After browsing though quite a few gifts guides with items well over $100 each, I decided to make one myself but with items under $20. This Christmas I just can't buy gifts for people that are expensive. Sorry people. If you are getting something from me this year, it's probably going to be something around the $20 mark. In fact, a few items on this list are things I am actually giving. I hope that these little gifts will have a big impact despite being so small and inexpensive. Do you have any suggestions for thoughtful gifts that are under $20? Let me know in the comments.
Mini Books of Quotations: Cheerful Thoughts
George Herbert once wrote: “Good words are worth much and cost little.” This is one of the many truisms you will find in these little books that can be easily tucked away in your back pocket or purse. Featuring the likes of Dorothy Parker, Mark Twain, H.L. Mencken, Mother Teresa and others, one cannot help but enjoy these observations on life and living.
These little books are so sweet, they are beautifully designed and printed and have some of the best quotes I have read. I love the Cheerful Thoughts book and I am giving it to someone going through a difficult time and in need of some positive encouragement.
Best place on Earth ART MAGNET
$5.00 on Etsy: Tinker Dot Designs
This magnet is a reproduced print of my original collage. Though smaller in size than the original, the details are still so visible!! Makes a great gift for anyone who loves their home...or maybe someone who misses it.
I loved this when I saw it, such a great image and sentiment. I'd love to buy the original, but this magnet will have to do. I am buying it for someone who just completed a long home renovation.
Personal Letters on Kraft Paper
$0.30 per sheet of 8.5 x 11 paper and $1.10 for a 4 x 9 string and button envelope at Kate's Paperie
Crafty kraft paper note cards send your message in casual style. Made of 25% post-consumer waste.
My sister and I decided to forgo gifts for each other and our parents this year, since we aren't going to be together. Instead we decided to send letters. I love this idea and I am looking forward to sitting down and writing a letter of gratitude to each of them.
The Petzl Tikkina 2 Headlamp weighs almost nothing, lasts up to 190 hours and shines up to 23 meters to get the job done for hikers, backpackers, and climbers. Two LED bulbs feature high and low modes to let you save batteries or give you more power depending on your needs.
I am getting one of these for both Milo and Quinn in different colors. I thought it would be fun for them, they love flashlights and adventures. I also thought it would come in handy for me during bedtime stories. The three of us climb into bed together and read books in the dark with a flashlight. Balancing a regular flashlight on my shoulder is getting tiresome, so these headlamps should do the trick!
Compass Rose Geocaching Tokens
20 geotokens. Multi-colored and made of metal with a protective epoxy coating. Each token is about the size of a nickle, 2 sided (identical on both sides), great for caches, they are not trackable nor do they have an icon.
Have you heard of Geocaching? I just learned about it from my uncles and I was thrilled to hear about this world-wide treasure hunt that is apparently going on all around us and under everyone's noses. If you like to get outdoors and hike, but need a destination or a reason, this is perfect for you. It's especially great for families. All you need is a GPS device, a pencil to leave your signature in the log and an item, like these tokens, to leave behind. I want to do this with the kids this year, so I'm going to give them each a token to get us started.
$16.00 at Kate's Paperie
These traditional stamps are called Bunta in India and are as beautiful as a piece of art as they are functional. You can hang them on your wall as a piece of art or use them in craft projects! Sit them on your desk and watch as people handle them and marvel at the intricate carving! Stored in a canvas pouch and measures approximately 5 1/2".
You don't have to be a crafty person to get in on the stamping action. If you can find a stamp for someone of something that they love, they can use it as a signature on notes and cards. Initials are great, and horoscope signs, or even a particular flower or tree. These are great for kids also.
$5 - $15 per piece at Old Navy
The men's bottoms are pictured above, but if you visit the link above to Old Navy, every single item on that page is under $20. Pick ANYTHING and you are going to be under $20. Buy something for each person on your list if you want!