Cheap Christmas Gifts for Your Husband

Christmas is coming! Time to start considering some gifts for that special man in your life that won't break the bank. As you look for that perfect gift, remember that a little bit of creative thinking goes a long way in keeping your spending in check. Here are 5 ideas to help Santa decide what to leave under the tree for your hubby.

1. Tickets

Now, you are going to have to resist buying those two tickets to Holiday on Ice and passing one of as a gift to your husband! What man does not enjoy receiving tickets to a sport match or event that he has a real interest in? In addition to being a thoughtful acknowledgment of what HE likes, he also gets to spend time engaged in a favorite activity with you. If you have a coupon book or receive one of those envelopes full of coupons in the mail, make sure to check both for buy one, get one free deals on admission to local sporting events or museums.

2. Greens fees

OK, bear with me on this one.

While greens fees are notoriously high overall, smaller public golf courses often have greens fees that are downright affordable. If you live in a city with recreation centers, many times those cities' public courses are discounted for residents with rec center membership cards. Again, don't forget to check the coupon book for buy one, get one free coupons.

3. Coffee

If your husband is a coffee junkie, there is nothing that would be a more practical gift than a terrific new car thermos (these can be purchased anywhere, but they are especially cheap at Kmart) with a Starbucks rechargeable gift card inside. You can refill the card on every special occasion if you wish, and when money is tight you can put as little on it as you want. If your husband likes to brew his own joe, you could always check out your local Whole Foods or Fresh Market for a bag of an interesting or exotic blend he could enjoy at home.

4. Massage

A luxurious gift indeed, but not necessarily an expensive one. Many people do not realize that masseurs must attend rather rigorous courses in the art of massage, and then must do several hours of supervised work in order to become licensed. Most student masseurs are excellent (as they are trying to make a good grade based on their technique), and most schools offer massages at discounted rates. Here in Virginia, a student masseur charges between $30-40 for an hour long massage and salons/spas typically charge over $100 for an hour. Most massage schools would be happy to issue a credit or gift certificate as well. Who wouldn't love an hour of stress relief?

5. Netflix

I have received this as a gift myself, and think it is absolutely wonderful. For those not familiar with Netflix, it is a movie rental company. You pay a very minimal amount per month (Memberships start at $4.99), and you rent movies through the internet. They have an astounding number of titles, and your man is sure to find a movie he enjoys. A membership to Netflix.com is a really great gift if you are super-strapped for cash, as you can give a year-long terrific gift if you can forage $5.00 per month.

Happy Shopping!