Great Gifts for $20 or Less

By Colleen Gleason

All right, raise your hand...who's not even started their holiday shopping yet? (Trish, stop grinning over there. I know you finished months ago!)

If you've not only not started, but also haven't got a clue what to buy and are on a budget...this list is for you! Keeping yourself on a budget is hard, especially when you're trying to find something unique or special for someone.

1. Leather Bookweight. I have had one for 10 years. My mother gave it to me, and I carry it in my purse everywhere I go (since I always have a book with me and often eat lunch alone on the road). I cannot tell you how many times I have had people walk up to me in a restaurant and ask about it! Just about every time I eat out, in fact.

For who: any bibliophile on your list: your assistant, your babysitter, your sister-in-law

Where to get it: Barnes & Noble.com
 

2. Books by Noodlers! While you're at Barnes & Noble.com, or Amazon, or in Borders, make sure you check out the vast offerings by the Wet Noodle Posse. There's something for everyone on your list somewhere on our bookshelf. Along those lines, if you can find an autographed book for your recipient, that's even better. Many local authors will come in and sign books for stores in their area; others offer them directly from their Web sites (including all of the Noodlers; you can contact any of us through the site here.) Don't forget the young girls on your list...our own Stephie Davis writes funny, real-to-life books for pre-teens too.

For who: any bibliophile on your list

Where: Any bookstore or through the WNP site.


3. Magazine Subscription. Talk about something that lasts throughout the year! No matter who is on your list, you can find a magazine for them, and many subscriptions are less than $20 per year. Some suggestions for that hard-to-buy-for person:

Women: Real Simple, Sunset
Men: TV Guide (just kidding!), Scientific American, Popular Mechanics, ESPN News
Anyone: Health, Smithsonian, National Geographic, This Old House
College Age/Young Adult: Rolling Stone, CMJ (this is a little more than $20/year, but it includes a CD every month of new and up-and-coming musicians - perfect for a young, hip music lover. Find it at CMJ.com)
Youngsters: American Girl, Calliope, Ranger Rick, Disney Adventure
Cook: Eating Light, Bon Appetit, Wine Enthusiast, Vegetarian Times
Gardener: Herb Companion

Where to buy: Buy one magazine over the counter, take out the subscription panel, and send it in. You can wrap up the issue you bought and enclose a gift note explaining the subscription. Or you can look on Amazon.com for subscriptions if you prefer to do online shopping!


4. Mini Cocktail Shaker. I found this on RedEnvelope.com and thought it was a cute little thing for a girlfriend who likes to have a good time. A novelty gift, it will slip into her bag as a conversation starter and will definitely be one of the most unique things she gets this year!

For: young, hip gals or a best girlfriend

Where to buy: RedEnvelope.com, $20


5. Mini Zen Garden: You can find these in several places (I found one for $12 at RedEnvelope.com, obviously one of my favorite places to browse). These are great for people who have to sit at a desk all day, or who have stressful jobs. Or both. The creative people use it to get their creativity flowing; the more anal-retentive people relieve stress by making sure the tiny rake leaves perfectly-straight lines up and down in the little garden.

For: someone who has a desk and uses it all day

Where to buy: RedEnvelope.com or gift/card shops


6. I made a hit with my mother-in-law (not always easy to do with gifts) when I bought her three pairs of super-soft socks. The ones you just want to bury your face in, 'cause they feel like fur, but also come in lovely bright colors. I have four pairs, and I wear them constantly in the winter. Keeps my feet warm.

For: anyone with cold feet (and I don't mean your nephew who's getting married next month)

Where to buy: Target, most department stores


7. Super-soft Throw. This is the next generation of fleece throws. They're softer now and come in suede-like textures. I saw some for $19.99 at the Discovery Channel Store, and they were some of the softest ones I've seen. A friend got one with a furry texture on one side and a suede texture on the other at Marshall's.

For: anyone (including college kids, teens, young children) who likes to curl up and watch TV or read during the winter

Where to buy: Discovery Channel Store, Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, any housewares store


8. Paper Airplane or Origami Folding Set. Both adults and children love these sets. They come with bright-colored paper and instructions for folding many different kinds of planes or origami figures. An unusual gift, it allows for creativity...and lots of airplane races and dogfights when finished!

For: elementary and middle-school children, especially creative ones; adults who like unusual or unique things or who are creative

Where to buy: in the book section at general merchandise stores (e.g. Target, Wal-Mart, Meijer, etc.), in the children's or bargain sections at bookstores


9. Bucket of Gardening Tools or Cooking Utensils: Get a small metal bucket or basket and fill it with some seed packets, a little trowel and rake, and you've got a great gift for a gardener. You can do the same for a cook (though it might get to be more than $20), but you can include little bottles of spices or sample sizes of flavored oils.

For: someone who's just moved or as a little generic gift to have on hand

Where to buy: This takes a bit more creativity and energy. You have to find the bucket and its fillings. Check out the $1 section at Target, or look at Big Lots or other places with remainders; you can find these kinds of things there. Also, garden centers will be clearing out a lot of these items around this time of year.


10. Designer Kitchen Soap. Okay, I know I'm pushing it here, but really...who doesn't like to have a beautifully clean, lovely-smelling kitchen after a long day and a wonderful meal? When I was growing up, it was a sign that all was right in the world when we'd finished cleaning up the kitchen. The countertops were nice and clean and empty...and then it was time to relax. It still works for me now. I feel relaxed and love the smells and knowing that my work for the day is done. Williams-Sonoma has a great collection of hand soaps, countertop soaps, and dish soaps. You can order a stainless-steel holder for them, which is not only functional but also looks nice sitting on the counter. My other favorite is the environmentally correct Mrs. Meyers brand. Lemon Verbena is the one I use.

For: anyone who has a kitchen

Where to buy: Williams-Sonoma.com or any high-end kitchen gadget store. Target often carries the Mrs. Meyers brand too, as does Whole Foods Market.


Colleen Gleason does most of her holiday shopping on the computer late in the day on Thanksgiving, with sparkling clean and fresh-smelling kitchen countertops thanks to Mrs. Meyers. She usually has a glass of wine in her non-mouse hand and super-soft socks on her feet!

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Our Favorite Pets

by the Wet Noodle Posse
 

Gir, a kitten I found at school the week before 9/11. He was such a sweetheart, and during that terrible week, he stayed on my lap and let me pet him while I cried. - Mary Fechter

Pick a favorite pet? The horror! I'd better go with my two current furballs, Bob and Pounce. Else they may smother me in my sleep.

- Anne Mallory

I got Tilly, my cat, right after I divorced my first husband. She was being treated for giardia (an intestinal parasite) and was so skinny she looked like a black-and-white weasel. I didn't have a bed yet, so every night I climbed into my sleeping bag, and she climbed in beside me and lay her head on my shoulder. She's old and deaf now and not allowed to sleep with Joe and me because she'd keep us awake with her querulous meowing, but she spends every day keeping me company while I write.  - Kiki Clark

My favorite pet would be my very first dog, a beautiful poodle I named Puppy Marie after my then favorite person in the world, Marie Osmond!  - Jill Monroe

When I was about nine years old, we got a kitten, a plain, drab gray kitten we named Snoopy. Snoopy loved to be outside all night, and often we'd hear him with another cat, sounding like babies crying. He used to come home with sores all over him, and I would clean them and put medicine on them. Whenever my tender feelings would be hurt, I'd grab Snoopy and cry all over him. There was nothing special about him, just that he was my kitty. - Diane Perkins

This is a hard one because I love animals, and most all the ones I've had have been my "favorite." How do you choose just one when they all show you so much love and unconditional acceptance? But if I have to pick one, it would have to be Doc, a mule we raised from six months old until he was 3 1/2 (and 15 1/2 hands tall!), when Tony traded him to a friend for a Farmall tractor. Doc died at 4 of cancer, and we were all devastated. I still miss him. - Pam Payne

As much as I love kitties, and I've had three, along with a dog I adored, my favorite pet is a fish. We have him right now. He's a beta, which they call a Chinese fighting fish, but this guy's a pussycat. Why, you ask, would I love a fish? Hey, this is no ordinary fish. He's been with us almost six years, swimming around in his little bowl in the laundry room. Every night, I hear Mike in there, talking to him. "Hey buddy!" He holds the food close to the water, and the fish jumps up to get it. Not kidding. Mike gets all visitors to go see the fish - "SeaWorld's got nothin' on us!" Our little dog, who was the light of Mike's life, passed away about a year ago, and now he's got this strange affinity with that fish, who has no name. Just "hey, buddy." I've gotten almost as attached. When I go in there to do laundry or wash my hands, he swims about, all excited to see me. Sometimes, he jumps out of the water. Who knew a little fish could have so much personality? He's just happy to be alive, and to me, that's breathtaking. - Stephanie Feagan

This is like asking to choose a favorite child. Very hard! I guess I'd have to say my first cat, Scogus McPhoo, a stray who adopted me in college. He was a long-haired, white cat with one blue eye and one green eye. A truly amazing and mellow cat. I could throw him over my shoulder and carry him anywhere. He'd walk on a leash like a dog. - Lorelle Marinello

Since the two current loves of my life would be horribly offended if I chose anyone else, I have to say my favorite pets are Imilie, a feisty, black-and-white, Norwegian Forest Cat, and Lucy, a shy-but-sweet, blue-point Ragdoll. The three of us are trying to convince the rest of the family that we need a dog, preferably a golden retriever.

Stay tuned. - Lee McKenzie

My favorite pet would have to be my zaftig cat Pumpkin, a tortoiseshell calico who taught this former dog-lover that independence is a wonderful thing in a pet. - Maureen Hardegree

I can't choose one. I've had four favorite pets: Molly, Charlie, Oscar and Kip. All of them Labradors, all of them the sweetest, most loveable and snuggly animals ever. They all make my heart melt and have been the greatest comfort and friendship to me. - Stephanie Rowe

My favorite pet is my Jack Russell named Trouble. Possibly because he's my current pet, possibly because he's lived longer than any other pet I ever had. Definitely, he's a part of my family. Although when I think about favorite pets, I have to mention Pepe, my pet skunk that I had during high school. My Mom worked at a vet's office, so we frequently had interesting pets. Pepe was actually a great pet and was de-scented of course. When he was really little, he'd curl up and sleep inside of a shoe. Later, he slept curled around my neck. Not sure if that meant my neck smelled like an old shoe or what. - Janice Lynn

I have a soft spot in my heart for every pet I've had. Whiskers was the dog my husband gave me right before we got married. Whiskers was like our kid until we had children. I can't leave out Pepper, our terrier mix, who lived to be nearly 18. We never dreamed when we rescued him from the pound that he would still be with us after our kids had left home. Then there are the cats. I'll refrain from naming them all. We got Allie and BJ when we lived in Massachusetts. They moved to Dallas and then Chicago, where BJ succumbed to kidney disease. Allie is still alive and now living in Florida in her old age. She's my one-eyed kitty. And lastly, Nomar, whom we inherited from our younger daughter. He was named after Nomar Garciapara, who played for the Red Sox. Nomar is a very big cat. Our vet calls him the "big gray rug." - Merrillee Whren

My brother, Tim, had a white hamster he called - what else? - Whitey. Whitey had more adventures than the typical hamster since Tim carried Whitey with him wherever he went, either in a pocket or his tin lunch pail. If Whitey was missing, it was because Tim had placed him somewhere for safekeeping and forgotten to retrieve him. We'd all troop through the house, checking the tops of doors (Tim's favorite indoor spot) or head out into the neighborhood to search everyone's mailboxes (another handy place). Once Tim stuck Whitey in a neighbor's drain pipe, and he climbed up to the roof. I can still picture my mother chasing the little white hamster across the shingles. - Terry McLaughlin

I've thought about it for two days and reached the conclusion I can't choose just one. I had a favorite dog and a favorite cat at different times in my life. It's an apples and oranges thing, I guess, but I've always preferred oranges over apples, so maybe not. Lily was a Weimaraner we discovered when we went to the pound to rescue our obnoxious poodle who had chased the mailman once too often. I eventually gave up on the poodle, but Lily was the dog of my dreams. She was energetic, intelligent and willful, yet always obeyed, the kind with the soulful expression but a funny sense of humor. And although she was protective, she made intelligent decisions. No one got in the door unless I okayed it, but then all guests were her best friends. When we hiked, the little kids would hang onto her leash, and she pulled them up steep slopes. And mostly, she was my companion, my closest friend. I lost her when my brother was taking care of her for me. Boo the cat was a white fuzzball with flame-color tips and brilliant, blue eyes who got her name from her habit of jumping out at us like a tiny ghost from behind corners. She looked like a rare breed called a Birman, but she was pure barn cat and hunted like one. Her cleverness was what amazed me most, for she would invent games to play. I made a little ball of yarn for her, hoping she would leave my knitting alone, and she found a small box with a hole in the lid and stuffed her yarn "mousie" into it. She'd fish around with her paws until she got it out, then put it back and start all over again. I was really amazed when she started answering the phone by grabbing the cord and pulling it off the hook, then purring into it. She was sure she had the power to turn off the TV by pouncing at the screen, but that was my hubby clicking it off. It was never on except when he was watching, so it was a long time before she figured it out. She died at 17, fierce, ornery and loving to the end. - Delle Jacobs

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