50 Thoughtful Christmas Gifts For Under 10 Dollars

I think we have lost our everloving minds with Christmas gift giving. I just read an article on how people are still paying off their debt from Christmas last year! Let's think this through. We are celebrating the birth of our Lord, the Son of God who humbled himself to be born in a dirty barn and slept in a feed trough covered in cattle slobber. So, to honor this profound gift every year we get into massive debt and go full blown magazine cover decadent.  We say it's the thought that counts. Do we really mean that?

Here are the most commonly requested presents from 1913:

1. Candy
2. Nuts
3. Rocking horse
4. Doll
5. Mittens/gloves
6. Toy train
7. Oranges
8. Books
9. Handkerchiefs
10. Skates

Here are fifty simple and thoughtful gifts that I think anyone would love.  At around ten dollars each, it won't break the bank. Let's reign in the over the top Christmas spending and keep it simple. Christmas is not about the things but about the thoughtfulness.

1. A good quality classic pair of socks.  No novelty colors or silly holiday types.

2. A crocheted sock hat.

3. A pair of nice kitchen or bathroom hand towels.

4.  Make a fleece throw with 2 yards of fabric and a pair of scissors.

5. A silicone baking mat and a sugar cookie mix.

6. Plastic mason jar lids.

7. Magnetic Shopping/To Do lists paper pads for the fridge.

8. An Anchor glass pitcher and a box of Raspberry Zinger tea.

9. Silicone oven glove or pot holder. (Most can withstand heats up to 400 degrees.)

10. A garlic press, a pastry mat, pepper mill or some other small kitchen tool that they would use.

11. A magnetic recipe holder for printed out recipe sheets. 

12. Make a sprouting kit: A bag of alfalfa seeds, a wide mouth mason jar, metal jar ring and a plastic needle point sheet or a screen cut to fit. See how here.

13. A kitchen herb potted plant, a jar of bullion, and your favorite soup recipe using the herb.

14. A potted plant.  Propagate a plant from your garden or buy an aloe.

15. A specialty pack of seeds and some jiffy pots to start planting for spring.

16. Bring over a simple flower arrangement. Use a vase/jar and inexpensive flowers from a grocery store. Who doesn't love fresh flowers?

17. A bag of gourmet coffee beans.

18. A jug of apple cider and a bag filled with cinnamon sticks, a clove studded orange (aka a pomander), and this spiced cider recipe.

19. Hot chocolate mix and some firewood.

20. Jar of local honey and a box of nice tea or chai mix.

21. Home-made cinnamon candied nuts, classic Chex mix, or puppy chow.

22. An old school popcorn tin and a five-dollar-bin classic movie.

23. A box of chocolates, a sweet treat from the local bakery, or a tray of homemade cookies.

24. A bottle of wine. There are many that are award winning and inexpensive.

25. Six pack of a holiday beer or hard cider. A single bottle of Delirium beer or raspberry Framboise.

26. A pack of smokes, some lighters, and a scratch off ticket.

27. Make Thank You notes or blank cards with envelopes and add a book of  pretty stamps or nice pen.

28. Reusable straws and a travel mug.

29. An outdoor suction cup window thermometer. To answer that age old question--Is it cold outside?

30. Electric bathroom scrubber brush.

31. A handmade soap or a six pack of Dove bar soaps.

32. Hair ties or scrunchies, microfiber wash clothes, and a face mask packet.

33. A face oil like apricot, sweet almond, or argan.

34. Sugar scrub or a hand lotion.

35. Make a bookmark and place inside a great used book.

36.  A magazine subscription.  We love Mother Earth News (12.00).

37. A classic Moleskine notebook.

38. An audio book for children or adults. What's better than being read a story in the dark under the covers?

39. Elderberry concentrate here to keep them flu free this winter.

40. Smelly things like a car scent and a candle.

41. Pepper spray.

42. A LED hurricane lantern. This light is a life saver when the power goes out.

43. Two cups of gas station coffee/hot cocoa, Christmas music playing on the radio and a drive around the neighborhood to look at Christmas lights.

44. Make a copy of a really great old photograph you know they don't have.

45. Make a music compilation CD. It could be holiday themed or maybe Classical, Oldies, etc.

46. Give them something special of yours you want them to have. Include the story behind the item in a card.

47. Buy $10 worth of odd treats from an Asian grocery store.  It's a fun way to try new foods and drinks.

48. A $10 gift card to Taco Bell or some fast food place, a craft store, a coffee shop, or a gas station.

49. Magnetic tool strip. Great for organizing tools in the garage, kitchen or craft room.

Mr. Peasant's Picks:

50. Casio F91W, a classic watch.

51. J5 Tactical Flashlight $15.

52. Opinel #8 Knife with wooden handle. Lovely. $15.

Okay friends, what gift would you like to receive that's under $10? I'd love to hear your ideas of thoughtful affordable Christmas gifts. Thank you reading and Merry Christmas!