Christmas Gift Ideas for $3.00 or Less!

We all want to express appreciation to special people at Christmas.  But, when you begin to make a list of recipients, costs can add up quickly.  Today, I'm going to give you examples of inexpensive ways to show others our love during the holiday season.

Idea #1:  

Notebook and A Pen!

Most folks, especially educators, can always use a new notebook.  I found premium ones on clearance after Back-to-School at Office Depot marked down to just 25¢ each!  

 

You need a pen to go with that notebook.  You can get a big pack for pennies during back-to-school.  I did these gifts for my children's teachers.  What does a teacher use almost daily?  A red pen!  I found a pack of 24 of them on clearance at Office Depot for $3.00 for all 24 of them!  

SAVING TIP:  Watch for clearance items after the Back-to-School season.

•  You'll find great deals for Christmas gifts for some of your favorite people.  
• Put them in your gift stash and use them when your children are invited to birthday parties. Add a pack of markers, colored pencils, or a coloring book from Dollar Tree.  
• These items are perfect for filling Samaritan Shoe boxes. Click here to read our experience and ideas for filling a shoe box for Samaritan Ministries.  

Notebook and Pen Total Cost:  40¢

 

Idea #2:  Herbal Tea and a Wooden Spoon

I found premium herbal teas on the clearance rack at Big Lots for just $1.00 each!  

The great little wooden spoons were marked down at Pampered Chef for $1.25 each!  

SAVINGS TIP:  Ask what day of the week they do weekly markdowns at your Big Lots! 

• Big Lots has two markdown areas - 1 for groceries and 1 for general merchandise.  
• Check them both!

Herbal Tea and Wooden Spoon Total Cost:  $2.25

 

Gift Idea #3:  Premium Soap and Christmas Towel

I actually bought these towels months ago!  They were marked down at Pampered Chef to $2.99 for a two pack.  I love them!  High quality and the colors were perfect!  Look for Christmas towels marked down 50% or more right after Christmas.  Often you can't even tell that the pattern is supposed to be a holiday pattern, making it possible for you to keep these items in your gift stash and give them anytime of the year!

These coconut cream and vanilla soaps were just $1 each at Dollar Tree.  I actually got one of these vegetable based glycerine soaps last year from one of my students.  I loved it!  It lasted a long time and the lather was great.  So, when I spied them at Dollar Tree this morning, I bought a case of 24.

I wrapped the soap up with the towel, adding coordinating ribbons at the ends, making a package which resembles a large piece of Christmas candy!

SAVING TIP:  Look for the mark down aisle at local craft stores and stock up on ribbon.  
 Check out the prices in the photo! I paid 50¢ to 60¢ per reel of ribbon!

 Soap and Christmas Towel Total Cost:  $2.50

ANOTHER TIP: I always make two or three extra of these gifts.  Keep these handy for those times when you realize that you have forgotten to add someone to your list or someone stops by with an unexpected gift for you.  This makes it easy to grab a gift all wrapped and ready to hand to them.  

Need More Ideas?  Here you go!

•  Cookies!  You will find a plethora of baking supplies on sale right now for rock bottom prices!  My boys always participate in the baking and decorating! Purchase containers or bags at   75- 90% off about a week to ten days after Christmas.  Big Lots has been my "go to" place for years to look for these items at super clearance prices after Christmas.   

• Cookie or Brownie Mix in a jar!  Don't have time to actually bake all those cookies?  Give them in a jar!  Cookies in a jar are fun to make.  I used pinking sheers to cut circles of material.  Place it on the jar and add the ring so that the pretty material shows at the top of the jar.  Add a coordinating ribbon and tie on an inexpensive cookie cutter! 

•  More Gifts in a jar!  I've done hot cocoa, and soup mixes and more.   Here's a link with lots of ideas!  https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/recipes-for-gifts-in-a-jar/view-all

•  Bread.  For over 2 decades I have made homemade bread for our neighbors for Christmas.  Both traditional raised breads and quick breads - like pumpkin or zucchini are wonderful!  Wrap, add a festive bow, and your neighbors will wait at their doors for you to bring the next batch! 

• Melt and Pour Chocolates. Those wonderful white and brown chocolate bark bars are so simple to use!  We got molds from garage sales for pennies and used them for years!  These dipped pretzel rods are pretty and festive!  Place them in a coffee mug from Dollar Tree or in green or red plastic holiday bags.  You can purchase these bags for 50% off after Christmas and keep them for the following year.  

• Dinner in a basket:  Italian:  Pasta, marinara sauce, and homemade bread. Mexican:  Salsa, tortillas, and a jar of DIY taco seasoning.  Soup Night: Soup mix in a jar, a loaf of homemade bread, and homemade crackers.  Tips:  Watch for filler items to go on sale.  I got pasta for just 69¢ for a pound a few weeks ago at HyVee!  Line the basket with a pretty cloth napkin.  I get them throughout the year on clearance or at second-hand shops.  Do the same for baskets. 

•  Popcorn and a movie! Walmart has DVDs for about $3!  You have to dig through one of those big, huge, round bins.  But, there are some winners in there.  Add a pack or two of microwave popcorn and tie with a pretty bow!  

• Read last year's money-saving gift edition on Under the Median, where I gave you even more ideas for gifts on a budget! 

 

What did I miss?  Post your inexpensive gift ideas in the comments section!  

 

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Do all to the glory of God, 

Hope