$3 christmas!
November 28, 2011 7:32 PM Subscribe
Tell me your best gift ideas for under $3!
My family has set a limit of $3 on gifts to exchange this year. I'm excited about the challenge, but rather than getting dollar store junk, I'd like to give something that's really enjoyable at that price range - an actual treat.
The people in question are all adults: parents in their 50s, brothers/in-law in their mid-to-late twenties, sisters in their late-twenties/early thirties. A number of vegetarians in the mix, no alcohol. I can't think of any other restrictions.
What would you give or be delighted to receive for $3?
My family has set a limit of $3 on gifts to exchange this year. I'm excited about the challenge, but rather than getting dollar store junk, I'd like to give something that's really enjoyable at that price range - an actual treat.
The people in question are all adults: parents in their 50s, brothers/in-law in their mid-to-late twenties, sisters in their late-twenties/early thirties. A number of vegetarians in the mix, no alcohol. I can't think of any other restrictions.
What would you give or be delighted to receive for $3?
Some kind of small plant might be nice.
posted by mlle valentine at 7:40 PM on November 28, 2011
posted by mlle valentine at 7:40 PM on November 28, 2011
A nice chocolate bar?
posted by cabingirl at 7:43 PM on November 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by cabingirl at 7:43 PM on November 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
Oooo, a lot of those Very Fancy-Pantsy Hoity-Toity organic free-trade 100% heaven-in-your-mouth chocolate bars at the grocery store are $3. One nice bar beats a box of sub-par anyday!
posted by Snarl Furillo at 7:43 PM on November 28, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by Snarl Furillo at 7:43 PM on November 28, 2011 [3 favorites]
I'd hit up the office supply store for interesting clips, folders, pens, etc. + add a nice note.
posted by BlooPen at 7:45 PM on November 28, 2011
posted by BlooPen at 7:45 PM on November 28, 2011
Finger puppets!
Fancy soap! There are vegan soaps, but I like a nice goat milk one, very soothing on dry skin. You can probably find an etsy seller local to you, who might sell you a whole batch all of one scent. Or a mixed box. Support a local small business person.
Thrift store mugs with fancy make it yourself hot cocoa? You can find super crazy ridiculous fun mugs at the thrift store. Match personality to mug. Or not. If you bake you could throw in a muffin or some other deliciousness. Tea and Scones, maybe?
I'm sure I'll think of other things, but I'm in the depths of end of semester paper writing, plus anxiety attacks. Plus, um, Adderall.
posted by bilabial at 7:47 PM on November 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
Fancy soap! There are vegan soaps, but I like a nice goat milk one, very soothing on dry skin. You can probably find an etsy seller local to you, who might sell you a whole batch all of one scent. Or a mixed box. Support a local small business person.
Thrift store mugs with fancy make it yourself hot cocoa? You can find super crazy ridiculous fun mugs at the thrift store. Match personality to mug. Or not. If you bake you could throw in a muffin or some other deliciousness. Tea and Scones, maybe?
I'm sure I'll think of other things, but I'm in the depths of end of semester paper writing, plus anxiety attacks. Plus, um, Adderall.
posted by bilabial at 7:47 PM on November 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
If you live somewhere where you can buy bulk spices, and have cooks on your list, $3 worth of a good quality or exotic spice would be great. A nice little jar could class it up even more.
posted by Miko at 7:48 PM on November 28, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by Miko at 7:48 PM on November 28, 2011 [3 favorites]
Most bookstores have remainder bins that will have items under $3.
posted by megatherium at 7:52 PM on November 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by megatherium at 7:52 PM on November 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
Also, if you have a Big Lots near you, check their books section. I got a few copies of Tracy Kidder's Mountains Beyond Mountains there a few weeks ago. They were marked $3, but rang up as fifty cents.
Since the subject of the book is one of my favorite anthropologists, and I'm always telling people about his work, it makes sense to have a copy to pass on to folks who are interested. Since I never got back the last copy I lent out....
posted by bilabial at 7:54 PM on November 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
Since the subject of the book is one of my favorite anthropologists, and I'm always telling people about his work, it makes sense to have a copy to pass on to folks who are interested. Since I never got back the last copy I lent out....
posted by bilabial at 7:54 PM on November 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
A handful of really delectable non-drugstore caramels (with sea salt). Put them in a little Altoids tin you'd spraypainted or decoupaged or something, which I can use in like 500 ways once the sweets were gone, and I'm your best friend forever.
Or make customized boxes of kitchen matches. Wrap them and decorate with a favorite photo or inside joke or just their names.
Mix CDs of music you think they'd like could be awesome.
posted by argonauta at 7:55 PM on November 28, 2011 [2 favorites]
Or make customized boxes of kitchen matches. Wrap them and decorate with a favorite photo or inside joke or just their names.
Mix CDs of music you think they'd like could be awesome.
posted by argonauta at 7:55 PM on November 28, 2011 [2 favorites]
Depending on how many you're making, dollar store wine glass + glass paint = personalized wine glass under $3.
posted by i_am_a_fiesta at 7:56 PM on November 28, 2011
posted by i_am_a_fiesta at 7:56 PM on November 28, 2011
I love flavored lip balms - you can get all sorts of good ones at any drugstore. Crazy Rumors is vegan and has awesome flavors - they're a little bit above $3 each, but you might be able to find a deal somewhere. Lip Smackers are also good and super cheap, although they're sort of ten-year-old-girly.
posted by Metroid Baby at 8:00 PM on November 28, 2011
posted by Metroid Baby at 8:00 PM on November 28, 2011
One, maybe two fantastic chocolate/s.
Sniff tissues.
A quality Gel pen in a gorgeous, sparkly colour.
Exploding Frog Soaps.
Break Your Own Geodes.
posted by peagood at 8:03 PM on November 28, 2011 [2 favorites]
Sniff tissues.
A quality Gel pen in a gorgeous, sparkly colour.
Exploding Frog Soaps.
Break Your Own Geodes.
posted by peagood at 8:03 PM on November 28, 2011 [2 favorites]
At a former workplace we did Secret Santa for 5 days, no day's present to cost over $1. I did some easy handmade things:
Bookmarks: some great printables on the web. I laminated these, punched a hole in the top, and threaded through a woolly tassel
Bookplates: again, great printables available. I personalized and ran them off on adhesive label stock and trimmed
Mix CDs of Christmas music, one jazz, one classical, from free, non-DRM music downloads on the web (legal free music is available!)
Are you at all craft-y, handy with a sewing machine? Buy some hand towels at the dollar store and some seasonal or other trim, also at the dollar store. Sew the trim to the hand towels, and presto! custom hand towels
I bet there's the makings of a flavoured hot chocolate drink mix either in your pantry, or again, at the dollar store. Recipes are all over the web. Here's one.
You can probably buy some scraps of fleece in the remnant bin at a fabric store. There are lots of no-sew and easy-sew fleece projects on the web. You could probably make a hat and scarf for $3.
Maybe chocolate covered spoons? I've seen them for $3 each at the local coffee shop, but I bet you could make a dozen for $3.
posted by angiep at 8:15 PM on November 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
Bookmarks: some great printables on the web. I laminated these, punched a hole in the top, and threaded through a woolly tassel
Bookplates: again, great printables available. I personalized and ran them off on adhesive label stock and trimmed
Mix CDs of Christmas music, one jazz, one classical, from free, non-DRM music downloads on the web (legal free music is available!)
Are you at all craft-y, handy with a sewing machine? Buy some hand towels at the dollar store and some seasonal or other trim, also at the dollar store. Sew the trim to the hand towels, and presto! custom hand towels
I bet there's the makings of a flavoured hot chocolate drink mix either in your pantry, or again, at the dollar store. Recipes are all over the web. Here's one.
You can probably buy some scraps of fleece in the remnant bin at a fabric store. There are lots of no-sew and easy-sew fleece projects on the web. You could probably make a hat and scarf for $3.
Maybe chocolate covered spoons? I've seen them for $3 each at the local coffee shop, but I bet you could make a dozen for $3.
posted by angiep at 8:15 PM on November 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
Also, luggage tags.
Sets of chopsticks.
Nail polishes.
Funny deck of cards
Jar of Nutella, along with some recipes
Cheap hardware store flashlight.
Kitchen towels.
A yard sale or flea market vase or serving plate or vintage toy or just something weird.
Travel-size perfume sample.
Keychain. You can make it yourself from a Lego piece or a chestnut or a foreign coin...
Paper lanterns.
Reusable shopping tote.
Bandanas.
Samplers of different salts or teas or mustards or hot sauces.
(Man, now I want MY family to do this!)
posted by argonauta at 8:18 PM on November 28, 2011 [2 favorites]
Sets of chopsticks.
Nail polishes.
Funny deck of cards
Jar of Nutella, along with some recipes
Cheap hardware store flashlight.
Kitchen towels.
A yard sale or flea market vase or serving plate or vintage toy or just something weird.
Travel-size perfume sample.
Keychain. You can make it yourself from a Lego piece or a chestnut or a foreign coin...
Paper lanterns.
Reusable shopping tote.
Bandanas.
Samplers of different salts or teas or mustards or hot sauces.
(Man, now I want MY family to do this!)
posted by argonauta at 8:18 PM on November 28, 2011 [2 favorites]
I don't know about $3 gifts, but I know about Fiverr - the place for people to share things they're willing to do for $5 - you might find something there.
posted by leigh1 at 8:36 PM on November 28, 2011
posted by leigh1 at 8:36 PM on November 28, 2011
Well, the packets, as sold, are more than $3, but if you gave each person only one or two tablets, it'd definitely be less...
Miracle Berry Tablets. They're fun! You take one, then eat weird food like lemons and it tastes good! It'd be a fun experience for everyone.
posted by meese at 8:38 PM on November 28, 2011 [7 favorites]
Miracle Berry Tablets. They're fun! You take one, then eat weird food like lemons and it tastes good! It'd be a fun experience for everyone.
posted by meese at 8:38 PM on November 28, 2011 [7 favorites]
Archie McPhee lets you sort their catalog by price!
Maybe not so much with the bacon lip balm for the vegans, but there's a bunch of fun stuff under three dollars. This includes what my mom gave out for halloween this year... damn it, why does it have to be Kim Jung-Il, and not Mau Tse Tongue?
posted by Cold Lurkey at 8:39 PM on November 28, 2011 [4 favorites]
Maybe not so much with the bacon lip balm for the vegans, but there's a bunch of fun stuff under three dollars. This includes what my mom gave out for halloween this year... damn it, why does it have to be Kim Jung-Il, and not Mau Tse Tongue?
posted by Cold Lurkey at 8:39 PM on November 28, 2011 [4 favorites]
Damnit! Got beat to Archie McPhee. Well, I second it. You're not going to find anything better for $3 in my opinion that Dr's Choice Candy Cigarettes or Pickle Lip Balm or Bacon Lip Balm or Rotting Zombie Mirror Clings . . . I love McPhee.
posted by GastrocNemesis at 8:52 PM on November 28, 2011
posted by GastrocNemesis at 8:52 PM on November 28, 2011
This site has three-packs of cozy socks that are $7.97 with the promo code FUZZYME. You could split up the pack and give three ladies one pair each. You could even make them into sock cupcakes.
posted by wondermouse at 9:11 PM on November 28, 2011
posted by wondermouse at 9:11 PM on November 28, 2011
You could make homemade coupons for "favors," such as a homemade meal or a car wash.
posted by brynna at 9:11 PM on November 28, 2011
posted by brynna at 9:11 PM on November 28, 2011
Seconding lip balm. I can never have enough tubes of the stuff floating around my house.
posted by Gordafarin at 9:15 PM on November 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Gordafarin at 9:15 PM on November 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
I just bought these two Pyrex pie plates for $2.99, with free shipping. Looks like the buy-one-get-one-free offer applies to other items in the catalog as well. I'm not sure how long the deal is good for.
I'd also browse around Meritline, which has insanely cheap stuff, much of it with free shipping. It takes awhile to get stuff from them (the warehouse is in China), so order soon.
Finally, keep an eye on the holiday deals page on Amazon. I've seen some good DVDs on there for 2 or 3 dollars in the past few days, but I've been too slow to grab any of them.
posted by roll truck roll at 9:18 PM on November 28, 2011
I'd also browse around Meritline, which has insanely cheap stuff, much of it with free shipping. It takes awhile to get stuff from them (the warehouse is in China), so order soon.
Finally, keep an eye on the holiday deals page on Amazon. I've seen some good DVDs on there for 2 or 3 dollars in the past few days, but I've been too slow to grab any of them.
posted by roll truck roll at 9:18 PM on November 28, 2011
I would like to receive, under $3:
- seeds
- nice tea
- plants
- cosmetics
- travel size anything
- nice tin or container anything
- fancy glass jars
- friendship bracelets
- survival or sewing or first aid kit
- nice scented candle
- weird exotic spice
- nice used book you read and recommended
- bento box
- bento gear - food picks, egg molds, sauce bottles etc.
- homemade cookies with recipe
- homemade bread you made
- homemade preserves
- homemade natural remedies
- anything handmade by you
posted by leigh1 at 9:18 PM on November 28, 2011 [5 favorites]
- seeds
- nice tea
- plants
- cosmetics
- travel size anything
- nice tin or container anything
- fancy glass jars
- friendship bracelets
- survival or sewing or first aid kit
- nice scented candle
- weird exotic spice
- nice used book you read and recommended
- bento box
- bento gear - food picks, egg molds, sauce bottles etc.
- homemade cookies with recipe
- homemade bread you made
- homemade preserves
- homemade natural remedies
- anything handmade by you
posted by leigh1 at 9:18 PM on November 28, 2011 [5 favorites]
Necco wafers.
Homemade cookies that take a lot of effort, like twice-baked ginger snaps.
Homemade candy that takes a lot of effort, like taffy, divinity, or toffee popcorn.
posted by the Real Dan at 9:20 PM on November 28, 2011
Homemade cookies that take a lot of effort, like twice-baked ginger snaps.
Homemade candy that takes a lot of effort, like taffy, divinity, or toffee popcorn.
posted by the Real Dan at 9:20 PM on November 28, 2011
Also, I like Biggs and Featherbelle, and they have some gift sets that you could divide up into $3 portions: Gifts
For things that would divide up to be in your price range, check out the Soap Sets, the Mini Bar, and the Bigg Sampler, which has a bunch of fun little things in it.
posted by wondermouse at 9:23 PM on November 28, 2011
For things that would divide up to be in your price range, check out the Soap Sets, the Mini Bar, and the Bigg Sampler, which has a bunch of fun little things in it.
posted by wondermouse at 9:23 PM on November 28, 2011
seconding the scalp massager. Those things are so awesome - in our house it's called "the
head orgasm thingy."
posted by jb at 9:33 PM on November 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
head orgasm thingy."
posted by jb at 9:33 PM on November 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
A few years ago, I made origami photo albums for everyone. For my sisters & brothers I made one for each of their children with photos spanning from baby to their age at the time. I did up three for my parents: one with their wedding photos, one with family pix from when we were kids, and one with a frame for each of the grandchildren.
All in all I made twelve books. I got a pack of origami paper from the craft store ($4 for 100 sheets), printed off all the photos at home ($10 for a 60 pack of photo paper) and on the front of each album used a silver pen ($2) to write the kids names, the wedding date, etc. Not bad for roughly $1.50/album.
Added bonus: You can hang them on the tree.
posted by empatterson at 11:53 PM on November 28, 2011 [2 favorites]
All in all I made twelve books. I got a pack of origami paper from the craft store ($4 for 100 sheets), printed off all the photos at home ($10 for a 60 pack of photo paper) and on the front of each album used a silver pen ($2) to write the kids names, the wedding date, etc. Not bad for roughly $1.50/album.
Added bonus: You can hang them on the tree.
posted by empatterson at 11:53 PM on November 28, 2011 [2 favorites]
I was interested in the kitchen matches idea from argonauta but the link seems to lead to a Japanese food (or something) site. Any possibility of relinking?
posted by Miko at 5:37 AM on November 29, 2011
posted by Miko at 5:37 AM on November 29, 2011
Making things is your friend. Especially if you can figure out something to make where one batch of whatever will make lots of things -- that way you can pool all those individual $3 budgets up into one big budget.
If you live somewhere where you can buy bulk spices, and have cooks on your list, $3 worth of a good quality or exotic spice would be great. A nice little jar could class it up even more.
$30 would be more than enough for some spice blends that you've made up yourself, if you live near a place that sells bulk spices -- figure a couple bucks each for a good amount of different dried herbs, maybe some different spices, then you also get a bunch of little tins or jars, and then mix spices and stuff together and decant the mix into all the little jars and "here, a custom-blended spice rub for when you grill stuff!" Or go with cake/bread/etc. mixes -- buying a five-pound bag of flour and raiding your own cupboards for the baking soda/baking powder/salt, and maybe getting an extra jar of cinnamon if you need it, and you'll have more than enough money left over to buy all the fancy bags and labels you'll need to package your "pancake/muffin/bread mix".
Or bean soup mixes -- bags of dried beans cost less than a buck apiece, and if you get five different kinds and mix them all together, then you'll have enough for at least ten separate packages; to each one you add some other dried herbs and some salt, maybe, and some instructions to the receiver for how to cook it up (THEY are the ones who have to worry about obtaining the water, the ham hock, or whatever). That DEFINITELY leaves a lot left over to spend on packaging and labeling and fancying it up. Here is just one recipe for a bean-and-barley soup mix that makes up nine packages; you'd end up spending no more than $10 for the ingredients, and you'd be left with $17 to spend on packaging.
There are a TON of "make your own soup/bread/cake/cupcake/spice blend mixes" recipes online, and a ton of fancy packaging options (I think some stationery stores sell those small paper bags with the fold-over-top-with-the-plastic-clip things that coffee come in, and those would be ideal).
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:45 AM on November 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
If you live somewhere where you can buy bulk spices, and have cooks on your list, $3 worth of a good quality or exotic spice would be great. A nice little jar could class it up even more.
$30 would be more than enough for some spice blends that you've made up yourself, if you live near a place that sells bulk spices -- figure a couple bucks each for a good amount of different dried herbs, maybe some different spices, then you also get a bunch of little tins or jars, and then mix spices and stuff together and decant the mix into all the little jars and "here, a custom-blended spice rub for when you grill stuff!" Or go with cake/bread/etc. mixes -- buying a five-pound bag of flour and raiding your own cupboards for the baking soda/baking powder/salt, and maybe getting an extra jar of cinnamon if you need it, and you'll have more than enough money left over to buy all the fancy bags and labels you'll need to package your "pancake/muffin/bread mix".
Or bean soup mixes -- bags of dried beans cost less than a buck apiece, and if you get five different kinds and mix them all together, then you'll have enough for at least ten separate packages; to each one you add some other dried herbs and some salt, maybe, and some instructions to the receiver for how to cook it up (THEY are the ones who have to worry about obtaining the water, the ham hock, or whatever). That DEFINITELY leaves a lot left over to spend on packaging and labeling and fancying it up. Here is just one recipe for a bean-and-barley soup mix that makes up nine packages; you'd end up spending no more than $10 for the ingredients, and you'd be left with $17 to spend on packaging.
There are a TON of "make your own soup/bread/cake/cupcake/spice blend mixes" recipes online, and a ton of fancy packaging options (I think some stationery stores sell those small paper bags with the fold-over-top-with-the-plastic-clip things that coffee come in, and those would be ideal).
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:45 AM on November 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
From a different thread, how about a few packs of incense matches?
posted by SeedStitch at 5:56 AM on November 29, 2011
posted by SeedStitch at 5:56 AM on November 29, 2011
Enough people that you can put in $3 each for a kiva loan? Maybe create a group?
posted by Lesser Shrew at 6:34 AM on November 29, 2011
posted by Lesser Shrew at 6:34 AM on November 29, 2011
Great suggestion from the Empress - it reminds me I bought a bunch of $1.25 dried chilies while traveling a few years ago, and toasted and ground them to make my own chili powder. Big, big hit - big difference from the usual chili powder, and yields a lot for well under $3 pp. You can find the same kind of dried chilies at Central American grocery stores.
posted by Miko at 6:48 AM on November 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Miko at 6:48 AM on November 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
I like the idea of a nice version of the kind of small treat someone would normally buy - some good chocolate, a box of nice tea, or some really tasty cheese. The last is harder to travel with, though.
If you have a store near you selling foreign or unusual candy, then this could be a hit - a pack of Pocky and Pepero?
If you have any perfume fans, The Perfumed Court sells decants of fragrances for $3.
posted by mippy at 7:02 AM on November 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
If you have a store near you selling foreign or unusual candy, then this could be a hit - a pack of Pocky and Pepero?
If you have any perfume fans, The Perfumed Court sells decants of fragrances for $3.
posted by mippy at 7:02 AM on November 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
Oh, whoops. Sorry about the bad link. Unfortunately I've failed so far at finding it again, but in the interim, this might work too: $16.44 for 50 plain small boxes of matches on Amazon (they're not kitchen matches, but you could give each person 5 with money left over for decorating supplies!)
posted by argonauta at 8:24 AM on November 29, 2011
posted by argonauta at 8:24 AM on November 29, 2011
Those inexpensive vibrators.... er... personal massagers! they have them in the stocking stuffer section of Target or at the counter of Walgreens. Good for the ladies! But please play dumb!
posted by katypickle at 1:38 PM on November 29, 2011
posted by katypickle at 1:38 PM on November 29, 2011
ZOMG Smells has little samplers (called Squees, like BPAL's Imps) of all kinds of super crazy fragrances for 2.50 each. Lots of fun.
Agreed about really nice chocolate. Small samples of really nice soap or lotion, if someone has long hair pretty hair clips, pretty chopsticks or spices or stuff like that you can find at ethnic food marts. Whole Foods last I checked had tiny snack bags of things like roasted edamame or blueberry yogurt pretzels or smoked almonds for maybe a buck or two.
posted by ifjuly at 2:31 PM on November 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
Agreed about really nice chocolate. Small samples of really nice soap or lotion, if someone has long hair pretty hair clips, pretty chopsticks or spices or stuff like that you can find at ethnic food marts. Whole Foods last I checked had tiny snack bags of things like roasted edamame or blueberry yogurt pretzels or smoked almonds for maybe a buck or two.
posted by ifjuly at 2:31 PM on November 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: These are fantastic ideas - please keep them coming!
I'm hoping to find many of these deals locally, since the shipping on a $3 item is often two or three times the cost of the item itself. So any recommendations local to the twin cities area are also welcome.
I'm hoping to get any number of these things myself!
posted by peanut_mcgillicuty at 5:04 PM on November 29, 2011
I'm hoping to find many of these deals locally, since the shipping on a $3 item is often two or three times the cost of the item itself. So any recommendations local to the twin cities area are also welcome.
I'm hoping to get any number of these things myself!
posted by peanut_mcgillicuty at 5:04 PM on November 29, 2011
(ms. Vegetable) plant seeds?
posted by a robot made out of meat at 4:26 PM on December 1, 2011
posted by a robot made out of meat at 4:26 PM on December 1, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by aetg at 7:35 PM on November 28, 2011 [9 favorites]