The $5 Gift Thread!
 

The holidays (holidazzzeeee) are upon us and I thought it might be fun to list really fun, unique, thoughtful, wacky, or just downright awesome gifts you could give someone.
(caveat: It sucks that the holidays are so commercialized and focused on "things" rather than people so consider this thread a year-long idea-log for any time you'd like to give someone a gift)

The ONLY rule to this thread is that all gift ideas MUST be UNDER $5 (or free!)

And PLEASE be *very specific*. Don't just say "candles" or "candy". Post the kind!


GO!

I'll start with an idea! I have recently rekindled my love of incense and would LOVE to be gifted with a couple boxes of this:

Satya Incense - Nirvana smell!

These are AMAZING and only $1.95 per box!

http://jera.pair.com/mfinds/aw2k/LotImg68154.jpg

Freaking LOVE that!!!!

I <3 cupcakes!!!
 

http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/73...f05caf392e.jpg

Gonna try and get these made for coworkers. I think it's cute.

That is super cute, Grenade!!! I'd especially love it with a new kitchen dish cloth in it since I'm always jacking mine up!!

My Mother in Law actually was agog at me on my birthday for asking for new kitchen dish cloths. :)

This might be something fun for a "just because".

This is a Yankee Candle "Leather" -scented car air freshner. I've actually hung these up in my house before or used them as sachets.

Might be fun to tuck one into a card ;)

http://www.yankeecandle.com/items/yc...ge/1220883.jpg

Presents of Mind
 

When I want to get something special, that isn't too costly, I like to go to an independent retailer called "Presents of Mind," down in the Hawthorne dist of Portland.

I've found one-of-a-kind cards or stationery or notions such as jewelry or not-easily-found games that are novelty items or rocks, candles, lamp shades (yes! they look like stars), stamp sets, button/pins,,,they have all kinds of things that will keep you there for hours!

I bought a pair of unique sunglasses there once (still have them).

Items in their store usually run between $5 to more than $50 (sometimes more than $100).

In the five dollar range, I once found this little tin holder that had unique little 'cards' inside for each day of the week: kind of like reading a horoscope or something, but seriously funny stuff (the inscriptions on each card).

http://img0.etsystatic.com/009/0/511...06928_s718.jpg


Link to ~>>> Presents of Mind

(they have a page on Facebook, too)

These are always fun to tuck inside of a card as well!

http://cdn.mdlottery.com/wp-content/...Gimme-5_P1.gif

Katz!! (How DO you make the Umlaut on this dang keyboard!!!)

I love those tins! Those would be fun to carry around in a purse or keep on your desk at work for when you need a fun moment :)

LOVE that idea! Handmade gifts are always my favorite!!

For an inexpensive gift that keeps on giving. Use a solid color plate, (cheap thrift store find) and write the message with non toxic paint pens. Load the plate with goodies, maybe some cookies, or a dinner for someone who is sick or shut in. Use the words from the plate below or write your own, but the idea is that the receiver pass the plate on to another, preferably in your circle of friends and/or family. In all fairness, for this to come in under the $5 one may need to already have non toxic paint pens.

Here are the words for those who are like me and have some vision issues:

“This plate shall have no owner for its journey never ends, It travels in a circle of our family and friends. It carries love from home to home for everyone to share, The food that’s placed upon it was made with love and care. So please enjoy what’s on the plate, Then fill it up again, Then pass along the love it holds to your family and friends.”

http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/73...749452d987.jpg

That's a fabulous idea, Jesse! I am allllll about thrift store finds that can be repurposed and the idea of being able to pass the plate along is great. Nothing worse than wanting to take some food to someone and either slopping it onto a cheap paper plate or worrying about getting one of your actual plates back.
This would solve it all!

For the photo buff!

8x8, 8x10, 8x12 enlargements $1.49
12x12, 11x14, 12x18 enlargements $2.99

price for photo enlargements at Costco ... and you can probably find a frame at the dollar store or 99 cents store for 1.00

they also have other stuff you can do a few under 5 a few a tad over and a few a lot over.

GREAT idea, Koop!!! My sis and her hubby habe 3 children and they always struggle for money during this time of year but she is flat-out insistent on getting me something for a holiday prezzie so I always ask for a photo of the family! (that way, she can just enlarge or copy something she already has but she has also set up her own camera and taken a new photo just for me and it's been amazing!)

If you're the crafty sort and you have scraps of fabric, batting and thread laying about then you can make these darlings for the cost of 2 altoid tins!

http://http://m.flickr.com/#/photos/...07/6853135827/

If she belongs to Costco she could do a collage even ... here are the breakdowns

Display up to 30 of your favorite photos in a collage print. Choose from a variety of background colors, and add a personalized title. Keep shuffling your photos until you get the best arrangement.
$1.49 - 8x10
$1.49 - 8x12
$2.99 - 11x14
$2.99 - 12x18
$5.99 - 16x20
$8.99 - 20x30

I know you asked for specifics but since I don't bake I don't know is someone can bake anything worth whiled for under 5 dollars.

But I know a lot of us would enjoy homemade baked goods.

heck I'd even take a homemade meal ...like maybe a chicken pot pie if somebody can do it for that price.

I know when I cook sometimes it feels more expensive then if I just ate out. But if you have a garden and are able to get some good food deals.

How about <insert favorite baked goods mix> in a jar? That's always fun. (Assuming you have jars already.)

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oZ6-iuBctr...jar+recipe.jpg

okie dokie...

i salvaged a dresser, took all the front panels off the drawers.

stripped old cheapy paint
sanded off dark stain
painted fresh light paint
applied decals from dollar tree

"Every day is a gift" " Always kiss me goodnight " "Welcome....." "Be your own kind of Beautiful" ...etc

Some i plugged the holes for knobs, others i painted the wood knobs all cute. one panel i used blackboard paint.

the paint was left over from other projects.

one dollar for each decal.

The dresser will have shelves for wicker baskets. yes i buy them at yard sales and thrift stores. On the bottom I'm adding little wood louver doors that i found at the restore. I did a funky paint job on them. the bottom will be the hidden nap condo for my cats.

Not sure how i will finish dresser. Got dozens of ideas!!!

anyhoo, as i remember little ideas i will post.

Almost forgot! if you mak sure the area on the back where the panel is cut, allowing the bottom of the drawer slides in remains on the top, you will have a premade hanger that is level.

Fabulous thread idea!!! thanks!

D.I.Y. Sewing Kit
 

I have made a similar one
 

Relaxing Skin Scrub

Ingredients:
Epsom salt to fill 3/4 of a jar
mineral oil to fill 8 oz. mason jar
lavender essential oil (15-20 drops)
Tea tree oil (15 drops) optional for antibacterial purposes

Pour salt, mineral oil and essential oils into glass jar, tighten lid and shake to mix. Let it sit for a day or 2.

I made one like this for EVERYONE on my list a few years ago and people asked for more when they ran out.

The biggest expenses were the jars (but I got a flat of 20 for like 35$) and the essential oil ... but the cost divided by 15 people was probably under $5 each.

you mean grapeseed oil right? :glasses:

okie dokie. glad i asked! will educate myself. thanks Daktari :)

:chaplin:
It's a major crop here. The fields of gold/yellow are so jolly in spring/early summer. Sorta heralds the start of hay fever season.

The oil is dead (uk>us: very/really) healthy.

In the U.S., rapeseed oil is called canola oil.

Calendar
Ice scraper
Small umbrella
Ink pens
A bag of Jack Links beef jerky
Microwave bacon cooker
Travel mug
2 bags of golf tees
Flash light
Work gloves
Nail polish
Nail clippers
Dvd movie in walmart
Wallet
Money clip
Almonds 2 cans

I think I could come up with a million ideas.

chargers and adapters! USB, A/C, vehicle socket, multiples of each!

Just like Glengarry Glen Ross said, the secret to success= abc always be charging

homemade gift cards... for various goodies like hand massage, head rub, clothing repair, (if you know how), dog walking, help with cleaning, make breakfast, clean out car, etc.

can you make origami? fill a jar with folded frogs, cranes, stars or make gift boxes with Sunday funny papers, or left over gift wrap. offer to teach someone.

search through pinterest or craft sites like craftsters (my favorite) for ideas.

re-gift stuff you already have.

make note cards in sets of four or six. you can purchase card stock by the sheet. no need to buy a ream.

use vintage doily to make dream catcher, add beads and ribbons etc.

lighted incense

$1.00 small glass vase
$1.00 mini strand of Christmas lights
$1.00 bag of potpourri
$1.00 doily

place the lights into the vase, pour the potpourri over the lights , then find a ribbon or string ( ok so I usually have this in my house) place the doily on top and secure with ribbon

homemade and around $5.00 ..... oh and it smells good when heated

i took apart a very old well loved quilt recently. okay it was literally disintegrating. i had to have it. :)

i salvaged most of the top and back. i am now making pot holders. throw pillow tops and even a quilted xmas tree decoration with three small pieces. will look so cute when I'm done.

will post photos at some point. most will be gifts. paid $$25 for quilt. would get a couple hundred if sold retail after creative redo. the quilt pattern is log cabin. one of my favorites.


Some smaller pieces will end up as decoration on my favorite overshirt. that is something you can do, decorate someones shirt for them.

you creative types have it easy. gift your creative efforts. i recycle alot.

yes. i am a hoarder. my name is Sweet Bliss. :rrose:

Oh hey look what just showed up in my Facebook feed today. :)

472 Meals In A Jar!

Every year I have a problem of what to get the folks on my pool team's for christmass as I am on teams it can get pricey with 8 pr team= 24 gifts to get.One team has desided to draw names..can do,the ladies team has been everyone gets a gift for everyone..so at our next game I am going to bring up the idea of drawing names..the other team I have no idea on that one.So I am really checking out what comes on hear.Great idea by the way.

i got a cool stylus pen for my ipad for $1.00 today!

Makes a nice gifty

For anyone in your family, if you have some family recipes, especially old ones, it is nice to make recipe cards, or an electronic cookbook. Make sure to put the name of the person whose recipe it was on the cards, and maybe give the year of the recipe, and anything else with meaning for the family. ("Aunt Lottie brought this fried chicken to the family reunion at Lake Birdsong every year.")

When anyone asks me what I would like as a gift, I have a very difficult time answering that question. It's awkward and puts me on the spot. If I say, "Oh, you don't have to get me anything!" it can make them uncomfortable. So I've started asking them to find an old recipe that they liked as a child, something their mom or grandma may have made. (I often cook for my friends.) It requires a little effort on their part, but it's not onerous, and it doesn't cost anything!