Secret Santa Saturday: 8 Gifts Under $8

INSTALLMENT FIVE: 8 Gifts under $8

Substantial Gifts That Are Still Budget-Friendly

It's hard to believe that this is the final installment of the Secret Santa Success Series! Thanks so much for following along with me through these past 6 weeks; I hope I have helped to get your creativity flowing for this year's Secret Santa.

Budget-Friendly Secret Santa Gifts

When it comes to working out your Secret Santa plan-of-attack, some quick advice is to save the more "expensive" gifts for the end (check out the intro to Secret Santa Success for more basic tips).  And while none of these ideas are going to break the bank (the most expensive is $7.99), they're more substantial then some of the previous options and are certain to put a smile on the face of your giftee. 

You may notice that some of these ideas are a little girly... for more manly options, check out Secret Santa Gifts for Guys!

 

8 Gifts Under $8
#1: Pretty Poinsettia Wrapped in Burlap

I got this poinsettia for $4.99 at Home Depot (it's one of the painted varieties--my favorites!). I scrapped the original packaging, swathed it in burlap (from my stash), and added a cute tag. Such a pretty flower. I'd actually recommend giving one of these as your FIRST gift so your giftee can enjoy it for longer (and maybe display it proudly on their desk, thus reinforcing your Secret Santa prowess)!

8 Gifts Under $8
#2: The Newest Issue of a Great Magazine

A new magazine is a great gift, and one quick stop into Barnes & Noble will afford you plenty of options. Is your giftee a car fan? A crafter? A foodie? A techie? A traveller? A gamer? An art lover? A sports fan? The possibilities are endless. Most magazines will easily fit under the $8 cap, but if you feel like splurging, there are more expensive options, too.

8 Gifts Under $8
#3: Cute Change Purse

I don't know if it's just me, but I've got a whole bunch of change that just sits at the bottom of my purse... and I could definitely make great use of this. Target had a few different designs, and at $7, you can't beat the price! Make the gift a little more special by filling it with some holiday goodies!

8 Gifts Under $8
#4: Hand Warmers & Foot Warmers

These HotHands products were in the dollar bins at Target and will run you $2 each. They're great to have in the wintertime, and I know many skiers who swear by them at the mountain! A quick and easy gift; adorn it with a ribbon and a tag, and you're done!

8 Gifts Under $8
#5: Scented Soy Candle

This soy candle was another Homegoods find ($6.99). It's got festive packaging and features an earthy, cedar scent. I love the idea of giving a Christmas candle for a Secret Santa gift because the giftee will be able to use the whole time leading up to the holidays (as opposed to receiving it ON Christmas, right as the holiday season is coming to an end). And soy candles are great--mine always last so long!

8 Gifts Under $8
#6: Forced Bulb {in a Mason Jar}

"Look it's a pot... with the dirt in it!" Anyone remember that line from Meet the Parents? Gets me chuckling every time. Anyway, here I've used a mason jar to plant a paperwhite bulb. If you've got some time, you may even be able to get it to bud before gifting it ;). Or, if you're not digging (pun intended) the mason jar idea, just get a forced bulb kit! I got mine for a few dollars at Christmas Tree Shops.

8 Gifts Under $8
#7: Pretty Tools

I have a few versions of these Pretty Tools, and I love them! There are several varieties, but this was the best one I could find under the $8 limit. Really, this is self-explanatory, but they are literally pretty tools! There are wrenches, tape measures, pruners... lots of options! A few years ago I saw some at Michaels, so if you're lucky enough to do the same, you could use your coupon and save even more. I'd recommend these for a woman, BTW (although my husband will readily admit he finds mine very convenient in a pinch)!

8 Gifts Under $8
#8: Fancy Handsoap

I found this vintage-inspired glass lavender water in a rustic cottage in the South of France. Just kidding! I got it at Homegoods. It was $7.99, which may seem like a lot for soap, but it's huge--32 oz! Definitely worth the $8, and it's just so pretty. And I have a confession to make: I'm keeping it! It ventured over to my kitchen sink after its photo shoot. :)

And with that, I am bowing out! We are well into Secret Santa season now, and I hope you've found this series helpful. I wish you the best of luck in your Secret Santa ventures, and would love if you shared some of your own ideas here or on the Thrifter Facebook Page!

Also, can I ask a favor? Would you mind following me on Facebook and Pinterest? It really helps me out, and I'll follow back! :)



More in the Secret Santa Success Series:

  

Secret Santa Saturday: Foodie Gifts

Installment Four: Gifts for Food Lovers 

(and really, who doesn't love food?)

Yummy Treats are Always a Great Option for Secret Santa!

Foodie Gift Idea #1: Gourmet Pasta & Sauce Combo

I found this winter-themed pasta and specialty pasta sauce at Homegoods. Together, they cost me around $7. You could display it in a cute little basket, or even a Dollar Tree colander, add some ribbon, and you've got a classy, finished look! And I don't know anyone who doesn't appreciate having some pasta essentials on hand for the nights they don't feel like cooking.

Foodie Gift #2: Harry & David Milk Chocolate Moose Munch

I happened to pick up this Harry & David snack at Homegoods, too, but almost every retailer has inexpensive pre-packaged holiday snacks at this time of year. The best part? They require hardly any gift wrapping, because they look so festive on their own! Homegoods has a lot of high-end options, so it's a great place to shop for those with particularly-discerning palates. ;)

Foodie Gifts #3 & #4: Trader Joes Cookies and Winter Tea

I can't say enough about Trader Joes for gift ideas (remember me rambling on about their lovely fresh flowers?). The prices are great, and their packaging is just so fun! Around the holidays they have so many great holiday-themed treats, and not all of them are candy, so the health-consicous giftees on your list may appreciate one of the "less caloric" choices. Below I'm showing a box of cookies and a couple varieties of their yummy holiday teas. Put them together, and your giftee will have a perfect afternoon snack!

Foodie Gift #5: A Fresh Baked Loaf in a Pretty Tea Towel

It doesn't get much better than homemade treats around the holiday season, and those of you with special recipes can easily whip up some of your favorites as a "foodie" gift. But if you feel that your baking skills aren't quite gift-worthy, grab a boxed mix, follow the easy directions, and voila! A homemade treat. Use tin loaf pans (I got my 3-pack at Michaels), and wrap it in a pretty tea towel for a custom look (I got the first towel at Ikea and the second towel on clearance after Christmas last year... probably at Target?)! And there you go: two gifts in one!

Foodie Gift #6: Restaurant.com Gift Certificate

Restaurant.com is a website where you can purchase restaurant gift certificates for LESS than face value.  Here's how it works: You visit Restaurant.com and type in your zip code to see participating restaurants in your area. Then, check out the restaurants available (depending on your region, there may be many or only a few). You'll notice that you can buy a gift certificate (in many denominations) for less than the face value. For example, a $10 gift certificate may cost only $4! Just be sure you're aware that there is usually a minimum purchase required to use the gift certificate. In the example I just gave, there is a $15 minimum purchase required to use that $10 gift certificate. The minimum purchases are generally very reasonable, so even with that caveat, it's almost always a great deal. I just discovered our favorite pizza place has a $5 gift certificate for only $2 (with a $7.50 minimum); considering the fact that we average about a pizza a week from there, we really need to buy a bunch of those for ourselves!

We've used Restaurant.com in the past, and it's been great. The main drawback I see is that the selection of restaurants may be pretty skimpy. I think it started in Chicago, so I'm willing to bet there are a lot more participating restaurants out there. Maybe we'll have a better selection here soon? But either way, the prices are great, and how cool is that as an inexpensive Secret Santa gift? Even if it's just for the local pizza place!

Or, it you're not happy with Restaurant.com's selections, grab a $5 or $10 gift card at the local  favorite restaurant in your town. It may not seem like a lot of money to give, but every little bit counts, and it'll give your giftee an excuse to enjoy a great meal out!

Hungry yet? :)

So while there's nothing ground-breaking about giving out yummy treats around the holidays, it's nice to think about new ways to prepare them. These options allow you to continue maintaining a conservative budget during the whole Secret Santa process.

Don't forget to pair them with some ideas from our previous installments of the Secret Santa Success Series!

Before you go, I'd LOVE it if you would follow me on Facebook and Pinterest! I'll follow back! :)

Secret Santa Saturday: Gifts for Guys

Installment Four: Gifts for the Guys on Your List

Because men are hard to shop for!

Now I'm not trying to start any gender wars here. Don't worry, I'm not abandoning my feminist roots. I know full well that any of these gifts would be suitable for and appreciated by women all over the world, but that's not the point of this post. Because it's really hard to find gifts for men. So this installment of Secret Santa Saturday is dedicated to some general ideas about how to shop for the men on your Secret Santa list. No offense meant {and hopefully none taken}.

Gifts for Guys: Mini LED EPOD Lights for $9.99

These cool Coleman lights make a great gift for all kinds of guys, from gadget lovers, to runners, to outdoorsmen ($9.99 at Target-in camping section. Sorry, no link! Must only be available in stores.) They're versatile: they can hang by an attached band, clip onto a belt or tent, and they're magnetic! Coleman's a great name, so for less than $10, I'd consider this a pretty BRIGHT idea :)

Gifts for Guys: Bolt Pen for $1.00!

I was totally wowed by the Target Dollar Bin on my most recent trip (as you'll soon be able to tell). I had to grab this $1.00 Bolt Pen, a ballpoint pen "adorned" with bolts on top. Who could ask for a manlier writing utensil? Find it in the Target Dollar Bin, but you better get moving; those items never last long! Wanna guess whose stocking this will make its way into?  :)

Gifts for Guys: Suitcase Scale for $2.99!

This travel suitcase scale from Christmas Tree Shops was $2.99 (again, no link! You've got to be in-store to appreciate most of the CTS bargains, although they do have a new website, which I haven't used yet)! Think of how much stress you'll save your giftee; never again will they have to worry about the airline extra luggage fee! If you don't have a Christmas Tree Shops near you, there are several other luggage scale options on Amazon.

Gifts for Guys: Key Chain Tape Measure for $1.00

This is another handy gadget from the Target Dollar Bin. I actually have one of these myself, and it's been great in a pinch! Although it's not just DIY-ers who need measurements on-the-fly, and at $1.00, it's a great small gift to include for your guy.

Gifts for Guys: Insulated Thermos for $7.99

This insulated thermos has the potential to be two-gifts-in-one (again, Target. Again, only sold in stores). On its own, it's a great idea for the winter months, but if you want to give your giftee an extra-special treat, fill it with some hot chocolate and leave it on their desk. Or, better yet, fill it with some homemade soup for a lunchtime surprise! You know that they say: a best way to a man's heart is through his stomach!

Gifts for Guys: Touch Gloves for $3.50

I got these particular touch gloves for less than $4.00 at Christmas Tree Shops. They're just a simple acrylic stretch glove, and the fingertips allow the user to use a touch-screen device without removing them! Pretty cool. They make fancier versions, too, and they have them at most department stores, but I was happy getting the cheap version, myself!

Gifts for Guys: Portable Speaker for $9.99

This was the most inexpensive of all the portable speakers at Target (and there's a link for this one: HMDX Portable Speaker). It comes in three different colors, has a clever little hook, and you can even store your device inside of it! A nice, easy choice for anyone who likes to amplify their music on-the-fly!

Gifts for Guys: Kwik LED Bike Light for $1.00

This flashing bike light has an elastic band that stretches over the handlebars so a biker can ride in a safer fashion. Now that we're losing sunlight earlier in the day, this is a great choice for the active guy on your list. And at $1 (from the Target Dollar Bin again), it's another small filler gift that can help you save up for a more substantial final present for your giftee. Incidentally, I think this would be great for a stroller, too!

Gifts for Guys: Kwik Precision Screwdriver for $3.00

You may remember another 8-in-1 screwdriver featured in the Secret Santa Gifts for a Dollar post. While that one is still a great choice, this one by kwik has a smaller profile and a sleeker look. These tools are always nice to have around for those annoying screws that are too small for a regular driver. Find it in the Target Dollar Bin section; this one goes for $3.00.

Gifts for Guys: Hot Sauce Sampler for $14.99

Talk about a HOT gift! This set of 10 hot sauces is a great choice for guys. It's the most expensive gift featured so far, but it would make a great final gift for spicy food lovers. Use them on wings, chili, eggs... the possibilities are endless. Maybe it will even start an impromptu office contest during the Christmas party! Find this set at Target in the Holiday/Christmas section near the other holiday-packaged foods (again, only sold in stores).

More in the Secret Santa Series:

Secret Santa Saturday: Not Your Ordinary Ornaments

Installment Three: Ornaments for Every Personality

Concerned Christmas Ornaments are Cliché? Think Again!

Are you skeptical? Sure, anyone can tell you ornaments are a good holiday present! Almost a mindless choice? Too easy? Well keep reading, because there's a lot you don't know!

Secret Santa Saturday: Gifts for a Dollar

A Thrifter's Guide to Secret Santa Success

Thoughtful, Inexpensive, Secret Santa Gifts
 

Stress-free and FUN Secret Santa Solutions

(they make great Stocking Stuffers, too!)

INSTALLMENT TWO: It's Not About the Money!

Believe it or not, you can get great Secret Santa gifts for only $1.00!

  

It's easy to focus on the wrong things in Secret Santa. If you worry too much about whether or not the recipient will like their gifts, you can expend a lot of needless energy in the wrong area. That can lead to spending more money than you need in an effort to compensate for not knowing whether the gifts will be appreciated. But making your "giftee" happy is so much simpler than that!

The point of Secret Santa is that it's supposed to be fun (remember Installment One: Secret Santa is Supposed to be Fun?), and by taking a more casual, lighthearted approach to things, it is fun!

Take, for instance, the ten gifts I've highlighted below. Each one came from the Dollar Tree, and cost $1 (the exception being the last gift where I combined 4 $1 items). The trick to using these items is taking a little time to "dress them up." By adding a little note and/or adorning the gifts with simple trimmings, your $1 item can look like a million bucks (okay, maybe that's pushing it... but it looks like it cost more than $1!).

Don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting that every gift you give cost $1, but the point of this exercise is to prove that you don't need to spend a lot to get a positive result. Mix a couple of these one-dollar ideas with some bigger gifts, and you've have a great Secret Santa Run.

You'll see that the emphasis here is practical usage. Most of these items are things that people will probably need at some point anyway, so why not take advantage of that? In addition, the gift tags hold clever (errr, super-cheesy) messages, to communicate a personal, light-hearted touch. And, after reading them, I think we will all agree that my shopping skills greatly surpass those of my wit and witticism :)

One more note: By no means do you have to replicate the wrapping/tagging methods I'm demonstrating. A simple handwritten note will do the trick! As far as packaging your presents, Dollar Tree has tons of gift bags and wrapping supplies (affiliate link), so you can pick up a roll of gift wrap for a dollar and use it for all of your gifts, if that works... just be sure to disguise your handwriting...   :)

Full Disclosure: I'm happy to now be a Dollar Tree affiliate (yay!), which means I help them highlight some products  in exchange for a small percentage (5% to be precise) of any sales originating from my blog. So if you click one of the links and then buy one of these $1 items , I make $0.05 ;)

One Dollar Secret Santa Gift #1: A Pretty Ornament

     

 

Nothing says Christmas quite like a Christmas tree, and what better way to start the season by giving a shiny new ornament for trimming said tree? They have a whole wall of ornaments to choose from in store, and even more on their website (affiliate link), so your style options aren't too limited. Shiny and bright, it doesn't look like it only cost a dollar!

To achieve the look, all I did was use a clear favor bag ($2.00/20 bags from Target) and shredded paper from Dollar Tree (affiliate link). Tied with a ribbon and finished with a cute tag, this treat makes a simple first Secret Santa gift.

One Dollar Secret Santa Gift #2: A Flashlight

 

Who can complain about having an extra flashlight around? Need one for your desk? Your car? Your backpack?  I know in the days after Hurricane Sandy, we couldn't get enough of them! The packaging here was also simple. I took scrapbook paper, glued it to thin cardboard, and used Glue Dots to attach the flashlight from the bottom. To give this gift some extra-special love, throw some batteries in it, too!

One Dollar Secret Santa Gift #3: Deck of Playing Cards

 

 

Ever have those times when everyone wants to play Gin Rummy or Spades, but NO ONE can find a deck of cards? Plus, you can get TWO decks for a dollar! Now your giftee will be prepared for any impromptu card game! The packaging here consisted of a linen bag (I have a bunch of them on hand because I love them; I got them from Save on Crafts) and another gift tag.

 

 

 One Dollar Secret Santa Gift #4: 8-Bit Screwdriver

 

It doesn't get much handier than a screwdriver with 8 bits! This baby gives you plenty of options so you can tackle those weird projects that come along. One of these days, your Secret Santa giftee will thank you. Packaging again was simple. Scrapbook paper combined with Glue Dots to hold the screwdriver on.

 One Dollar Secret Santa Gift #5: A Sports-Themed Nightlight

 

The Dollar Tree had a whole section of nightlights, so if your giftee isn't interested in sports, you've got plenty more options there. But in terms of sports, they had baseball, basketball, football, and soccer, so if you've got a fan of any of those activities, you're in luck!

Simply print out a logo of your giftee's favorite team and include an encouraging note! "Go Jets!" or "Terps Rule!" would suffice... I just hold a soft spot in my heart for the Yankees, so I chose a more specific message :). For packaging, I used the clear favor bags and shredded paper again.

 

One Dollar Secret Santa Gift #6: Microfiber Screen Cleaner

 

Almost everyone has a phone, tablet, or computer with a screen that accumulates smudges. You can't go wrong with this handy screen cleaner that they can throw in their desk or car. Put it in a cute gift bag, add a tag, and you're good-to-go!

One Dollar Secret Santa Gift #7: Bungee Cords

 

How many times have you had to strap down some awkward, oversized instinct purchase without the right tools? Okay, maybe that scenario plays out more in my scattered DIY-lifestyle than is typical, but still, you never know when you'll need a bungee cord. This set features three different sizes, and the cost? You guessed it, one dollar. Wrap them in a giftbox (used Spritz giftboxes from Target-sorry, can't find a link, they were on an endcap near the party section), tie it closed with some cute cord and a bow (both also on that Target endcap), and you've got one fancy-looking present.

One Dollar Secret Santa Gift #8: Stylish Hairbands

Ok, so this is probably the first gender-specific gift here (although I don't want to speak too soon), but they were so darn cute, how can I resist? They have tons of hair rubber bands, barrettes, and headbands, too! These are very trendy right now, and some big-fashion retailers are selling them for A LOT more than a dollar. If you've got someone who fits the bill for this gift, then scoop them up (and maybe grab a set for yourself, too, like I did)!

I covered some thin cardboard (from a spaghetti box) in burlap ribbon (the same kind I used for my Chevron Bunting and Beach Scavenger Hunt, actually). Then I removed the bands for their original boring packaging and slid them on. Easy and adorable!

One Dollar Secret Santa Gift #9: Word and Number Puzzle Books

 

The Dollar Tree had a huge selection of Crossword puzzle, Sudoku, Word Find, and Trivia books. A popular gift choice as it is, but here you're paying a lot less than at some other major retailers. Packaging doesn't get much simpler than this. Just one big, honkin', cheesy tag.

One Dollar Secret Santa Gift #10: BATTERIES!

 

Maybe one day our society won't need batteries any more... but I don't think that day will be here anytime soon, and until then, we all need batteries. And pretty often. And maybe I'm alone here, but I can never find the size I need right when I need it! So this is the most expensive gift I'm featuring here today... at a WHOPPING $4.00, this combination of 4 Dollar Tree items includes AA, AAA, C, and D batteries. You could even mix things up and throw in a 9V... get creative! But $4 for all of these batteries is a pretty darn good price. And everyone needs batteries. Especially on Christmas morning!

Looking for more $1 Gifts Ideas? Check out the $1 Valentine's Gifts Series--all of the gifts featured could be easily adapted for Secret Santa or Stocking Stuffers!

Plus, More in the Secret Santa Series:

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