Nothing spoils the taste of eggnog like blowing your gift-giving budget.
Too often, it’s easy to start the new year smarting from all the money we spent over the holidays. This year, we’re determined to stay within budget by making a list, checking it twice and sticking to it.
But make no mistake: Cheap gifts don’t equal lame gifts. With a bit of imagination, plenty of planning and legwork, you can hunt down thoughtful, one-of-a-kind presents without even leaving your apartment or emptying your bank account.
To help inspire your holiday shopping, we’ve rounded up affordable holiday gift ideas for everyone on your list.
Best Gift for the Coworker: Artist: Buddha Board
The Buddha Board might be the niftiest White Elephant gift we’ve seen in a long time. At 12 inches high and 9 inches wide (it’s also available in mini 5 inch by 5 inch size), the slender board is the perfect size for an office desk. Inspired by the Zen idea of living in the moment, the board works as a canvas for you to “paint” on with water. The water evaporates and your drawing disappears, leaving a fresh, blank canvas behind. The experience is weirdly mesmerizing and surprisingly calming.
Price: $37.95 at Amazon.
Best Gift for Parents or In-Laws: We’re Not Really Strangers – Family Edition
If you’re tired of holiday conversations with your parents and/or in-laws revolving around when you’re going to get married/have a baby/move back home, these thoughtful conversation cards are the perfect antidote. They skip the small talk and go right to the juicy questions: Stuff like “Do you think I ever snuck out of the house growing up? Why or why not?” and “What’s your most vivid memory from your childhood home? Describe in detail.”
Price: $20 at Amazon.
Best Gift for the Foodie: Imperia Pasta Maker
Why settle for store-bought strands when you can cook your own ultra-fresh homemade noodles with this ridiculously cool pasta maker? The traditional pasta machine, made of chrome-plated steel, uses a roller and attachment cutter to slice up and crank out noodles in a way that is very satisfying to behold. The pasta maker comes with a book of recipes and a double cutter head for spaghetti and fettuccine. If your giftee gets really into it, they can purchase additional attachments for other types of noodles—like trenette and angel hair.
Price: $59.99 at Amazon.
Best Gift for the Fitness Lover: Recover – CBD Roll On
Achy muscles? Back pain? Tired feet? Sounds like your fitness lover could use a CBD Roll On Stick from Leef Organics. The roller ball applicator spreads cold, broad-spectrum whole plant CBD and wild herbs to cool and soothe aches and pains. The little CBD roll-on stick can be easily slipped into a gym bag for fast relief on the go.
Price: $40 at Leef Organics
Best Gift for the Outdoorsy Type: City Bonfires
City Bonfires are portable mini firepits your giftee can set up wherever your outdoor adventure takes them—whether that’s their front deck or the side of a snowy mountain. The tabletop campfires weigh only a pound and are uber easy to light, making them perfect for hiking, camping, picnics and beach trips. The firepits produce a nontoxic fire, so they can be safely used as a cooking source as well as a lighting or heating source in emergencies.
Price: $37.98 for a two-pack at Amazon.
Best Gift for the Fashionista: Deja Vu Space-dyed Balaclava
Help your fashionista keep their head warm while still looking fab with this soft-knit balaclava. The pull-on knit has a drawstring and ribbed trim, and features an eye-catching space-dyed pattern. It’s a total statement accessory.
Price: $48 at Free People.
Best Gift for the Beauty Fan: TELETIES Hair Ties
Billed as the “ultimate replacement to the traditional hair tie,” TELETIES hair ties have a unique spiral shape that helps minimize damage, creases and hair-pulling. They’re strong yet flexible, and look stylish whether they’re around your ponytail, bun, pigtail or wrist.
Price: $14.99 at TELETIES.
Best Gift for the Entertainer: Porcelain Paper Plate
Surprise! This plate is made of porcelain, not paper. Despite being slightly tongue-in-cheek, the porcelain paper plate is also stylish and sturdy. Handcrafted by a local ceramic artist, it’s kitchenware meets modern art.
Price: $85 at West Elm.
Best Gift for the Beer Lover: Chill Beer Flannel
Adorable and functional, these snappy checkered flannel jacket coozies have two layers of waterproof insulation that keep your beer cold and your hands warm. And, if flannel isn’t your giftee’s steez, these stylish coozies also come as puffer coats and slim can-style parkas.
Price: $13 at Uncommon Goods.
Best Gift for the Coffee Lover: Bodum Latteo Manual Milk Frother
Really, we should call this one “best gift for the latte lover,” because there are plenty of coffee purists that will argue milk has no place near a quality cup. But for the slightly less uppity (read: snobby) coffee drinker, this milk frother can elevate their morning cup to a creamy, frothy treat. Simply froth the milk by moving the plunger up and down around 60 times, and pop it into the microwave to heat.
Price: $16.44 at Amazon.
Best Gift for the Wine Lover: Vinovore Leather Bota Bag and Mini-Funnel
From the women winemakers of Vinovore, this leather wine bag lets you bring your favorite bottle on your next picnic, hike or camping trip. The rustic, soft-leather case has an inner lining made from food-safe latex. It squirts right into your mouth, or a cup, or mug if you must.
Price: $30 at Vinovore.
The post 11 Money-Saving Gifts for Everyone on Your List appeared first on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.
