8 Affordable Christmas Present Ideas
“It’s the thought that counts” sometimes feels like wishful thinking when it comes to gift-giving around the holidays. So, when your bank account and great intentions don’t necessarily line up, that’s when helpful ideas are needed.
Here are 8 affordable Christmas present ideas to help ease the stress that comes with the Holiday Season – particularly in the financial department.
Read on before you assemble your shopping list.
1. ADVENT CALENDARS
They are a month-long investment, but they will keep everyone excited with one little present every day! And they can be filled with anything: mini bath bombs and hand cream, face cream or body wash for mom, fancy tea and coffee samples for dad, little toys for the kids, and makeup samples or tabletop game figurines for the teens! With an advent calendar, you will keep the recipient of the gift always curious to know what they’ll find the next day.
There are adorable, affordable ones that you can buy – or you can even make your own! I spent a Christmas out of town one year, and I was pretty devastated to be away from family. My parents sent me an advent calendar of sorts that they had created themselves – brown paper bags, folded up, with the date to open stapled on the front. The bags provided a little more room for goodies than a standard advent calendar, as well as more opportunity for personalization.
Still, going the store-bought way doesn’t remove personalization altogether. Here are some cute themed advent calendars to peruse:
2. BOARD GAMES
Not everybody needs a PS4 – there’s nothing wrong with some good old fashioned board games!
If you have two or more children, the easiest way to get a little time for yourself in the middle of the holiday excitement is to give them something to do. And a new two-player game is a great way to keep the kids busy and relatively quiet for… well. We do not guarantee more than half an hour. But even that can be enough sometimes. Pick something that is age-appropriate and captivating, but beware: you might find yourself sucked into the gameplay too!
Games are a great option for teenagers and adults as well. My husband and I, newly married, don’t have kids yet, but I ordered some games for us to unwrap and enjoy this year ourselves. Here’s the two that I bought for us:
Some other solid, affordable game choices:
3. A GAMING CONSOLE
Instead of getting everyone an individual gift, compile the money and buy a gaming console for the whole family.
It would be a house gift that anyone can use as they please. It is indeed a bit expense, but not so much when used as a catch-all present for everyone. Plus, you will have an unlimited fun and a go-to present idea for years to come (more games!). If you feel that your budget does not stretch that far, you can use a digital app to help you save money for the things that really matter to you!
Plant a couple of individually wrapped games for each member of the family, along with a “daily gaming timecard” to hint at the main present and to ensure everyone gets some, but not too much playtime.
I always go right to Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist for larger purchases – and you can save a lot of money by doing this with your gaming console! It’ll probably work just as well as if you had purchased it from the store.
4. A SET OF KEY FINDERS
This year, I was racking my brain to find something affordable (well, cheap) to get my family for the holidays – and I wanted to get them something that they would actually use. So I did some searching and decided to buy everyone a set of key finders – a tiny electronic alarm that you can attach to keys, phones, remotes, etc. It comes with a remote that you can use to set the beeper off to find these important items when they go missing.
This set is only $15.
If not a present in and of itself, these also make great stocking stuffers for adults.
5. SOMETHING YOU MADE
For older kids, teens, and even young adults, a fun holiday activity is a DIY project. Reuse materials you have around the house and let their imagination run wild. You can join in too; after all, it is a fun and relaxing activity. And the resulting projects can make very thoughtful gifts for grandparents. You get bonus points if you are a teen yourself and surprise your parents with something you have crafted yourself. Decorations are always a win, but you can try jewelry (or other small items) boxes, bookmarks, or even paintings and sculptures!
There are tons of articles out there with Homemade Christmas gift ideas, and this is one of my favorites.
6. A PLUSH TOY
I have yet to meet a person, child, adult, or elder whose heart does not melt at the sight of a cute, fluffy, cuddly toy. They have many psychological benefits as well, the soft texture can help with anxiety, and hugs, even plush ones, are known to relieve stress. At best, a plushie will create a corner of safety and relaxation, and at worst, it can be a cute replacement for a throw pillow. Either way, that’s a win!
Some plushies that I find particularly fun are dinosaurs, octopuses, and cows!
7. A BEAN BAG
One of the best gifts I’ve ever received was a big bean bag – it’s the superior furniture item, especially when coming home after a long day of work or school (it’s great to flop onto). A bean bag is great for both naps and play – I like to summon my inner child and jump from high places onto my bean bag.
Mine is a giant one from Costco, but Amazon has some good options to order as well.
This is a cute, very affordable bean bag where kids can store their stuffed animals inside it.
8. AN EVERYDAY FAVORITES GIFT BASKET
Buy a little basket and fill it up with some little every day items that you know they’ll use. A lot of these items can be purchased from the Dollar Tree! Here’s some customizable ideas:
A mom: diapers, soap, face masks, candle
A Teenage girl: lip gloss, journal, candy, makeup
A man: dude wipes, socks, razors, soda
A kid: little Lego figurine set, candy, blanket, comic book
A comfort classic: candle, blanket, Little Debbie snacks, journal
Household Essentials: toilet paper, scissors, dish scrubber, Febreze
Wrap it all up in some paper or ribbon and voila! The perfect gift.
PLAN AHEAD AND STICK TO YOUR BUDGET
As demonstrated through past years, some of us may tend to go a little overboard with the Christmas presents. Nevertheless, December is all about showing your appreciation and making sure that you have a gift prepared for your loved ones.
Whereas some have a natural talent for putting money aside, others find it difficult to keep track of their finances. Digital apps can really come in handy in such cases. For example, Qube Money is a digital wallet that will not only give you an overview of your daily spendings but will also help you prioritize your finances and see which areas could benefit from a budget cut. When it comes to ticking off your gift list, planning makes perfect!
BOTTOM LINE
So, here you have it! Six great ideas for affordable Christmas presents that are not mugs, ties, and gift cards. Have fun this holiday season and happy giving! Merry Christmas everyone!
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!