Holiday Gifts Under $50

Holiday gift giving can be stressful, especially when you are strapped for cash and want to give something unique. Here are some quick (and cheap) holiday ideas to round out those stockings, or pick up those forgotten on the shopping list.

Gift certificates are always an easy holiday option, although not always cheap and certainly not personal. It is also important to be wary when purchasing a gift certificate as some still come with expiration dates while others charge a dormancy rate for cards that go unused for a long period of time. A larger problem with gift cards is that you may not know what kind of store your gift recipient would like to shop. Some malls and online retailers offer generic cards that are good for any store in the mall or for a group of on-line retailers, but this really isn't a personal gift-giving option. This option is ideal for people you don't know extremely well, or those extraordinarily picky individuals who really just prefer to shop for themselves.

If you are in the mood to give something that says more than, "I wanted to get you something, anything," you might consider home-made gifts or home-made gift baskets. A quick trip to the dollar store can garner some very nice finds. Begin with a basket, fill it with an assortment of goodies you know your recipient would like. For example, you might choose some bath salts and a bathing pillow, some chocolates and a candle. For the low price of $5 you have a gift chosen just for a busy, stressed out mom. Select some mixed nuts, comfy slippers, fancy coffee mug and some coffee or cocoa and you have a perfect basket for a man or teen in need of some down time. I'm especially fond of creating gift baskets with a bath bomb from Lush cosmetics. Although pricey, these little slices of luxury are worth the extra expense and are made in fragrances for men or women.

When putting together a gift basket, especially one that will contain food, make sure you are aware of any food allergies and dislikes. It would be a shame to have spent the time to put a nice little basket together only to find out your busy mom doesn't like chocolate, or is allergic to the fragrance in the bath beads. In cases where the person isn't well known to you, try to avoid common allergens, like nuts and dairy.

If you invest in some pretty jars, you could make your own mixes. Here is a holiday favorite:
Gourmet Hot chocolate:
•10-2/3 cups nonfat dry milk powder
•6 oz. jar powdered nondairy coffee creamer
•4 cups powdered sugar
•2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
To prepare: In a gallon-sized plastic baggie, combine all ingredients . Shake it very well to thoroughly mix. Store in cool place. Makes 17 cups of mix. You can also add mini marshmallows to the mix, or attach a candy cane with raffia or a pretty ribbon to the outside of the jar. Sometimes I'll toss in a few Andes mints that melt deliciously in the bottom of a hot cup of cocoa infusing the drink with mint.
On a card taped or glued to the top of your jar write: For 1 serving, stir 3 tablespoons Hot Cocoa Mix into 1 cup of hot water until dissolved. For extra richness, use milk instead of
hot water.

For the cook in your life, you could whip up a batch of Spicy Asian seasoning. This rub is excellent on pork, chicken or in a vegetable stir-fry. It also makes a very nice alternative to the usual barbeque sauce.

Spicy Asian Seasoning:

dried chiles, cut into 1/4-inch slices or pulverized (to taste - the more you add, the spicier the mix will be.)
2 cups sesame seeds
2 ½ tablespoons ground ginger
2 ½ tablespoons ground garlic
2 ½ tablespoons anise seed
4 teaspoons salt - sea salt adds a nice texture, although table salt is fine, too.

Put all the ingredients together in a large plastic baggie and toss to combine. Store in an airtight container for up to 6 months. This can be given in small spice jars or small canning jars.

You can find lots of simple and inexpensive gift jar ideas on the internet. One word of warning: gift jars and baskets generally only pay off if you give them to a lot of people, otherwise, they end up around $20 or $30 per person. To add a person touch to each basket, you could toss in some individual item that would appear directly to your recipient.

One final quick, inexpensive gift idea is "service coupons". You make a coupon book, either on the computer to print, or on plain paper using pen and pencil. Each coupon represents a service the other person might like you to perform. This can range from babysitting services for that couple who never has time together without the kids, yard work for your elderly neighbor or deserving parents, to lunch in Chicago with your best friend. These are most fun when you let your imagination go and really create coupons that appeal to the person you're making them for.

Whatever you decide for your gifts, remember that what really matters most is that the gift comes from you and was picked specifically with the recipient in mind.