Affordable, Practical Gift Ideas for Everyone

Coming up today: A HUGE list of affordable, practical gift ideas for everyone you know, love and are buying for.

I love gifts. Giving gifts, making gifts…getting gifts. Gifts that I’d like to give and things I’d like to ask for when the time comes flow freely through my brain all year. Then, around the holidays I suddenly freeze up. I can’t remember any of the genius ideas I’d thought of. The only thing I can come up with is candles and lotion.

My favorite gifts are never candles and lotion. (No offense if you’ve ever given me a candle or lotion. We can still be friends.)

I like things that I can use. Things that make my life easier, aren’t on my radar, or I wouldn’t buy for myself all make good gifts for me. In recent years my favorite gifts have been a screw-to-the-wall pencil sharpener, a meat tenderizer, and an amazing multi-bit screwdriver. In my opinion, the best gifts don’t have to cost a lot and they don’t need to come from the “gift section” of a store. Practical gift ideas are good gift ideas. When it comes to gifts I’m all about thinking outside of the box. The gift box, that is.

The First Annual Gift Guide

That’s why…for the first time ever, I’ve compiled a giant list of affordable, practical gift ideas. These are things I love. Most are things I’ve been given, have gifted, or I currently have my eye on. I consider them all affordable (there is one big-ticket item, but most items are under $20.) I hope you’ll find inspiration here for someone on your list…or find a few ideas of things you might like yourself.

I’ve broken the list into six categories:

• DIYers
• Home (think practical kitchen and household items)
• Travelers
• Grandparents (yours or your kids’…think hard-to-buy for folks who don’t need more “stuff”)
• Games
• Art and Decor

I’ve rounded up 50+ ideas for you, so let’s get going.

Gifts for DIYers

Last year, I gave Derek a box full of small gadgets that improve the home improvement process. Most only cost a couple dollars. It’s one of the best gifts I’ve ever given. A lot of those items made the list here, along with other items we love.

1. A panel carrier makes lifting and moving sheets of wood and drywall not only possible, but easy.
2. Tubes of caulk often come with a tip cover to save a half-used tube. Those are garbage. Buy these caulk tube covers instead.
3. **On my wishlist this year** I just learned about a Center Point tape measure. It’s a dual scale which allows you to identify the center of what you are measuring in a matter of seconds.
4. The Vaughn Bear Saw is hands down the best saw I’ve ever owned. I bought my first one in college and have only replaced it once.
5. A magnetic wrist band holds nails and screws while you’re working. So much better than holding them in your teeth.
6. Anyone who DIYs should hav a good pair of winter work gloves. I like these classics from Carhart.
7. A paint can pour spout will change your life.
8. Our favorite, most used tool is a ratcheting, multi-bit screw driver like this one.
9. I love this magnetic utility light.
10. Old House Journal is BY FAR my favorite house/DIY magazine.
11. Derek has one. I want one. We love this winter weight work shirt from Menard’s.
12. A quick change chuck lets you swap out bits on your drill super quickly. Perfect for renos and demos.
13. Sure, you can cut drywall with a utility knife. That’s what most casual DIYers do. In my opinion, every DIYer should own a jab knife to up their game.

Gifts for the Home

I’ll never tell you to buy a candle as a gift. These are my favorite, practical gift ideas for around the house. An item that changes their life for the better is a great gift. I’ve also combined a few items below if you want to go above and beyond with a package deal.

1. A mandolin slicer (add recipes for cucumber salad or homemade chips for bonus points.)
2. Tiny spatulas like Spatty and Spatty Daddy get every drop for bottles.
3. *On my wishlist this year* This butter knife grates butter so it’s spreadable, even when cold…so your bread doesn’t get ripped apart.
4. Years ago my dad bought me this meat tenderizer. It’s still on of the best gifts I’ve ever been given.
5. My dad also gave me this knife sharpener. My knives are nothing special, but people ask me about them often…because they’re so sharp and cut so well. Thanks, dad!
6. Support small business by buying a locally roasted coffee, like this from Dakota Roasters.
7. Once I was given a single serve french press, like this one. I still love it.
8. **On my wishlist this year** A yeti mug that will keep coffee hot for hours…so maybe I can stop making trips to the microwave.
9. A casserole carrier to keep hot dishes hot.
10. The best gifts are thoughtful. Instead of buying a gift, curate a custom Pinterest board to make meal planning in the new year a snap.
11. Glamorous Wash makes you think you are waking up in a fancy B&B when you use it on your sheets.
12. Last year I bought Derek this steamer. It was kind of a joke, but turned into one of the greatest gifts of all time. (It’s basically the gift of never ironing again.)
13. My favorite sheets are Threshold from Target. They’re fitted sheets are the only ones that stay in place through all my turning around through the night.
14. There is nothing better than the gift of time. A load of healthy freezer meals is one of the best gifts ever! (Here are some ideas to get you started. Combine this with an awesome cooler–#15 and Crockpot liners for a double gift and easy gift wrapping.)

Gifts for Travelers

We love to travel and explore. These are some of our favorite items for traveling, exploring or day-tripping.

1. A quick release key clip is handy for trips that require rental keys, extra house keys, etc.
2. Help travelers actually record a few memories with this journal.
3. Compression socks like these from Smart Wool may not be something a friend would buy themselves…but they’ll be so happy you did!
4. **BUY THIS FOR A MOM** A Gorilla Pod has bendy arms that can cling to anything while securely holding a phone. This is the perfect gift for moms…who are always taking the photos and never in them!
5. Binoculars like these are perfect for anyone with a trip planned for 2020.

Gifts for Grandparents

Grandparents are notoriously hard to shop for. Here are six of my favorite practical gift ideas for the people in your life that don’t need more “stuff.”

1. Last year my dad bought my mom a gift card for a bouquet of the month club at their local supermarket. One bouquet every month for a year. How fun!
2. Derek’s grandpa loves sending cards. We buy him stamps. (The price of sending those cards adds up!)
3. Grocery gift cards or a restaurant meal delivery gift card.
4. Car wash tokens–especially for those is cold climates.
5. Photo books–I especially love making 5×7 “purse-sized” books. They come together quickly and are perfect for showing off photos of the littles.
6. Service gift cards for things like gutter cleaning, window cleaning, snow removal, cleaning, lawn care, etc.

Games to Gift

It took a lot of self control to limit this list. Games always and will always be a great gift.

1. Our house favorite game: Backgammon. There are few things classier than a nice set like this one.
2. Deer in the Headlights is quick to learn and easy to play. It’s a great game to play with “non-gamers” and a great gift for those who aren’t into games that take an hour to learn.
3. Kingdomino is quick, strategy driven and plays well with only two (but can accommodate more).
4. Splendor is currently my favorite strategy game. It’s great for just two players, but more can join. The pieces are very high quality. Many different strategies can be employed, every game is different.
5. Port Royal is a compact card collecting game. It’s easy to learn and so fun.
6. Make ‘n’ Break is my pick for a family-friendly game. Players race to build and break structures. Great for motor skills, spatial reasoning and family game night.

Art and Decor Gifts

Not every gift needs to be useful, right? Here are my favorite, pretty art and decor items.

1. I’m in love with prints from the Anderson Group. They’ve got multiple collections, including these State Pride prints.
2. **Pricy** Here is my one splurge gift. A wool blanket is an heirloom item. Amana blankets are made at their mill in Iowa.
3. Buy a live wreath for someone who is hopeless (like me) when it comes to growing their own greens.
4. Items from Cavallini & Co look good in any home. They’ve got prints, office items, towels, aprons, etc…all in vintage inspired designs.
5. Awesome book ends make even the tiniest library look regal.
6. Window Shop Gal has the coolest prints that subtly shout out to your favorite pop culture obsessions, like The Office, Harry Potter and Gilmore Girls.
7. Arranged, or not arranged really nice faux greens make a great gift. I love the selection of realistic succulents at Hobby Lobby.
8. These monogrammed hooks from Anthropologie are eye candy.

Happy Gifting! Remember, my kid gift guide will be up next week!