Michelle's Musings: My 31 Favorite Gifts for the Christmas Season (that are very affordable)

It is that time of year that we buy gifts for those that we love and whether we are watching every dime or could spend hundreds on a gift, we would rather buy a good gift than junk. Here is a list of my favorite NON-junk gifts, there may be one to fit every person on your list.

1. A lunch box Crockpot. I bought this for myself a few years back and love it so much I started buying it to give away. It has been one of the greatest gifts. Fully customizable to the giftee. They can put a can of soup in the kettle, leftovers and even a small tv dinner. It won't cook the meal so you have to make sure it is something that is fully cooked, but what you get it a nice hot lunch. I pack my lunch at home carry it to work in the pot and then plug in about 1 hour before I am ready to eat. I do recommend you get the pot with 2 inserts. That way there is almost always a clean pot for lunch the next day.

2. Kindle e-reader. I am talking about a dedicated e-reader here NOT a Kindle Fire. The Paperwhite is at a great price point, and it waterproof and you can listen to audiobooks (you must have Bluetooth earphones). For a reader with weakening eyesight or someone who reads so much they need more light, upgrade to the Oasis. It has the same waterproof and audiobook capability, but it has more lights and more storage. This is the one I use, only I added the 3g capability because I can finish a book a day and like to be able to download a new read wherever I am. Here is a link I found on You-Tube that shows the differences. The best part about a dedicated reader is there is NO distractions. You read and that is all. You can also make the font as big as you need it to be.

3. Mrs. Prindable's Apples from QVC. We started buying these for just our family many years ago and soon discovered they are an even better gift. They are kind of expensive so we aren't buying any this year, but I do think they are worth a lot. If you buy a large box and ship the box to you, you can split the box up for many folks like a teacher, bus driver, scout leader, etc...they are simply delicious and there are many flavors to choose from (in my opinion the ones with the chocolate candies on the outside are the best ones).

4. Purple Toad Wine. It is made where I live in Paducah, KY and it one of the best things here in Paducah. There are many, many varieties, but you can't go wrong with a good Paducah Blue or an Anglea's Black Cherry. I gravitate towards the sweeter side, but they have dry and semi-sweet if that is your preference.

5. The Peanut Shop of Williamsburg. I wanted to go to this store when we took a trip to Virginia a few years back. We found it right there near the campus of William & Mary. There were samples all over the store of these delicious peanuts. There were flavors like Crab, Bacon & Cheddar, Dill Pickle and lots of hot ones...so many. I chose the Crab Town, a sweet and savory variety pack and Bacon & Cheddar. They were so yummy. They often run specials on their website too.

6. Cricut Explore or Maker. With these machines, a crafter can do just about anything they would like to do. I myself have made t-shirts, decals, computer covers, cards, and stencils. If you can afford the Maker, go for that one because it can also cut out fabric!!!

7. Monin Cherry Syrup- I have tried all of the cherry syrups and this is the best tasting one by far. I put it in tea all the time. SOOO yummy. They have lots of other flavors, but this gal is partial to the Cherry. This would be a great addition to your home bar or just to liven up that sweet tea!! This is the same brand that McAlister's uses. :)

8. Starbucks Via Refreshers. I discovered this little to go-pack when my daughter was a barista at the local Starbucks. I prefer the Lime but they don't make it anymore, so this is the next best. I don't like the in-store version nearly as much as I like this one (yes, that is weird).

9. Dr. Bonners Peppermint Soap from Meijer. I have been buying this soap for a long time, but I have not found it as affordable as I have at Meijer. The smell of peppermint wakes you up in the bath and it makes your skin feel smooth and soft. The almond and eucalyptus are also nice scents.

10. Nature's Truth essential oil. I use this oil all the time. It is more affordable than some brands so I can diffuse or make peppermint bug spray on a budget. I know this one will cause controversy with the essential oil people but I am not in the right tax bracket for $30 bottle of oils. These run about 2 for $10 at Wal-greens and Meijer all the time. I would never ingest any oil and I feel perfectly safe diffusing these or adding the tea tree to shampoo to prevent lice or lavender to coconut oil for my hands.

11. David Venable or Joanna Gaines Cookbooks.

Who doesn't need a good cookbook? Here are two wonderful ones. I have made many of the recipes in Joanna's book and David has made many of his on QVC (yes, I watch it every week to get a new recipe). David's book was released last week and I have not had a chance to make much from there. I do know it is full of shortcuts and has less than 10 ingredients. I think you would LOVE either (or both) of them. JoJo cookbook features her famous biscuits and an incredible ranch dressing.

12. How about a free gift? Who doesn't love free? If your little one does not have a library card, now would be a good time to make an event and give the gift of the public library. If you don't have a good library in your community you can join one online (see my previous post on library cards). This free gift goes well with the Kindle gift #2. I know for sure these are the two things I use the most of all my possessions.

13. OttLite. For the reader/crafter on your list. I have this one (it is one of the cheaper models) and it is outstanding. The light is easy on your eyes. The batteries last a long time (there is a slot for a cord but I don't have that). You can often find a good deal on this model at Hobby Lobby or Michael's, but it is not too expensive on Amazon or the OttLite itself. It makes a HUGE difference when working/reading.

14. Rtic tumbler. I know everyone has a Yeti or wants a Yeti, but they are kind of expensive. Why not get a cup that functions the same way at a fraction of the cost and much cuter? To me, that is a no-brainer. Introducing the Rtic tumbler. Cute and sassy and cheap!!!!

15. Carnival Cruise Line gift card. For the person in your life that loves to cruise (someone like me). You can use these gift cards towards the cruise price, excursions, or that tab that you rack up while on board. This is great especially if you know the person is going on a cruise or wants to and there is no way you could give them the cruise, may you can give them a piece of the cruise. These can be purchased at Lowe's, Michael's and Kroger and I am sure other places too.

16. Book lovers. I am about a 99.9% digital book reader, as a matter of a fact I am not buying paper books any more only digital titles. If the person on your list is a book reader you may not know if they are digital or paper reader so maybe buy something bookish, but not books for them. The first thing that comes to mind is an Amazon gift card. With this, they can buy digital or paper books, or even a book bag. I also love the site Uncommon Goods. There are things featured that are off the wall unique but useful. Like a book scarf, a book flask, or a reading journal.

17. Seems like everyone has a Kitchen Aid stand mixer. I think they are divine and a tremendous help in the kitchen, but is everyone using that mixer at it's fullest potential? For example, I don't like store-bought shredded cheese, it is full of additives that no one needs in their body so I grate our cheese. It is so simple when you have a Kitchen Aid, you just need an attachment. The attachments fit any Kitchen Aid so don't worry if you don't know your recipients model. My go-to time saver is this grater, I have found it on Amazon in this example but you can use your 30% off at Kohl's, or purchase from a kitchen store. While you are looking you can see a ton of attachments that Kitchen Aid makes to help us have more time for other things....like an ice cream maker or pasta roller.

18. Waterproof Bluetooth speaker from Amazon. I got this for my husband and son a few years ago and I really think that they use it every single day. I hear sports radio, ballgames and music coming from the bathroom. I know they can take a call with it, but I bet they have never used that feature. It is cute and I will tell you that I have sprayed cleaner on it and it still looks and works great. Great price too.

19. Burt's Bees products. I have tried many of these wonderful products and have liked each one. Of course, I am never without a Burt's lip balm, but then if you come into my home you will find the face soap (which is incredible), tinted balms, hand salve, cuticle cream, and complexion sticks. They have products from makeup to soaps, shaving lotions to toothpaste. I have not tried them all, but I am working on it.

20. Bath & Body Works Aromatherapy line. I have been shopping at this store since I was traveling with Cracker Barrel in the '90s. I remember driving about 45 minutes away from the store where I worked in Newport News, Virginia to Virginia Beach to stock up on SeaSpray lotion because they announced they were discontinuing the fragrance (I still miss that smell). They have introduced a new line that thrills me almost as much. I adore the scents of the Aromatherapy line. Recently they introduced my favorite scent in a Patchouli, but they have also added a Bergamot, Peppermint and Ylang Ylang.

21. Michael's gift card. Your giftee may not be a crafter so you may shy away from this one, but have you been to Michael's store lately? Yes, they have craft supplies, but there is so much more. Floral arrangements, wedding supplies, all kinds of kits, frames, quick gifts, home decor, gift cards and yes, craft supplies. My favorite part? You can always find a coupon or a sale. ALWAYS!!!

22. Enstrom Toffee. I have had this exactly once, about 15 years ago and I have never gotten over it. NEVER! The taste is smooth and almondy. You can sink your teeth into it...not break your teeth. It is truly a gourmet experience because of the texture and high quality ingredients.

23. Board games. We have always been a family that likes board games, now we haven't played them as much as we used to because of Fortnight, but I am sure we will get back someday. We have enjoyed Uno, Life, Connect Four and Trouble the best. Have you ever tried to play Trouble while dad is sleeping down the hall? It is not as easy thing to do because of the Pop-o-Matic but it can be done.

24. Tablet/phone stand for kitchen cooking. How many of us use our smartphones or tablets to look up a recipe while cooking dinner? I had so much trouble with how to see the phone while cooking. I could have bought something but I made it because I found a challenge. This gift idea is some type of holder for the phone/tablet be it purchased from Amazon, Michael's or if you make one. When I looked up this idea I saw many, many choices and the floral one pictured is the one that I designed and made myself.

25. A fitness tracker of some sort. I have seen it work, when that line turns red or the watch starts vibrating, you get up and move. I think these things were a brilliant invention. There are so many different types to get you going. I have tried many different ones, Fitbit, Garmin, Samsung, generic...and FitBit is my favorite. I think the website is easier to use and it uploads easily to my insurance for points. You may think differently though. For instance, maybe your giftee would not like to charge their watch every day or maybe they want something slim, maybe they would not like a watch and would prefer a clip on? There are many choices, but don't let that stop you from getting your loved one off the couch.

26. Dr. Teal's bath bombs. I LOVE Acti-bath tablets. I used them all the time and then they stopped making them. I have looked for many years for a replacement for those glorious little bath time relaxation tablets and this is the closest that I have found (and not cost a fortune). I have found these as cheap as $5 at Big Lots. Yeah, FIVE DOLLARS. Some stores charge that much for ONE bath bomb. The smell is very nice, my drawback is that they don't last very long, but at that price maybe I can use 2 :)

27. Food Saver. We like to buy steaks in bulk and as I told you, I like to grate my own cheese. We decided to spring for the Food Saver to not only save money but to make food last longer. I don't use this every day. I only use it about once a week, but I do think that I have paid for the system based on being able to buy in bulk and not having any wasted food. I grate a 2-pound block of cheddar every 2 weeks. Then I put the extra cheese in food saver bags, seal them up and it is like having freshly grated cheese on demand. We buy our steaks in bulk and package them in packages of 2. Then whenever someone wants a steak just take a package from the freezer and you have 2 vacuumed packed steaks ready to go.

28. Capitol Flag Request. Many years back I discovered a program called the Flag Request Program. That is where you can have a flag flown over the Capitol of the United States in honor of a birthday, an anniversary, the death of a loved one or a President. It is rather easy to get it done. You need to go to the website of your State Senator. My Senator is Mitch McConnell so here is a view from his site and how I order all of my flags. If you order a pre-flown flag you will not get a certificate in honor of someone, I do believe you get a certificate that it was flown over the US Capital, but I can't confirm that because I always ask for it in honor of someone. Choose a size and a date you want it flown and then list in whose honor it is being flown. Now my Senator sends me a certificate from his office as well so I have been getting two certificates. I have not framed them. I have left them in the box and put the boxes in a fireproof tote. I do have the flags displayed. My two prized ones are the flags flown over the Capital when Ronald Wilson Reagan and John Sidney McCain were lying in state in the rotunda. The cost is approximately $25, but if you can go to DC to pick up the flag you save about $8.

29. Republic of Tea. For the tea drinker on your list. They have a good herbal, health teas, fun tea and a tea that tastes like sangeria...yeah pretty much everything. They also list all the ingredients so if you have allergies you can see if the tea will kill you before you buy it. #strawberries

30. Olly. I am one of those folks that falling asleep is so easy, but if I get up to pee or hear a noise in the house, I wake up and then can't go back to sleep. So when I want to stay asleep all night (about 2 nights a week) I take ONE of these. They taste good and seem to make me stay asleep.

31. Sunbeam throw HEATED!! For the person on your list that is always cold, now they can have their very own warmer. I think these are brilliant, almost as brilliant as heated seats!