Generic Christmas Presents on the Cheap

What can I say? I'm not rich, but I like nice stuff. I also believe in giving nice stuff, mostly because I have received not-nice stuff as presents, and we all know how that makes us feel.

Every year, I end up doing a little bit of Christmas shopping for people I don't really know. Usually, it's for someone at work, or someone at my husband's work, or an acquaintance who I just haven't gotten to know well enough to have an idea for a present. So, here are my Top 5 Cheap Christmas Presents which I find acceptable to give, as well as to receive.

5.) Coffee - Unless the person you're giving this to doesn't like coffee, this is a pretty good go-to gift. You can put together a quick present with a little sampler sized bag of coffee (about $2 -$3 dollars), a nice coffee mug (please, they're cheap and available everywhere - usually about $3), and a candy cane or some cinnamon sticks tied with ribbon. Voila! You've got something nice, presentable and useful for under $10.

4.) Music gift cards - I don't care if it's iTunes or just a gift card to Best Buy. I haven't met anyone who doesn't like music of any kind. If you know what kind of music to get them, great. If not, they can go shopping at their leisure.

3.) Food - It won't take up space (for long), it's a nice treat, and it's something they didn't have to get themselves. Think small treats like an individual sized rum cake, a box of special cookies, a tin of sipping chocolate or cocoa, or a nice panetonne. It can be dessert, breakfast, a snack or just an anytime treat. Thanks to places like Trader Joe's, you can pick up a nice foodie gift for $5 or less.

2.) Alcohol - Not the cheapest item on the list, but a great generic sort of present. There's such a great range of products to choose from. You can get a decent bottle of wine for around $8 or $9. Try a six pack of lager from ...some place (try Red Stripe from Jamaica, or maybe Grolsch from the Netherlands). Or stop by a liquor store (BevMo is a good place) and pick up a small assortment of mini bottles (like the kind they have on airplanes). They're usually around $1 to $2 per mini bottle, and you can get a few different kinds of vodkas, or liqueurs, or mix and match them all.

1.) Photo frame - My all time favorite generic gift. You can get a photo frame anywhere. Target, drugstores, even 99cent stores carry them. Pick a nice looking frame, wrap it up, and it's an instant gift. If you're giving it to a friend, you can print a picture at most drugstores, and stick it inside. The entire gift will probably be around $4 or $5 bucks.