Christmas gifts for less than $25 will keep the holiday merry

by Brenda Brissette Mata | Flint Journal

Thursday November 20, 2008, 7:38 AM

This luggage locator is great for frequent fliers. It is available at JCPenney for $19.99.

Flint Journal extra: Related article: Inexpensive Christmas gifts for $10 or less

If you are talented enough to be able to knit scarves, carve a piece of wood into a treasure box, or bake breads worthy of a ribbon and gift card, you are probably already on your way to saving money on gifts for the upcoming holiday season.

But not everybody is quite so crafty. For those who need a little help coming up with gift ideas for a shrinking budget, get ready -- we're here to help.

Some cost little more than your precious time, some require a little creativity or shopping, but everything costs less than $25.

Land's End (www.landsend.com) has a holiday gift guide that breaks down gift categories by price.

In the under $15 category (if you order online you need to save room in the budget for shipping and handling) you can find everything from turtlenecks, towels and men's fleece vests to passport holders, pajama pants and a cable sweater for your pooch.

Electronic gadgets seem to be on everybody's list, and it's possible to keep a gadget lover happy for less than $25.

For the wine connoisseur on your list, Target has an Oster Inspire Cordless Rechargeable Wine Bottle Opener for $24.99.

JCPenney has a number of items that fall under the gadget category for under $25. The Sharper Image digital photo keychain holds up to 60 photos and is only $19.99. The luggage locator, $19.99, is great for frequent flyers.

This digital photo keychain stores 60 photos. It is available at JCPenney for $19.99.

And if puzzles make someone you know happy, www.drugstore.com has the New York Times Touch Screen handheld Sudoku game, for $14.99.

Kohl's has a chip and dip tray for the consummate hostess for $24.99 or a more seasonal treat tray for $19.99.

Working our way down to "free," consider giving coupons: Coupons for your time make a great gift.

How about a coupon to spend a weekend afternoon helping a friend or family member clean out the garage or the basement or a few hours good for organizing old photos? It's a particularly good idea for kids to give.

Also for little to no cost consider, for a children's gift, creating a dress-up box. Fill it with hats, scarves, old suit coats and silky dresses. Costume jewelry, purses and old shoes will help spark any child's imagination.

You don't have to be a scrapbooking genius to come up with a perfect gift. Go through those old photos or videotapes and put a special "memory" gift together for someone far away.

Everybody loves a gift basket. Ordering specially made baskets can be expensive, but consider finding a theme and creating one yourself.

Here are some theme ideas to get you started:

Tea basket: a pretty tea cup and saucer can be found at a flea market or resale shop for less than $10, add a box of cookies or biscuits and a couple different boxes of flavored teas.

Spa basket: bath salts, a candle and body lotion -- shop for these items on clearance racks to save extra.

Reading basket: a book (it helps to know the recipient's favorite genre), a book light and a decorative bookmark won't add up to much more than a relaxing evening for the book lover.

Movie basket: look for DVDs on clearance racks and add a jar of popcorn or a box of Raisinets.

And finally, the subject nobody wants to talk about -- regifting.

It requires a certain amount of planning to carry it off. Our advice, make sure you know who gave you the gift in the beginning so you don't accidentally return it to the original giver.

Regifting has gained a certain polish in recent years. After all, does anybody really need two cappucino machines?

Peggy Post, etiquette advice columnist for Good Housekeeping magazine, admits to regifting, but she also offers three important tips to follow if you plan to regift.

No. 1 -- Be certain the gift is something the recipient will love.

No. 2 -- The item must be brand new and in its original package.

No. 3. -- It should never be something the original giver took great care to select just for you.

Post's advice: "Regifting a nice Pinot Noir to a wine lover is OK. Regifting the crystal vase your mother brought you from Bermuda is not."