christmas – The Lazy Girl Co.

Resources & blog referenced from David Weliver

It’s never ever too early to start thinking about Christmas – so Christmas 2020 here we come!

We’ve had quite a year so far, dealing with the unexpected and most of us living on a budget due to the pandemic…here are some inexpensive Christmas gift ideas for your friends, family, & loved ones!

Remember, it’s the thought that counts especially now more than ever!

Here are 10 Christmas gift ideas on a budget!

1. A nice poster or print in a good frame

Picking out decor for other people is always dicey, but the Internet is full of a lot of talented artists making really cool stuff.

Are they really into music? Maybe find a nice concert poster from their favorite band. Are they really into Doctor Who? The Internet is overflowing with fan art.

Here are some poster ideas to get you started:

2. Scented candles

In those weeks leading up to Christmas, everyone’s house smells of delicious pine. In the weeks after, when that pine tree’s desiccated corpse has been tossed out into the street for trash pickup, a nice scented candle can fill (with a lovely aroma) the void it left behind.

3. A photo calendar, coffee mug, or a good old-fashioned scrapbook

Image by Lewis Minor.

True story: At the end of seventh grade, one of my best friends moved to Iowa. I spent that entire year taking really bad (yet cherished) pictures of her and our other friends and put them all together in a scrapbook. In hindsight, it was maybe a little creepy, but my friend loved it.

And now, with services like Shutterfly and Snapfish, you don’t even have to put those precious memories into a scrapbook. They can go on magnets, coffee mugs, mousepads, and to-go cups. Or just on a big poster.

4. A journal or notebook with a personal note

Image by matryosha.

Keeping a journal can help increase focus, promote mindfulness, and boost memory. An empty notebook is also just full of promise, especially for a person of a creative or analytical bent.

5. A nice vase or jar filled with candy

Image by Javcon117.

Food, honestly, is never a bad gift. People need to eat, and they’d prefer to eat something delicious. Similarly, home décor is often the last thing on somebody’s mind. So give them a jar or vase full of candy of your choice, and once they’ve scarfed that down, they’ll have a nice receptacle for flowers to go on the dining room table.

6. A coffee or tea mug with a bag of coffee or a box of tea

Mugs are another place where your knowledge of your friend or loved one will come in handy. Do they love owls, penguins, or turtles? What about Bob’s Burgers? (Maybe they’d like this Tina mug )

7. A gift bag or basket of gourmet chocolate truffles or bars

Image by Mark Lee.

Your gift of chocolate will be another delicious drop in the holiday sea of sugar and candy.

8. A deck of playing cards and a book of rules

Image by Jiahui Huang.

Cards are a great holiday game! Go for a classic deck, or maybe for something themed, if that’s your thing. Introduce your household to such classic games as whist (kinda out of fashion, but ripe for a comeback), bridge, or the many varieties of poker.

9. Winter skin care kit

Image by Dee.

Some nice lip balm, a good hand lotion, some cuticle oil, and maybe a facial moisturizer or shaving lotion.

10. Board games

Image by Mike Fleming.

You can go old-school with childhood classics like Jenga, Trouble, Hungry, Hungry Hippos, or Sorry. Or you can go with strategy games like Risk or Agricola.

For word nerds, consider Scrabble or Bananagrams. Again, consider your friend’s interest.

Make your holiday budget go further

These inexpensive-yet-thoughtful gifts are a great way to buy your loved ones gifts that won’t break your budget.

If you want to make holiday shopping even easier, consider using a credit card that offers great cash back rewards or a sign-up bonus. That way you’re still earning even while you’re spending. Plus, some of these cards have the added bonus of offering 0% interest on purchases for over a year!