Christmas Gifts Under Ten Dollars

It's true that this is the season of giving but it's also true that, if you shop at a dollar store, you won't have to spend a lot to show you care. You might not think that a dollar store could supply great gift ideas but it's true. Here are a few examples to get you started.

This writer is living proof of the dangers of conceiving in March. For the new baby who arrives in December how about a gift including two pairs of baby socks, two baby bottles, a teether, a rattle, a pacifier, a pacifier case, a set of eight pastel-colored baby hangers and a chunky foam baby book. This makes a substantial-looking gift that only costs $10.00.

Men can be particularly hard to buy for. We copied this gift idea from one we saw in a major department store one Christmas. Purchase a six-inch aluminum pail to stand in as an ice bucket, add two beer glasses, a set of ceramic coasters in an appropriate pattern like playing cards and a bag of Planter's peanuts. At a dollar for each of these items, this gift costs all of $5.00 or half of that department store gift that contained plastic beer glasses.

If you're gifting a household, how about something yummy for them to share? For example, package your homemade pancake mix in an attractive glass canister and put it in a mixing bowl lined with a crisp new tea towel and a small bottle of store-bought syrup. Add a wooden spoon and a wide spatula and, barring the ingredients for your recipe and the syrup, this gift costs $5.00. Don't forget to include written instructions for making the pancakes.

For your child's teacher, try a goodie bag containing a clip-on book light, a two-pack of DVD-R discs, a calendar mouse pad and a small desk clock. Five dollars is all you pay and that includes the gift bag.

For the hard-working mom on your list, the tried and true bath supplies gift basket is always a good bet. We put ours together to include lavender bath soak, bath beads, a pumice scrubber, a nailbrush set and a soap-shaped candle. Add some chocolate for $.65 and you've still spent under $6.00, including the basket.

A tea candle set, including candle, candleholder and candle ring, packed with two angel figurines in a reusable storage box makes a pretty gift for a hostess, a hairdresser or perhaps from a child to a favorite aunt for only $4.00.

With a touch of imagination and a do-it-yourself resolve, you can gift friends and family splendidly without paying retail prices.