Holiday Host & Hostess Gifts for Under $20

Any gracious and hospitable host or hostess will insist that your presence is all that is necessary but a good guest never comes empty-handed. Etiquette will never go out of style so it's always wise to bring a thoughtful gift to express your gratitude when attending a function in someone's home. Luckily, it's the thought and not the price tag that counts. Here are a few ideas bound to delight any host or hostess.

Plants are tasteful yet not too feminine. This is an excellent gift for a bachelor or a couple of hosts. Head to your local hardware store (i.e. Home Depot or Lowes) and they will likely re-pot the plant at no charge. Choose a planter that is simple and reflects the style of your host or hostess. You can also purchase a plant from your local farmer's market or even a grocery store. Be careful to choose one that is in good shape and clip any brown leaves or flowers. Never give a plant as a gift if it is not in a proper planter. Nothing says tacky like a plant in a plastic planter and don't forget to avoid hanging plants. $20 can buy you a medium-sized plant and a tasteful planter.

Flowers are an excellent choice for a hostess. Avoid bouquets from the grocery store. Your local florist can create a lovely arrangement so long as you are specific about your budget. Avoid carnations and mini-carnations as these are cheap flower clichés. A good florist will give you several options for your budget and will also provide you with the finishing touches of ribbon & a note card.

Chocolate is a classic host or hostess gift. Avoid store-bought chocolates such as a Whitman's Sampler or Russell Stover's. Sure, you can pick up some inexpensive boxed chocolates at your local grocery store but you want to demonstrate that you put a lot of thought and time into the gift. When chocolates are chosen and presented in a thoughtful way, it doesn't matter how much or how little you spent. Go to a chocolatier or a bakery that makes candies. Explain to the salesperson what your budget is and who the gift is for. They will be happy to provide you with options. You might be able to purchase a pound of one kind of chocolate or only a quarter pound of another. Choose wisely. If you know your host or hostess is a fan of white chocolate, be sure to include a few pieces. If you are unsure, stick with plain milk chocolate with a few touches of white and/or dark. Avoid purchasing chocolate as a gift altogether if you are unsure if your host or hostess has any dietary restrictions (i.e. diabetes or lactose intolerance).

Baked Goods can relieve your host or hostess of the trouble of preparing dessert. You may choose to prepare dessert yourself or head to a local bakery. Your safest bet is to go with pastries. You wouldn't want to bring a cheesecake only to find that your host hates cheesecake. You may indeed know what your host's favorite dessert is but you must also consider the other guests (if any). Choosing a variety of pastries allows each of the guests to enjoy something.

Homemade Gifts are the ultimate in terms of thoughtfulness. Do you have a special talent for knitting or crocheting? Do you have a flair for painting or calligraphy? Do you enjoy baking? You don't have to knit a full-sized blanket or paint a masterpiece. A 2-3 hour project will suffice. Make sure that the item is properly presented- framed or boxed whenever appropriate.

Avoid gag-gifts if there will be guests other than yourself. You wouldn't want to embarrass the host or hostess You will also want to avoid gift certificates. Giving a gift certificate gives the message that you wanted to give something but were unwilling to invest the time in choosing a gift.

Staying the night? If you are going to be an overnight houseguest, it is customary that you purchase something for the guest him/herself in addition to a food item to be shared.