It’s well before Thanksgiving, and I’m pleased to say that I have all my holiday shopping done. I’m an early shopper; the first time I covered this topic on the blog two years ago, it was well before Halloween! Despite being currently unemployed, my holiday plans have somehow blossomed to a level that’s never been seen before. Is it all this newfound extra time? It must be, because my distinct lack of full-time income hasn’t dampened my gift plans at all.
Last year’s gift guide was fun to create – I only shared items that I also purchased myself, and no item surpassed $20 in price. Some items were duds to readers, while others got a surprising number of clicks and purchases. (Hello, $6 Charcoal Peel-Off Mask!) So, I’m doing this again for 2018. This gift guide only has items below $20, and all are items that I have purchased before.
As a disclaimer: for some of the links below, if you click on them and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. To read my full disclaimer, click here.
Shopping Tools: The Best Online Shopping Friend – Honey
If you use Chrome, Honey, a free Chrome extension, it will help you automatically apply coupons at checkout, as well as provide price tracking and historical information. It isn’t always able to get you a discount, but it’s completely free to use. You can earn cash back at many qualifying stores, and if you shop on Amazon, Honey can actually compare different retailers to get you the lowest possible price for an item in your cart.
Is there a catch? Not really. Honey gets a commission from merchants at no cost to their users, so the more users they have, the more Honey is able to earn. As of publish time, they also have a strong stance of not selling customer data. However, just because they don’t sell the data doesn’t mean they’re not using it. In a world of Cambridge Analytica and frequent data breaches, it’s important to know who has access to your data. The savings that Honey has been able get have been worth it to me so far. I’ve used the rewards to get Amazon gift certificates, which is indistinguishable nowadays from cash.
And now, for Cash Fasting’s 2018 Budget Gift Ideas:
The unbelievable steal:
ban.do Women’s All Around Giant Circle Beach Towel
As of publishing time, this giant watermelon towel is only $18 on Amazon. I’m fudging the $20 maximum cost because, with shipping, the cost for this item is closer to $23. I don’t know why the cost is so low – ban.do’s other towel designs (there’s a Monstera one for you plant lovers) are significantly more expensive. This towel is huge, and the design is super cute. It’s not a very plush towel, but it’s perfect for a picnic or the beach. Any of my girl friends would love to receive this… if I don’t end up keeping it for myself.
For the Game Night host:
Sushi Go! The Pick and Pass Card Game
I’ve played this a few times – it’s super easy and lots of fun when you want something to play in a group without losing friendships (aka not Catan or Monopoly). Bonus points if you have a friend who’s super into sushi.
For the Bookworm:
Enjoyed the movie? Well, the book is better. Since giving myself a goal of reading more last year, I’ve re-discovered my love of science fiction. The Martian has all the witty humor of the movie, but more. I typically only purchase books when I know I want to read them again. I’ve already read The Martian twice. Andy Weir’s follow-up sci-fi book, Artemis, is also great.
For the Cat Owner:
I’ll admit, when I first saw these in my Instagram feed, I was amused but skeptical. Then, my brother got a Chihuahua. He was never the warm and cuddly type, but he adores that dog, and you bet your bottom he and his fiancé are going to get a huge kick out of this hoodie.
For the Kitchen Boss:
In my parents’ house, dishtowels are plain, white, and boring, and my mother will throw a fit if she catches you drying your dirty hands on one – they’re for drying dishes only. Drying hands can only be done on the kitchen rags. You know, the ones made of your high school t-shirts and old pillowcases. But I am not my parents, and your house (or your friends’ houses) do not need to be filled with boring dishtowels! It’s practical and fun.
For the friend far from home:
Ian and I gave this to a friend one year who was adjusting to living far from the rest of her family. She bawled when she opened it. To date, I’m not sure I’ve ever gotten a better reaction to a present. FYI – While there are quite a few states that fall below to $20 limit, most are well above and reach up to $40.
For someone who needs help organizing:
Society6’s carry-all pouches come in three sizes. I have a large one that can fit all the makeup I need when I travel, and a medium size that fits my tiny MacBook charger. What I like about these products is that there are more designs than you can comb through! And, artists are making money off the purchases you make. Both the small and the medium size pouches are under $20.
The Always Useful:
This beanie made the gift guide last year as well, but it’s worth adding again. In the past year, I think the number of color options has doubled! This is just such a practical gift and so cost-effective, that I always end up grabbing one every year. Inevitably there’s someone I forgot to add to my list, or there’s the friend who doesn’t really want anything. Beanies are perfect for winter, and especially if you live up north like me, it’s always good to have a spare hat option.
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This gift guide is a wild mix of things, but it’s worked for me. If you’ve got your own great <$20 finds, please share them below! After all, I’ve got plenty of time before the holidays to decide what I’m gifting this year.