Inexpensive last minutes presents that please. Got any recommendations?

[ThomWV]

I now times are tight, they are around here too. Still, I buy presents for folks, for kids mostly. With two days left and little change in the pocket do you have any fall-back presents that please every time for not too much cash?

First off I've long noticed that any kid under about the age of 5 will be just as content playing with the box a toy came in as the toy - and that should tell you something.

Here's one: Kids under about 8 or so, a small flashlight. No kidding. They love the things; go hog wild and buy them a bunch of batteries too. For about $20 you can buy the best LED Maglight made, with batteries. Others are cheaper yet.

[frazzled]

1. Books.

Just that: books. They exist for any age group from infants to grandpa. Just make sure to consider the recipient's taste, not your own (as is true for any gift).

We celebrate Hanukkah, not Christmas, but when my kids were growing up, we always, every year, had "book night"--one night of Hanukkah where the present was books. They always loved them.

[Lasher]

2. Flash drives.

You can find cheap ones, and for people (including kids) who use computers they'll be appreciated more than a pair of socks.

[HopeHoops]

3. Home baked cookies. Anyone of any age likes those.

There is an endless supply of recipes on the Internet to cover any dietary restriction. They take a bit of "hurry up and wait" time, but other than that they are easy.

[Arkansas Granny]

4. I have found that all of my adult family and friends appreciate and look forward

to receiving a pair of flannel pajama bottoms.

[TwilightGardener]

10. Yep--that's a good one. I gave some fleece pajama bottoms last year.

[Neecy]

5. This was years and years ago....

My sister typed out every family recipe (and some that she just liked), put a little bit of text explaining which family member the recipe came from and placed each sheet in a plastic sleeve. Then the pages went into a soft-sided notebook.

It probably took her three weeks to do. She gave a copy to each member of the family for Christmas. 25 years later it's proven to be the most useful, and used, gift I've ever gotten. I've added to it over the years and I use it constantly. One of the least expensive gifts I've gotten has turned out to be the most thoughtful.

[earth mom]

6. Crayons with drawing pads, books, play doh, puzzles. All great for the imagination & better

for kids than most toys or video games.

[Arkansas Granny]

13. Those are great choices. Imagination is lacking in many childrens toys, especially

those that rely on batteries for operation. Many times, the point is to push a button and watch the toy play with little or no other action required by the child.

[RT Atlanta]

7. Carabiners

I purchased some "base" ones for about $5 each for my children and you would be surprised how much fun they have with them (similar to the fun with boxes, tape, rope, crayons, paper, etc.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carabiner

[Brickbat]

8. For kids: art supplies, bubble bath, funny soaps, cheap motorized toothbrushes.

For adults: Homemade fudge or homemade truffles.

[TwilightGardener]

9. Funny t-shirts, iTunes cards, gloves/slippers, gift cards to favorite

cheap-lunch restaurants (Panera, Chipotle's), lotions/soaps, nice picture frame with family photo. For kids--nail polish and lip gloss, small stuffed animals, playdough, Koosh balls, magnet set, games, books, blank journal/diary.

[rucky]

11. Yep. Flashlights are a slam-dunk in this house.

For me and the kid. Wife can't get enough candles.

[Frank Cannon]

12. UNO

Great card game you can get at the corner drug store for less than six bucks.

[knitter4democracy]

16. On sale at Target this week for $4.

I should get a new deck--my son marked ours.

[knitter4democracy]

14. Habor Freight had a great small flashlight for a dollar.

LED, small but easy for a child to use. My kids love theirs (I got them for their birthday party favors last summer).

For an adult, tea or coffee. It's a splurge thing that a lot of us give up but really miss.

Aldi has lovely chocolates for cheap, too--good, German stuff that's divine.

Walgreen's has Webkinz for less than five dollars now, and Target has the Webkinz/LittleKinz duos for $10 this week. Most kids from ages 5-10 love those (mostly for the website fun, too, but they are cute stuffed animals). Don't forget to get a candycane pen when you're there.

[dembotoz]

15. clearance dvd's and computer games

my teenager got some classic movies for his brother for just a couple bucks each.

[SoCalDem]

17. Kids that always want "their own money" ..crisp new dollar bills

One of our kids' favorite christmases was the yearI drew a blank on the "Big gift".. so I got each one a new band of dollar bills from the bank.. It was enlightening to see how they each spent that $100..one dribbled it out for months, one ordered pizza whenever HE wanted pizza..one looked for sale flyers to stretch it..

Our middle thought it was really NEAT..how I managed to have the bank "put them in order" :rofl:

[Luminous Animal]

18. $100 per kid?

Most definitely not an inexpensive present.

[SoCalDem]

20. no.. that was their "biggie" that year.. but it could be $5 or $10 or anything

kids like money..and toys are always cheaper after Xmas:)

a card with a few bucks in it is always appreciated by anyone:)

[Luminous Animal]

19. Fake mustaches. Bubbles. Balloons.