Top Ten Gift Ideas for Cheap Bosses

The cheap boss is often difficult to buy for. All year long, cheap bosses hold back on raises, frown at your fancy coffees, and count exact change out for their part of the lunch take-out order. The holiday gift from a cheap boss is no exception to the cheap rules that he or she lives by. Last year you were insulted with no bonus and a two dollar coffee mug. Yet, you cannot bring yourself to give a cheap looking gift to your boss. The list of cheap boss gifts can help find a gift that balances the joy of knowing that you spent under five dollars on your cheap boss's gift this year and your sense of duty.

1. A Framed Inspirational Poem or Quote

This gift will cost you under three dollars if you shop around. Start with a poem or quote from the internet and copy it into a fancy Microsoft Word font. You can play around with the size of the font and style until it seems to fit evenly on a page of paper. If you want to spend a few bucks more, grab some decorative paper to print it on. Stop by any Dollar Store and pick up an 8 x 10 inch frame and you have a gift! This gift is actually pretty nice if you make one for someone that you like, but it also fits a three dollar boss gift budget quite well.

2. Faux Crystal Candy Dish

The faux crystal candy dish looks expensive at first. This dish is not from Mikasa, but there are many different shapes and sizes on the shelves at the Dollar Store. Fake crystal or not, it is hard to call a gift cheap that sparkles and glistens with a little Windex. Throw in a bag of peppermint candies and you have a cheap gift that looks like you spent much more.

3.Cheap Liquor

Many people resort to liquor as a gift when they want to give something but aren't sure what. The same can work for a cheap boss who likes a certain drink. Wine or champagne are the best bets for a boss, even if you aren't sure that they actually drink it. Cheap wine is the ultimate gift and you can find a fancy-named wine in any corner liquor store for about five bucks or so. Add one of those wine charms and place it in a pretty liquor gift bag with a bow.

4. Chocolate

Chocolate is never rejected by most cheap bosses because it is unlikely that they splurge on chocolate very often. You can go in many directions with chocolate as a gift. During the holidays, there is often a sale on Whitman's Chocolates and Russel Stover boxes of chocolate mysteriously appear on store shelves. Chocolate will set you back between five and ten dollars unless you go really cheap and get a generic box or a dollar box of chocolate covered cherries.

5. Desk Clutter

How about a nice figurine of some sort to clutter your boss's desk? Desk clutter items can be fun to shop for and they are often inexpensive. Paper weights, a Bobblehead, or a cheap vase all qualify as desk clutter. Dollar Store figurines area also a special gift if you know that your boss likes a certain theme. If your boss likes angels, grab any angel figurine for a dollar and put it in a fancy bag. There are figurines for everything from dogs to clowns to choose from. Seasonal clutter items will also be popular during the holiday shopping season. Look for ceramic Santas, broom angels, and other crafty knick-knacks for your boss's desk.

6. Thrift Store Goodies

If you aren't concerned that your boss may want to return your gift, consider looking for a gift at the local thrift store. Scarves or jewelry are easy choices for a few dollars. I wouldn't recommend clothing, but anything else should look fine wrapped with a nice bow and some fancy wrapping paper.

7. A Photo Gift

This type of gift can bring you joy all year when you have to look at your photograph gift on your boss's desk everyday. A photo gift is personal, whether the boss wants your picture or not. Ideally, you use a group photo of you and your co-workers with your boss, or a picture of the staff doing something together at work. Frame it in a nice desk frame and you have a cheap gift. A cheap keychain or trinket could be put in the bag with some candy or a cheap candle to make it look nicer.

8. The Re-Gift

If you absolutely can't bear to spend any money on your cheap boss, then start looking in the closet for something to re-gift. Candles sitting around the house are a good choice, or maybe part of a bath and beauty basket that you received. The re-gift is only cheap because you didn't spend any money on it, otherwise you will probably find something decent around the house.

9. Homemade Treats

Everyone loves a plate of homemade cookies or treats. A cookie platter is a fairly cheap gift for your boss if you are already baking by the dozens. Decorate the platter with some cheap candies or Hershey's kisses and wrap it in colored cellophane or saran wrap.

10. The Group Gift

One of the best money savers for buying cheap boss gifts is to pool your money with other co-workers and stretch your funds to purchase a nicer gift or gift bag full of cheap gifts that look like you spent a lot. The Group Gift helps to ease the pain of spending your hard earned money on a cheap boss because you know that everyone else at work is throwing in their three dollars just as well.

Cheap bosses will never be guilty of spending too much on your holiday gift so take your time selecting the perfectly cheap gift this year for your frugal boss and spend the change on one of those fancy coffees.