Depending on how your year’s going… it’s either FINALLY Christmas time or “how can it already be Christmas time?”
But either way now is the time to figure out gifts and presents… and that goes double if you can’t afford it.
Because if you don’t know how to pay for those gifts, then this is the time to make a plan and determine the best course of action.
In my hot mess days, I would just procrastinate and hope that it would figure itself out over the next 3 weeks (hint: it never did) and then ended up using my credit cards and spending way more than I should have.
If you look at your budget and figure it out though, even if you make the same decisions that you would have if you waited until the last minute and you use a credit card, you’re in a MUCH better place. Because you’re going to have a plan, you’re going to limit the amount you spend and you’re not going to be “panic buying” last minute.
Planning ahead also gives you the opportunity to have conversations with people that you usually exchange presents with. And, it doesn’t need to be an awkward “can we not exchange gifts this year?”… You can approach it like “I read about this $10 Christmas challenge that sounded so fun and amazing… want to try it?”
Let me tell you why I ABSOLUTELY LOVE the $10 Christmas challenge.
Because $10 is enough money to buy something unique and personal, but not enough to feel like you wasted money if they don’t like it.
It lets you take risks with presents that you otherwise wouldn’t (instead of just asking “what do you want for Christmas?”).
It’s SOOOO much fun to hunt down deals or things you can find for under $10.
It makes Christmas insanely cheap but, just as much fun.
Even if you’re not on a budget, you can take the money you would have spent and do something incredible that you really want to do.
Christmas is about the thought and not the gifts anyway.
So, on the off chance you decide to go that route this year, I thought I’d list my favorite $10 gifts for 2022.
My strategy with $10 gifts is usually to get something that the person doesn’t know exists or hasn’t realized how it would help them. If it’s someone that I think will appreciate more of a gag gift then sometimes I go in that direction instead.
Magnetic Wristband on Amazon: holds screws and nails and drill bits hands free.
Hair Scalp Massager: these are also surprisingly big hits with men because it feels so good and is so easy to use with short hair.
Writing Wooden Lap Desks: Buy these and then stain them and stencil their name at the top. I got this from my aunt when I was 6 and still have it and use it almost daily. There’s fancy ones available now with tufted bottoms and storage but nothing works as well or feels as nice as this simple wooden lap desk.
Journals: I love picking these out at Home Goods or Barnes and Noble, but you can find them on Amazon as well.
Picking Stone: Hear me out here. I have a friend that loves picking. Anything. Pimples. Her nail polish off… all of the things. So when I saw this I immediately thought of her and when I saw how many reviews there were and how popular they were I wasn’t surprised.
Or, you can make your own picking stone…
Specialty Popcorn: We buy popcorn in bulk from Amish Popcorn on Amazon. You can try specialty kernels like Ladyfinger and Midnight Blue (my favorites!). Both of these are small and extra crunchy which are SO MUCH BETTER than yellow or white kernels like you buy in the store.
Humping Animals Adult Coloring Books: NSFW (not safe for work) but very funny.
Black and Gold Diamond Waterproof Playing Cards
Bad Parking Cards: Where you get 50 cards to lay on someone’s car that say things like… my grandmother parks better than you.
Crafting With Cat Hair Book: Most people buy this as a joke but are surprised at how cute the cat hair finger puppets are and how the author was completely serious when she wrote her guides.
Dreamdecor Funny Socks With Photos
DIY Tutorial Kit: Find a Youtube tutorial that you think would interest them and get them the supplies. I love this water color landscape tutorial and the water color and brushes are less than $10.
Gold Rub n Buff: Which lets you turn anything gold with a cloth and a few minutes. It dries in 15 minutes too. You can easily update door knobs, drawer pulls in minutes or, find a thrift store project like a mirror to upgrade. Here’s a tutorial to use it…
Other Ideas
- Knitting
- Crocheting
- Rock Painting
- Crafts
Thrift Store Upgrades (like painting a lampshade or renovating a picture frame)
Depending on the person receiving it, you can do the project yourself and give it to them or give them the unfinished project as the gift.
Cast Iron Anything: If they love to cook, go to any thrift store and buy cast iron (don’t worry about the condition) and then follow these instructions to re-season and make it as good as new. You can also include a few hand written recipe cards for cast iron recipes.
Aldi Quarter Keeper: If you know an Aldi lover this is a great gift!
Wood Slingshot for Felt Balls: The “ammo” is cheap and won’t hurt anyone.
Wax Seal Kit: I love these so much! I add the wax seals to everything from handwritten birthday cards to love letters and I’m not ashamed to tell you I even wax seal my bills (because it makes paying bills way more fun).
Personalized Wall Art: (do the digital file and then print and frame it yourself). I love these so much. You can customize the people and the quotes or sayings.
Pura Vida Bracelet Sets: These are usually $40 but they’re $10 until tonight.
I’m obsessed with these and wear them all the time.
Squishmallows: These are all the rage for the young girls. I’ve been finding them at Aldi, Five Below and Target for $10 and under.
Something You Love That They Haven’t Tried: Like your favorite mascara or MiO Liquid Water Enhancer or, a foreign chocolate from World Market.
A&G Modern Liquid Hand Soap: HUGE containers that are reusable, and they also sells bags of soap that you can quickly and easily refill. I love these so much because they’re massive but gorgeous and you only have to change out the soap every few months. Plus, the refill bags make refilling so easy!
Hope that helps!
Other Ideas for a Cheap and Easy Christmas…
Cheap DIY Christmas Gifts That Don’t Suck
21 Christmas Traditions To Enjoy on a Tight Budget
$10 Family Christmas Tradition Explained
P.S. If you have $10 Christmas gift ideas, hit reply and tell me about them… and we’ll include them in an upcoming post.
FTC Disclosure of Material Connection: In order for us to maintain this website, some of the links in the post above may be affiliate links. Regardless, we only recommend products or services we use personally and/or believe will add value to readers
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