What sort of gifts did you receive that you liked? Help me get ideas for next year!

[rnorwo1]

I have a bunch of people (cousins, co-workers, etc) who I exchange small gifts (range from $5-$25) with and I am always stressed to find something nice and budget friendly. This year for co-workers, for ex, I did a sort of 12 days of Christmas thing (except I couldn't get my act together beforehand so they got it all in one day ) where I had some home made mixes and baked goods, socks, lotion, etc and put it all in cute hat-type boxes. I really hate gifts that look cheap, so I probably went a little over board to avoid that, and ! ended up with a not-so-inexpensive gift, by the time you added up everything... yet I still think that it had that budget-homemade look to it .

So, I was wondering if any of you received (or gave) any really nice gifts that may not have broke the bank but was also not a homemade or one of the generic (socks, lotion) gifts that I feel like I've been giving people for years. For ex, one of my co-workers gave us each a pashmina (not cashmere but still very nice) and we all loved them... and she probably got them on sale and paid less than I did for all those little things that I gave/made.

Just thought I'd ask now while it was still fresh in everyone's minds! Thanks!!

 

[ceecee]

We know a guy that has a store and he was selling cashmire look scarves for $3.00, they looked and felt really nice. I almost got the girls in my office one, but thought it maybe looked too cheap. My mom ended up buying 2 dozen for the homeless shelter (she donates hats and scarves every year) and he gave her a deal on them. She gave me one and I love mine! I ended up getting my co-workers yet another candle (flameless) and a Vera Bradley notebook that I picked up at the outlet sale.
DD got her friends a plush type animal holding a throw at Walmart.com for $5.00 each, we thought that was a great deal and the girls all loved them.

 

[IDoDis]

I got a scentsy warmer that I really love!
http://www.scentsy.net/en-us/index.aspx

I got two wax bar scents -- a Christmas one and a mandarin scent. I'm going to order more wax bars soon! They last over and over again. When you want to chance scents, just scoop out the the current one (after it cools and hardens) and put in a different one. Then you can reuse the one you scooped out later on.

 

[arminnie]

I actually gave these this year and everyone really seemed to like them.

LL Bean has a small windup flashlight (I can never keep batteries fresh in a flashlight). You don't have to wind it very much to get a good light.

They had them at $12 if you bought 3. I ordered a bunch of them. People are using them in their car, home. Two people said they ended up needing it the day they received it. LL Bean also had free shipping before Christmas. I get it anyway with an LL Bean Visa card.

 

[daisyduck123]

Scratch Off lottery tickets (Christmas-themed ones ).

 

[Ava]

One of my co-workers gave me a sampler pack of some fancy teas - Tea Forte I think they're called - that I really like. If you know your co-workers drink tea or coffee, something like that might be nice.

 

[MickeyManiac]

I got a scentsy warmer that I really love!
http://www.scentsy.net/en-us/index.aspx

I got two wax bar scents -- a Christmas one and a mandarin scent. I'm going to order more wax bars soon! They last over and over again. When you want to chance scents, just scoop out the the current one (after it cools and hardens) and put in a different one. Then you can reuse the one you scooped out later on.

If you keep the plastic tray that your scents come in you can pour the wax back in while it's still liquid. Makes them easy to store.

 

[quasar4legs]

My cousin buys nice jars on sale during the year and then fills them with mixed nuts that she buys in bulk during December.
I love getting the nuts which I put out over Christmas and then have a jar to use in the kitchen.

Cheers

 

[pigletto]

Coffee for the coffee lovers! I got 4 bags, all different flavours and I love every single one
Also I saw a neat thing for travelers.. a small scale that you hook onto your suitcase and pick it up with to weigh it. I think it was about 11 dollars and a great idea for those who don't want to go over the limit on their bags when they fly.

Just two small ideas

 

[rnorwo1]

I'm loving these ideas, thanks! Anything else, I have alot of people that I buy a little something for!

 

[abbyndrewmom]

I gave my sister and brother's girl friend a "blooming" teabag in a glass teapot. My sister already used her and loved it! It was a nice present to give, looked impressive and didn't cost a huge about of money.

 

[rnorwo1]

I gave my sister and brother's girl friend a "blooming" teabag in a glass teapot. My sister already used her and loved it! It was a nice present to give, looked impressive and didn't cost a huge about of money.

I've never seen these, they look gorgeous!

 

[Mom-to-2-Princesses]

I work in our school this year and my favorite gift was a small box of Penzey's spices. Two years ago at my husband's Christmas party we received a larger box. I love the spices, have no way to get them locally, and probably wouldn't spend the extra money on them.

Also, we live in a smaller town and the nearest Trader Joe's is about two hours away. One parent gave me a bag of Trader Joe items (truffles and hot chocolate) which was fun since it is something I wouldn't easily get myself.

 

[smokeyblue]

My brothers buy a pig every year so I gave my one brother a gift bag with a couple different Famous Dave's sauces and a grill brush. I gave my other brother a pair of the jeans because he needed them! The brother who got the jeans said "return the jeans, I want what he got!" I didn't know it would be such a highly coveted present! It cost me just a little over $10 at Menard's to put the gift together, a few dollars less than the pair of jeans!

 

[mrsklamc]

If you knew the person would like it, I got a mini miche bag for Christmas and that was one of my favorite gifts.

Also, do you have a university nearby? In college ours had a great bakery (gift packaged from there were highly prized during finals) and each year my MIL gets us a package of assorted cheese from the University of Nebraska dairy and those are very appreciated too.

 

[Tink-n-MrIncredible]

My family received a sweet potato casserole to have at a later date (all I had to do was add butter and bake). We ate it yesterday and was enjoyed by all. That go me thinking, next year I may make a breakfast casserole or monkey bread for family members with small children to enjoy on Christmas morning. Any thoughts??

 

[mumto3girls]

My family received a sweet potato casserole to have at a later date (all I had to do was add butter and bake). We ate it yesterday and was enjoyed by all. That go me thinking, next year I may make a breakfast casserole or monkey bread for family members with small children to enjoy on Christmas morning. Any thoughts??

As someone with small children and lots of hosting duties over the holidays, I have to say I would love something like that. Anything that my family would enjoy and would make that time a little easier would make me smile. I would add though that you should only do that with someone you know well (I think you specified family)--if I were a received something like that from someone I didn't know well I might feel a bit funny about it.

 

[diznee25]

I got my husband an LED flashlight, and he loves it! He took out his old flashlight and turned them both on to compare....and wow that LED flashlight really lights up! They vary in price, but I got him a Maglite (popular brand) little flashlight for around $20.

diznee25

 

[rnorwo1]

As someone with small children and lots of hosting duties over the holidays, I have to say I would love something like that. Anything that my family would enjoy and would make that time a little easier would make me smile. I would add though that you should only do that with someone you know well (I think you specified family)--if I were a received something like that from someone I didn't know well I might feel a bit funny about it.

I've done meals for my MIL before b/c she doesn't like to cook, and she loved them. In my family though, everyone is either a great cook or always on a diet, so that doesn't work for most of them. And I wouldn't want to do this for co-workers, I agree with you on that. It would be a dream gift for me ha ha!

I got my husband an LED flashlight, and he loves it! He took out his old flashlight and turned them both on to compare....and wow that LED flashlight really lights up! They vary in price, but I got him a Maglite (popular brand) little flashlight for around $20.

diznee25

I've given flashlights before also, they were also received very well. I know my husband loves getting them, and he already has too many to count... he says it's one of those things that you can never have too many of

 

[mrsklamc]

Also if you gift to any 'geeks' this was well received by the guys in my family.

http://www.uncommongoods.com/product/super-magnetic-putty