What Is The Best Gift For $25 or Less In Your Opinion?

[jeffrey]

Here is a question for everyone from a conversation I had with a friend the other day. What is the best gift you can get somebody for $25 or less in your opinion and why do you feel this way?

[jeffrey]

Oh, my suggestion was a $25 gift certificate to Kiva.org - This is a charity that gives micro loans to those living in less developed countries. The reason I like to give this gift is the recipient gets to help someone out with a loan. When the loan is paid back, the person can take the $25 and use it themselves (for a second gift) or loan it out again and your gift can continue in perpetuity as they hand out a loan again and again. The gift helps multiple times and each time the person remembers the gift was from you.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

My "please don't get me anything" mother, who really does mean it, would love it if I did that! Would she need internet access to re-loan it though?

[jeffrey]

Yes, she would need Internet access to give the first loan with the gift certificate and all others.

[Staceyy]

A well selected book that will hopefully change their life for the better.l

[dotcom]

Blobkbuster Gift Card!

[terry1156]

I think finding gifts that can save people money in the long run are great. Instead of buying someone a gift certificate to Starbucks, get them a coffee machine so they can make their own. These are great when you are able to give practical gifts, but sometimes they aren't appropriate depending on the occasion.

[MonkeyMama]

When I saw the title of the thread I thought donation to charity. Just tired of all the "stuff." What I would prefer really. Behind that would be gift certificate (to somewhere the giftee would actually use it at).

[cschin4]

I don't think you can go wrong with a restaurant certificate. The recipient can go out, enjoy a nice meal and no "junk" to fill up the house.
And, please don't donate to charity in my name. I really don't appreciate that and I would rather not get a gift at all. If you want to give to charity, go ahead, but don't attach my name to it.

[PrincessPerky]

Food, that the recipient likes. (homemade, or store bought)

Tickets to somewhere the recipient would like (for kids, science center, play ect.....though the cost of the adult to join brings the price up)

Most all the 'stuff' we buy...you mean anyone spends more than 25?

I have to say charity only works for the right kind of person........

[cschin4]

I think magazine subsciptions are kind of fun too.

[Ima saver]

home made fudge! I like gift certificates to favorite restaurants too.

[FrugalFish]

I do the charity thing regularly (often in conjunction with another gift), it has gone over well. We do heifer.org and they have very nice gift cards. I started doing that one year when all our relatives were acting so gimme-gimme. Christmas was becoming very irritating and it made me feel a little better about spending money...

I also like to give consumable gifts and find that people seem to enjoy those the most since they don't keep them for a lifetime. Wine, candles, and bath products all seem to go over well. I always ask for cheese and chocolate (when asked) and never get either!

[marjorie]

I have been known to do stupid stuff that makes life easier in some silly way. For example, when we all had little kids and time was at a super premium I got my brother 12 identical pairs of socks. What he loved about this gift was that there were enough pairs to make it through more than the busiest work week, and he didn't have to devote lots of time to making matches. He also really like the afghan I made him from clearanced yarn. He must like it, he's still using it 30 years later...

[jodi]

I'm also a big fan of consumable gifts. Gift cards are probably my first choice, so long as I know what the person will really use. I also enjoy giving homemade food gifts (jams, breads, salsa) which cost very little in terms of money. I like to pair several items, such as a travel coffee mug, Dunkin Donuts coffee, and a DD gift card, or homemade salsa with a bag of chips and a pretty bowl.