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