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Trying to come up with holiday gift ideas that cut costs without limiting the festivities can give you a headache. So, just have some fun with it, says Hillary Mendelsohn, author of “thepurplebook” series of shopping guides and founder of ThePurpleBook.com. “When you’re spending less, it’s about using your imagination, it’s about color, it’s about thoughtfulness,” she says. “Gifts are meant to be thoughtful, not necessarily expensive,” Mendelsohn says. “And this is where that comes in more than any other gift — when you’re in a pinch to spend just a small amount of money.” Looking for an inexpensive but fun gift and have no clue where to begin? Here are some ideas to get you started. RATE SEARCH: Shop Bankrate today for the . Books or glassware
petrunjela/Getty Images Think you can’t find a book for $10? Check out your bookstore’s bargain table and you’ll likely find some great selections for just about every age and interest, including food, pets, sports and science. If your giftee prefers e-books, don’t forget Amazon’s “KindleUnlimited,” where you pay a monthly fee for unlimited Kindle reading, and Barnes & Noble’s “Nook Books Free Friday” books. Another terrific gift for neighbors, newlyweds and anyone who has just moved into a new home? Glassware. Everyone thinks of giving stemware in sets of 6 or 8. But for $10, you can bestow a lovely pair of wine glasses, highball or lowball glasses. Or — for anyone who loves a warm cup of tea, coffee or cocoa — a handy pair of glass mugs. Or you can opt for one mug and a half-pound of good coffee. Supplies with style
Anke Schuetz/Getty Images Even if you work at a computer 10 hours a day, sooner or later you realize you need office supplies, says Christopher Lowell, designer and author of “Christopher Lowell’s Seven Layers of Organization.” One useful gift for a co-worker or admitted workaholic is to pull together an attractive selection of much-needed supplies — think oversized or color-coded — and package them so the person can store, grab and use them easily. Sticky notes, push pins, paper clips and scissors fit the bill. “Find a really cool container that goes with the person’s decor,” Lowell says. And from ornate glass jars to faux Chinese takeout containers in a variety of colors, there are a lot of options. “Really stuff this thing,” Lowell says. Gourmet cheese
Mara Zemgaliete – Fotolia.com Got a cheese lover among your family or friends? Give them a taste of what they love, a new variety to try or a handy gadget. For cheese fans, consider a half-pound of something creamy and delicious such as English Stilton or Irish Cashel Blue, says Laura Werlin, winner of the James Beard Award, food writer and author of “Laura Werlin’s Cheese Essentials: An Insider’s Guide to Buying and Serving Cheese.” Depending on the price, you might also be able to include a jar of something sweet, such as preserves or fig compote, or something salty, such as nuts or crackers, she says. Another great combination: a salty selection, such as blue cheese or a good Parmigiano-Reggiano, and a small jar of honey, Werlin says. If your cheese lover has a fondness for Brie or Camembert, consider giving a whole wheel of Camembert (standard size is about 8 ounces) or a wedge of Brie, she says. Or go for one of the cool tools. Werlin says to buy a cheese planer, a knife specifically for slicing hard cheeses, or one designed for soft cheeses. Find them online or in stores for $10 or less. Wine
volff – Fotolia.com You can actually get a tasty bottle of wine for $10, Werlin says. The secret is to have a vendor you trust who can make an educated recommendation. Wines in this price range include: Beaujolais nouveau: Traditionally released annually in late November and consumed within the next few seasons, “This is not a wine you save; this is a wine you drink,” Werlin says. “It’s meant to be fun.” A good one is Georges Duboeuf. Cava: A Spanish sparkling wine that is often affordable, Werlin says. One budget-priced selection she likes is Jaume Serra Cristalino Brut. If your budget allows, serve it with a few ounces of Manchego cheese for a gift with a Spanish theme. Prosecco: A popular Italian sparkling wine, “It’s a good way to have bubbly without having to pay a bundle, and I know people who prefer it over Champagne,” Werlin says. Zonin is a brand that is tasty as well as budget-priced. And one way to test whether your vendor’s recommendation hits the mark: Buy two bottles and sample one before you give the other, Werlin says. “In the end, there’s no substitute for tasting.” ADVISER SEARCH: Need help navigating your finances? . Music or a few well-chosen apps
Goodluz/Shutterstock.com Whatever it is you want to do, there’s probably an app for that. App lovers often find the best ones through word-of-mouth recommendations from friends and family, Lowell says. “Then you say, ‘How did I live without that?'” So if you know of a couple of awesome apps, give them as gifts, he says. Most apps these days run anywhere from 99 cents to $2.99, Lowell says. And that gives gift-givers plenty of leeway to pick a few that really suit the needs of their recipients, he says. In a similar vein, you can create a music playlist. On iTunes, songs run from 69 cents to $1.29, which means you have a lot of choices if you have a $10 budget. “It’s the emotional equivalent of the old mixtape,” says Lowell. “Say it with music.” A playlist can also make a cool hostess gift if you’re heading to a holiday party, he says. “A lot of times people get the party going, but they forget about the music.” Great memories
RomanR/Shutterstock.com USB drives are multimedia tools, and you can use them for photos, music or a slideshow. “Download photos from times you spend with these people and wrap that in a fabulous box,” Lowell says. You can include items such as songs you all love, pictures of the last vacation you spent together, or whatever would be festive and meaningful. Or give them one great photo, Lowell says. “Most of us take pictures with our smartphones, and they stay on our smartphones.” So select one good shot of your recipient and crop it on your computer. You can even render it in black and white for an artsy look, he says. Then print it and put it in a frame with matting. “Who doesn’t want a photo of themselves looking fabulous or their family looking great?” Lowell asks. Secrets candy and rare money
Svetlana Lukienko – Fotolia.com Looking for the perfect gift for someone who really enjoys your culinary specialty? Give them the recipe. You can package it with something you use to make the dish, such as a wooden spoon or your super-secret ingredient. Or maybe your recipient has a fondness for a specific type of candy. Get an old-fashioned candy jar and fill it, Mendelsohn says. “It’s the most colorful gift in the world.” And if you’re lucky enough to come across a $2 bill or a $1 coin, still in circulation, save them and give them to the kids as an engaging gift. “Get them a couple of $2 bills and a couple of gold dollars,” Mendelsohn says. Check with your local bank to get them. For emergencies
Tetra Images – Jamie Grill Photography/Getty Images Sometimes the gift that’s valued most is the one someone can grab in an emergency, such as a flashlight for the glove compartment. Another that can come in handy? A gasoline gift card. The tank is moving toward “E” and so is your wallet. Having an emergency gas card might not get you a full tank, but it will buy “enough to get you where you need to be,” Lowell says. Indulge hobbies or tap into memories
KatrinDell – Fotolia.com Have a friend who thinks about fishing most of the time? Drop by the sports shop and buy a top brand lure, Mendelsohn says. “You only buy one, but it’s the one he doesn’t have.” Or, if you know the person is getting a bicycle for Christmas, you can buy a bell, she says. “The bell is the joy of riding the bike.” Or tap into their fond childhood memories. “Get them their favorite childhood book,” Mendelsohn says, adding that this has been one of her go-to gifts ever since she received it as an expectant mom. “It’s one of the best presents I ever got.” RATE SEARCH: Get some interest on your savings starting today! . Related Links: Related Articles: Kids’ gifts that last Elf on the Shelf ideas Politics and your finances SHARE: Dana Dratch is a personal finance and lifestyle writer who enjoys talking all things money and credit. With a degree in English and writing, she likes asking the questions everyone would ask if they could and sharing the answers — along with smart money management tips from the experts. Related Articles