Unique and affordable gift ideas for the holidays?

There are really only two people I buy gifts for on a regular basis and one of them is on this site so I’m not giving away what I bought her yet. ;)

I find that an excellent, unpredictable gift is that odd TV series that your friend or family member always talks about but can’t seem to find. For example, one year, I got my mother my mother a version of Pride and Prejudice that she had been admiring for months but could only find at this one store this was before I had the capability of ordering off the internet. It was a hit and I think she might agree that it was one of the most successful gifts I have ever given her.

A gift idea I have often used for the writers and illustrators among my circle of friends is to find a really nice, unique journal for them to scribble in. As a writer myself, it’s exactly the kind of thing I would like. You have to be careful with this one though, because if they are a writer or artist, chances are lots of people buy them journals and notepads.

My mother bought me an early Christmas present this year. It is a lovely, sterling silver necklace with a garnet surrounded by tiny, blue opals. I don’t wear much jewelry so when she saw how much I liked this, she got it for me. If someone you are with likes a piece of jewelry that they would never buy for themselves, get it for them. Don’t guess on what kind of jewelry someone will like unless you know them very well.

You can always buy consumable items also. This is especially god for the person who has everything or who goes through something really quickly. For example, my mother gets me loads of chapstick every year because I go through chapstick like nobody’s business. Some delicious gourmet food never goes amiss nor does something like gourmet coffee or hot chocolate. Ostensibly for women but actually for anybody ;) soaps and lotions are a great gift.

@KatawaGrey I like your idea that soaps and lotions are a good idea. I make them to order.

I pick up all kinds of artwork at shows I do and I will give some as gifts to people I know will like it….sometimes even photography ;))

If some of your friends and family are pet owners I have made up pet gift boxes for the novelty and they have been enthusiastically received.

Fun collars and leashes, toys, treats, catnip spray, etc. etc.

Other fun items are ice cube trays in various shapes such as pistols, penguins, naked women etc. lol

One can also order online custom Converse tennies for about $70 which includes an amazing array of custom combos and colors and patterns.

My daughter turned me on to this and she just ordered black and paisley and custom striping, very cool shoes!

A spring gardening box is fun for those gardening enthusiasts. Include an array of seeds, hand tools, garden clogs, knee pads, and stuff it all into a nice flower pot and wrap!

Other ideas might include a kit or gift cert. for wine or home brewing supplies.

A friend in San Diego sent me hops rhizomes some years ago, they grew into a huge hedge of hops. Pretty and functional.

For the elderly person on your list that does not need another robe: get them a roll of stamps, a can of coffee, a gift certificate to the place they buy their prescriptions, a gift certificate to the place they buy their groceries. These are not unique gifts, but the elderly do not need knick knacks, clothes or jewelry.

Rubik’s Cube Key Chain, hours and hours of blood boiling frustration for under $5.

@poisonedantidote

LOL..‘hours and hours of blood boiling frusteration for under $5’

I’d include a dozen herbal brownies with that gift. hahaha

I like to gift people the things I know they’d like but won’t buy themselves for whatever reasons. If I see someone look at a thing or bring it up in conversation then I’ll note it and keep it in mind for a time I can afford it or make it happen. Could be a drive to a particular spot or some knick knack for the house.

If you know any photography enthusiasts, the Photojojo store has a lot of cool, quirky photography-related gifts at a wide range of price levels.

For the food enthusiast, you could give a certificate for a one day (usually evening) class at one of the local cooking schools. Most of the ones around here are about $25 and some of the topics are: fresh spring rolls, a vegetarian meal, an Indian curry.

For the photographer who never has the time or inclination to get any of their photos printed anymore, a gift certificate to Target or other photo processing place (with the specific intent to have some of their photos printed).

For the camping enthusiast either one of those neato new LED style Coleman lanterns or maybe a paid weekend at one of the local campgrounds (not necessarily one that is a huge well known campground like Yosemite or the likes) just one at one of the local lakes or mountain areas very near their city. People often don’t realize that there are really nice local campgrounds (at least in California there are).

A selection of inexpensive gift cards to give to one busy person who never treats themselves. Like some of the following: $5 bucks for Starbucks $10 bucks for one movie at their local theater and one for $10 bucks at the local pizzaria (for one pizza) and one for $10 bucks at the grocery store for a bottle of wine or a six pack of beer. Specify what you had in mind for your friend or relative either by writing it in the card or hanging a little tag with the words 1 pizza, 1 latte, 1 movie and 1 bottle of wine on the gift cards.

Flipside plastic wallet/card holder- it’s the size of a Blackberry, hold credit cards, paper money, business cards and is available in a lined version to guard against credit card scanners/scammer machines.

Man bag- overnight/shaving bag filled with a metal fingernail file, dental floss picks, mini toothpaste and travel toothbrush (the cap comes off and turns around to make a full length handle), mini mouthwash, mini battery operated nosehair/earhair trimmers, moisturizer/sunscreen in a mini pump, pack of unscented babywipes, mini hair gel, mini deodorant/antiperspsirant, small comb, mini nailbrush, tins of Brown and Black shoe polish &rag put in a ziplock baggie, bandaids, mini neosporin, safety pins and iron-on hemming tape.

Espresso bean grinder, french press & ¼ lb bags of several bean roasts.

Electric “tea kettle”- it’s great for a lot of instant boiling water for instant cereals, noodles, soups, tea, coffee or sauces.