s/o Holiday Spending: Inexpensive Gifts

[sproutmd]

Give me your best "cheap" or inexpensive gift idea, whether you gave or received it. There was a thread a few months back about saving $200/month for gifts throughout the year. This is where we are, and I also think it's nuts. Even lowering Christmas gifts as much as I feel like I can, I'm still at around $1,400. We buy for about 45 people, including ourselves and 18 support people (teachers and our staff). I can't even believe we buy for that many people. I don't think I've ever actually totaled it. 

Some notes:
- We already draw names on my side for Christmas, not an option on DH's side
- We've gotten gift cards in the past for daycare teachers
- A handful of kid birthday parties throughout the year, and stay at $10-$15 per gift
- I'm not interested in giving out homemade food, because basically I don't trust or like to receive it
- Are gift cards the only options for teachers? What about staff? I've done personalized mugs with goodies inside, but that ended up being just as expensive

[redheadk]

I received seasonal flowering plants from a few students when I was teaching and I thought that was sweet (mums in the fall, poinsettias at Christmas, those bulb kits at Christmas, potted tulips at Easter, etc). They are nice to have around and last a longer than flowers but I don't feel like I have to keep them forever.

[mbcdefg]

Do you have a Christmas Tree Shop near you? Sometimes you can find little gifts for good prices. Ditto for Marshall's and TJ Maxx.

I personally like those B&BW hand soaps (as long as they're not in an obnoxiously strong scent, like Kitchen Lemon), and candles, because I can put them out when I have company over. And they're usually under $10 each. I know not everyone agrees, though.

There are also store-bought chocolates, and plenty of varieties of decent wine for under $10 a bottle.

[dexteroni]

I was at JCPenney yesterday, and there's a ton of home stuff on clearance, including much of the cute Martha Stewart and Jonathan Adler stuff lines just got in earlier this year. I bought a few candles, dishes, trays, etc. to use as gifts for like $5 - $10 each. The Martha Stewart food is on clearance too, if you were interested in putting together any food gifts. It's good gift-y food, too, like crackers, tapenade, sauces, olive oil, salts, etc. A salt and olive oil basket would be great for someone who likes to cook, or crackers and tapenade tied in a cellphane bag can be a good party hostess gift. There was also a line of nice-looking office accessories, I didn't stop and look but they looked modern and cool.

[dexteroni]

Oct 30, 2013 13:30:34 GMT -5 mbcdefg said:

I personally like those B&BW hand soaps (as long as they're not in an obnoxiously strong scent, like Kitchen Lemon), and candles, because I can put them out when I have company over. And they're usually under $10 each. I know not everyone agrees, though.

A soap and a lotion is a good small gift, maybe for the teachers and support staff. B&BW always has some sort of sale going on, and they send out coupons if you sign up for their mailing list. They're way less than $10 each, more like $5 each, and will be even less with the sale.

[dexteroni]

Oct 30, 2013 13:42:38 GMT -5 ribollita said:

I would not buy soap or lotion (or candles or ornaments) for teachers.

What would you suggest instead?

[jennistarr1]

whoa, WHOA, whoa...could you write out your list for us...seems like a lot to me.
I buy for (my side) Mom, Dad, Sister, Sister boyfriend, grandmother, great grandmother
(his side) Mom, Dad, Brother, Brother girlfriend, niece, niece
Secret Santa gift for his work
Secret Santa gift for GBCN

[jennistarr1]

for teachers, what about a nail file, bottle of nail polish, hand lotion route

Can you do family gifts, like a family movie and fleece blanket

[ssmjlm]

Oct 30, 2013 13:08:05 GMT -5 sproutmd said:

- Are gift cards the only options for teachers? What about staff? I've done personalized mugs with goodies inside, but that ended up being just as expensive

From what I've read here over the years, yes.  Everyone says the knick knack crap gets chucked or donated.  I plan to just give gift cards to all of E's daycare teachers.

[Deleted]

My go to inexpensive gift is handmade oil soaps from the local spice specialty shop. Last year I bought my staff philosophy gift sets and they seemed to like it.

think everyone is tired of B&BW or mugs filled with candy.

[leancuisine]

Are you looking to buy the same thing for everyone (like all teachers are getting the same thing). I guess if you have staff you'd want to get them the same thing...

I pick up a lot off stuff all year round when I find it on clearance. This is easy to do for my SS and nieces... I can always get clothing a size up, cheap nail polish, lipgloss or whatever and stash them until Christmas.

If you need to get a universal gift for several people, I'd stick with a gift card. Starbucks usually makes everyone happy. I personally don't like it when I get food items/soaps as gifts from work because I typically don't use them. Even if I get a gift card to a place I don't really frequent I can always regift it and it saves me money!


ETA: movie tickets are a good idea (from pp). It will let someone have a date night or some place to take their kids.

[chikastuff]

are Target GCs not a good option?

[Deleted]

This year for DH's siblings, grand parents, nieces, and nephews we are making personalized mugs. I bought etching cream from Michael's crafts with a 40% off coupon ($30 total), plain glass mugs from a restaurant supply ($2 ea), and I am having someone with a Cricut cut names out of vinyl to use as the design for the etch ($30ish, I think). I anticipate making about 3 dozen mugs.

We will also include a variety of hot cocoas and flavorings in the boxes. This gift should be about $5 per person total.

Our family is growing each year so we are trying to get creative to save ourselves from having to spend a million dollars on Christmas.

[Deleted]

Yikes, that is crazy!!! 45 people?!?!? I'm so glad we discussed with our families to cut out Xmas gifts. But 1 idea we got as a joint gift was a themed basket (packaged breakfast foods). You can google cheap gift baskets and there are plenty of sites that will come up, and you can send it as a "family" gift as opposed to buying for each individual. Also, for teachers and staff, buy Christmas ornaments, they have so many types and they are cheap. Christmas shouldnt be about spending tons of money on every person that you know, I would cut back

[sproutmd]

Oct 30, 2013 13:50:05 GMT -5 jennistarr1 said:

whoa, WHOA, whoa...could you write out your list for us...seems like a lot to me.
I buy for (my side) Mom, Dad, Sister, Sister boyfriend, grandmother, great grandmother
(his side) Mom, Dad, Brother, Brother girlfriend, niece, niece
Secret Santa gift for his work
Secret Santa gift for GBCN

Sure.

Our staff: 10
Teachers+cleaning person: 8
DH Family: 7 - budget is higher here per person, they are gift people, parents, siblings, grandparents
Mine: 15 - parents (divorced, one remarried), siblings, grandparents (divorced, remarried), Great Aunt that I'm close to, extended family cousin drawing for our kids (4 drawings on Mom's side + 4 drawings on Dad's side + 2 "kid cousin" drawing + 4 gift baskets for grandparents + Great Aunt)
Our family: 4

Here's a drink if you actually followed!  :drink: 
 

[lilles]

Oct 30, 2013 13:42:38 GMT -5 ribollita said:

I would not buy soap or lotion (or candles or ornaments) for teachers.


For kids I love the Melissa and Doug sticker activity pads- worth so much more than the $7 they cost on Amazon!

These are great and marshalls usually has them for 3.99!

[lilles]

Also look at Amazons Lightning deals every day. They have been having great deals on all sorts of stuff this past week.

[sproutmd]

Thank you for all of the suggestions, everyone!