{"id":53682,"date":"2010-11-21T04:00:50","date_gmt":"2010-11-21T12:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/getrichslowly.org\/blog\/?p=53682"},"modified":"2023-12-06T11:06:28","modified_gmt":"2023-12-06T18:06:28","slug":"reader-story-inexpensive-gift-ideas-for-christmas-and-beyond","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.getrichslowly.org\/reader-story-inexpensive-gift-ideas-for-christmas-and-beyond\/","title":{"rendered":"Inexpensive Gift Ideas for Christmas (and Beyond!)"},"content":{"rendered":"

This article written by Shelley Turner<\/strong> is part of the “reader stories” feature at Get Rich Slowly. Some stories contain general advice; others are examples of how a GRS reader achieved financial success \u2014 or failure. These stories feature folks from all levels of financial maturity and with all sorts of incomes.<\/em><\/p>\n

They’re coming! Like it or not, the holidays \u2014 and all the stress of buying the Perfect Gift \u2014 are just around the corner. I actually like<\/em> brainstorming gift ideas, and have been told I’m pretty good at it. Today I’ll share my secrets with you.<\/p>\n

The best gifts are appropriate for the recipient, yet don’t cost a small fortune.<\/strong> You want your gift to say “I know what you like”, not “I didn’t have a clue of what to get you for a gift for but here it is anyway”. I once received a leopard-hair belt. Anybody who knows me, or has seen how I dress, understands that there’s never been (nor ever will be) a time that I’d wear a leopard-hair belt. A gift like that screams “I just bought you something because I had to”.<\/p>\n

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<\/span>Gift-giving ground rules<\/span><\/h2>\n

Before you buy, take a few minutes to think about what your recipient has in her house or on her desk, what she spends her time doing, what she likes to talk about, where she likes to eat, and even what she keeps in her refrigerator. Even if you don’t know her that well, this exercise will help you get some ideas of what the recipient likes.<\/p>\n

I’m not a collector, so I prefer practical and useful gifts. However, if your gift recipient is<\/em> a collector, that’s a perfect opportunity. Even if his collection is filled with expensive items, you can often find a small token within that collection that you could give him. The trick to buying a great gift for somebody, no matter what the occasion, is to buy what your recipient would enjoy \u2014 not what you’d<\/em> enjoy.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Often, a consumable gift that provides momentary pleasure and then disappears is best, especially around the holidays when people usually get many gifts. Consumables can be given, enjoyed, and remembered without becoming Stuff<\/a>.<\/p>\n

My husband’s 90-year-old grandmother is a perfect example. What can you give a 90-year-old woman who already has everything she wants and needs? Not much. However, I know she really enjoys a good cup of coffee. And I found some European butter cookies and a some jars of preserves made in her native Denmark. I give her this same gift every year. She tells me she waits eagerly for our gift because not only does she enjoy consuming it during the winter, but because it’s a small reminder of her home country.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Inexpensive gift ideas<\/span><\/h2>\n

No matter which gift you choose, if it’s something your recipient uses over and over, you can give a great gift without spending too much. Here are some of my favorite inexpensive gift ideas. These have all been well-received and cost less than $20. You can tailor the gift idea to fit your budget. Some of these can be used as hostess gifts for holiday parties you may be attending.<\/p>\n