) Electronics Screen cleaner. I got one and loved. It was shaped like a moose and the cats have stolen it.

25) Popcorn and popcorn seasoning.(You can also get a large popcorn bucket from Dollar Tree)

26) Nightlights. (4/$8) It sounds silly, but a light in the hallway, and one in the bathroom mean you don’t have to flip the switch on in the middle of the night. It’s useful for everyone from toddlers to elders, and can be a safety item.

Best of all:

Handmade stuff!

If you craft, start preparing for the holidays early. A gift you have made is always welcomed. I make toys for my grandsons. One year I made afghans for them and their parents. My dad uses the wine glasses my daughter etched for him 20 years ago. My grandfather made me a book case. I still have quilts my grandmother made.