A $10 limit on Christmas gifts is a great way to reduce overall holiday spending. With more people to shop for, these $10 gift ideas will help with buying presents for everyone from bosses and teachers, to co-workers, neighbors and the paperboy. These cheap presents are also great as hostess gifts and last-minute gifts to have on stand-by.
It’s impossible to buy a one-size-fits-all gift, but here are some safe bets for interesting, cheap Christmas gifts all priced under $10 or so.
$10 Gift Ideas for Pretty Presents that Anyone Will Enjoy
For some special $10 gift ideas consider these presents that range from plants to vacation supplies.
- Lucky bamboo: Bamboo is easy to grow and simply requires a sunny spot with occasional watering. Give three stalks of lucky bamboo to represent happiness, wealth, and longevity—a great meaning behind an inexpensive gift that will cost under $10. For extra savings, buy the bamboo at a florist but scour thrift stores for a lovely glass vase.
- Perpetual calendar: This $10 gift will be treasured for years to come. While there are many varieties of perpetual calendars, take a look at the cute tree house Sukie Perpetual Calendar available at online bookstores. It's a fun and easy $10 gift.
- Neat ice cube shapes: From stars and animals to hearts and shells, quirky shaped ice cube trays are both personal and versatile. A bargain price will mean two trays for under $10, while most novelty shaped ice cube trays cost about $5-8 each.
- Jigsaw puzzle: This old fashioned game is perfect for winter nights indoors. Look for jigsaws in the sale section of department stores. A bonus is that jigsaw boxes are easy to wrap!
- Beach towel and flip flops: Everyone loves to think of the beach during the winter, so give the gift of sunshine with a few ocean-themed items. Combine $5 flip flops with a $5 beach towel for a $10 gift with wide appeal. Or, switch the flip flops for some sun screen. Either way this inexpensive Christmas gift will evoke thoughts of the beach in the receiver.
- Holiday tree decoration: It’s a classic but a good one. To make this $10 gift idea extra special, choose a personal theme. For a New Yorker buy an apple ornament, for a pet-enthusiast a cat, or a traveler a suitcase. Get creative and think outside traditional Christmas ornaments!
Practical $10 Gifts that Appeal to Everyone
For those folks who aren’t swept up in the tinsel of Christmas, here are some more practical $10 gift ideas to be useful and enjoyed.
- Power bar or power strip: These multi-outlet power stations are handy and rarely do people have enough. Useful and cheap, they make an easy gift that costs under $10.
- Multi tool: These pocket-sized tools incorporate multiple handy tools into one. A $10 version will include basic tools: pliers, screwdriver, knife, and even a beer bottle opener!
- Stainless steel water bottle: With recent health concerns surrounding plastic water bottles, a stainless steel water bottle is a great way to promote health. Look for the best deals in discount kitchen stores as some stainless steel bottles can be more expensive.
- Travel first aid kit: Another $10 gift idea on the preparation theme. Travel first aid kits include the basics such as bandages, anti-septic wipes, gauze, tape, and gloves. Plus it all comes contained in a handy pouch that is perfect as an inexpensive yet useful Christmas gift.
- Fleece throw blanket: Give a cozy $10 fleece blanket. Be it in the car, the office, or at home, a fleece throw is a handy item that most on a holiday gift list will appreciate.
- Cable turtle: For anyone with electronics, a cable turtle presents an ideal solution to all those loose computer cords. There are a number of cable organizers priced under $10, making it an inexpensive and widely useful Christmas gift.
Spend Less with Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas and Green Gifts
To reduce the money spent on Christmas gifts even more, think about homemade Christmas gifts. Or, think about green gifts that cost under $10.
Finding Great $10 Gifts this Christmas
Buying fantastic $10 gifts for those on your Christmas list is a fine balance between savvy shopping and new ideas. But most of all, a great and inexpensive Christmas gift relies on an element of personalization that makes the receiver known it was bought with them in mind.
Chloë Ernst - Chloë Ernst is a travel guidebook author who writes for Frommer's and Globe Pequot Press.
