25 Great Gifts for $25 or Less

The holiday squeeze is on, especially for young adults. We're often caught between small salaries and big gift expectations from friends, family and small children. But you don't need to break your budget to give great gifts this year.

Here are 25 ideas that will keep your friends, family and wallet happy -- without making you look like Scrooge. So no matter who is on your gift list this year, take a look. We've got great suggestions for everyone from age 1 to 92.

MOVIE MEMORIES

Here's a gift that's big on "wow" and small on cash. For only $20, you can load up to 400 digital images into a slide show on DVD through Shutterfly.com. You can add music, effects, borders and captions to create a truly personalized gift. Whether you want to memorialize an event such as a birth, wedding, anniversary party or family vacation, or just give grandma a glimpse into a year in the life of her grandkids, it's sure to be a hit.

If you have a bit of time, you could spend a weekend scanning all of Mom and Dad's old photos onto your computer and digitize them into a slide show.

INTERNATIONAL FLAIR

This year, you can buy something unique and help the needy at the same time. A variety of non-profit groups run fair-trade Web sites, selling handmade items on behalf of underprivileged artisans worldwide.

For example, at Serrv International's Web site www.agreatergift.org, we found these colorful gourd bird ornaments from Peru ($15), a hand-carved jewelry box from India ($12) and a case of dark chocolate bars from Ghana ($18). In our price range at GXonlinestore.org, we spotted hand-crafted silver earrings from Bali ($21), hand-painted Tunisian pottery ($8 and up) and a wooden toy train from Thailand ($18).

THE GIFT OF MUSIC

For the music lover on your list, it doesn't get much better than this -- $25 buys 25 songs from the iTunes library. Gift cards can also be used to download movies, video games, TV shows and audio books. You can pick up a gift card in person at several major retailers or order one online at the Apple Store. Or if you're looking for a gift at the last-minute, send an electronic gift certificate via e-mail.

IPOD GEAR

If you aren't wild about the idea of giving a gift card, iPod accessories are a great alternative. We recently found an MP3 voice recorder on sale for $10 at Brookstone.com. It's a small speaker and microphone to plug into an iPod, enabling you to talk into it. We also found a wireless remote control for $9 at Amazon.com (pictured).

Another great gift is a sleek carrying case, an armband for the gym, or a better set of headphones.

A FAVORITE INDULGENCE

What's better than a package of Oreos? How about eight packages of Oreos? Find out the recipient's favorite treat and get as much as you can for $25. Buying a seemingly small gift and presenting it en masse will make quite an impression. Your brother-in-law, for example, will appreciate that you thought specifically about what he likes and then gave him a gift he could enjoy for weeks to come (or, more realistically, until New Year's).

Dressing up the presentation will increase your wow factor. Five pounds of Tootsie Rolls poured into a large jar or a funky vase wrapped with a bow is certain to put a smile on the face of any sweet tooth.

GET IT ENGRAVED

For a personal touch that's always classy, consider a monogrammed or engraved gift. A great place to shop for such items is at ThingsRemembered.com.

Among the store's engraved offerings, we found a 5x7 photo frame with a personalized message and an engraved locket keychain for $20 each (both pictured here). We also spotted a sleek stainless steel flask ($15) and a variety of elegant ornaments for less than $25.

MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION

Give a gift that'll keep on giving all year long. You can find a magazine for any interest, and many are available for less then $15.

You can order magazine subscriptions online. But if you want something tangible to give, buy a copy of the latest issue, wrap it up and include a note to your recipient explaining that he or she will get a new issue each month for the next year. This also makes a great last-minute gift.

LIFT THEIR SPIRITS

Spread a little holiday cheer with our favorite inexpensive white wine, Sokol Blosser Evolution ($17-$19). For a red wine, we like Folie à Deux Ménage à Trois Red ($12) or Catena Malbec ($22).

A NIGHT OUT FOR LESS

Here's a gift that'll have you looking more generous than you really are. At Restaurant.com, you can give a $25 gift certificate -- and only spend $10 for it.

Some certificates may come with minimum purchase requirements, but the limits aren't unreasonable. For example, we found several $25 certificates for popular San Francisco eateries valid on purchases of $35 or more. Procrastinators take note: These make a great last-minute gift.

GEEK CHIC

This three-in-one rubber USB hub ($24) allows you to connect several peripherals such as cameras, drives and joysticks with ease -- and style. It's available from the Museum of Modern Art. You'll find it under Home Accessories in the Radios and Electronics section.

And while you're thinking of the tech lover on your list, who couldn't use more storage for his or her computer files, digital pictures and music? Use Kiplinger's PriceGrabber tool to find a number of retailers selling a 1 GB portable USB drive for less than $25.

GAME NIGHT

Have a family on your gift-giving list? You could spend a bundle shopping for the kids and parents individually. Instead, focus on one gift the whole family can enjoy. Head to the game aisle at your local toy store, where you'll find a myriad of choices for less than $25, including such classics as Monopoly, Scrabble or Uno, or modern classics such as Cranium, Taboo or Scattergories. For a gift with a touch more personality, look for game editions based on the family's favorite pop culture, such as Disney Trivial Pursuit or Simpsons Clue (pictured here, available for $22 at ToysRUs.com).

INVESTING JUMP-START

Here's a creative way to give cash. A $25 gift certificate from online broker ShareBuilder will allow your friends and family to invest in whatever stock they want. And this gift could be just the jump they need to get started investing, which will earn them even more cash over the years to come.

KITCHEN HELP

For anyone just starting out, kitchen gear makes a thoughtful yet practical gift. You can go with the basics -- such as measuring cups, cookie sheets, mixing bowls, pots and pans or casserole dishes. Or spring for something beyond the basics such as a crock pot or rice cooker like the ones pictured here, available at Target for $20 each.

If you're worried that cooking equipment might come off a bit impersonal, include hand-written copies of your favorite recipes that your friend could make using the gift you bought. Or put together a gift basket -- say, a baker's kit with a rolling pin, two pie plates and a jar each of cinnamon and nutmeg. Then toss in the recipe to your grandma's famous apple pie for the finishing touch.

REAL ESTATE KNOW-HOW

Have friends or family members planning to buy a home next year? Get them started on the right foot with Kiplinger's Buying and Selling a Home. Regularly priced $18, you can get it for only $10.77 through Kiplinger.com. You can get a sizable discount on other Kiplinger books, too, including Money-Smart Women, Kiplinger's Practical Guide to Your Money, and Raising Money Smart Kids.

HOLIDAY BUBBLY

Everyone needs a little sparkle for the holidays, and a $16 bottle of Mountain Dome Brut is just the ticket. This award-winning sparkling wine is fruity, crisp and on the sweet side. Even those who aren't fans of sparkling wines should enjoy this brut -- and the whimsical label, which pictures gnomes who resemble members of the family who run the winery.

THINK CASHMERE

A great way to avoid looking like a cheapskate is to pick out something luxurious, but on a smaller scale. For example, you don't have to spend $100 or more on a lush cashmere sweater. Instead, go for a pair of gloves or a scarf such as this one made of 100% cashmere from Target ($25). Shop around and you just may find an incredible deal on a bigger-ticket item, too. At press time, we saw this cashmere shell on JCPenney.com for only $15 -- marked down from a list price of $60.

CELEBRATE FAMILY

For a family-centered gift that hardly costs a thing but will be cherished for generations to come, interview relatives about their life story -- especially the oldest members. Talk to your grandparents about what life was like during World War II or the Great Depression. Interview your parents about their courtship and wedding. Talk to your aunt about her emigration to the United States. Or pick a specific topic, such as "my favorite holiday memories," or "what I remember about my mother."

Bring a tape recorder to the discussion, and then type up the highlights -- or the full transcript -- in your relative's own words. Print off several copies and place them nice folders to give to your family members. Total cost: Less than $10.

BUILD YOUR OWN BASKET

It doesn't take a lot of time or money to put together a personalized gift. Pick up a basket from your local craft or thrift store, then load it with goodies around a theme. For example, you could make a movie basket packed with microwave popcorn, sodas, candy and a Blockbuster gift card or inexpensive DVD. Or put together a chocolate lover's basket, car-care package, a gardening basket or an ice cream sundae kit. The possibilities are as endless as your creativity.

SET TO READ

For the kids on your gift list, give them something that is fun and educational (and give their parents one less toy to trip over). Books make a great present, and if you buy them in a set you can get them for less than if you bought individual books.

One choice bound to be a hit with the youngsters is Eric Carle's Very Little Library ($23 on Amazon.com). It comes with three of Carle's most popular children's books, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, The Very Lonely Firefly and The Very Busy Spider. If you have a Costco membership -- or know someone who does -- check out the warehouse's book selection. We spied a pack of 12 hardback Disney Princess books for $25 at our local store.

A TOUCH OF BLISS

Who couldn't use a little pampering after the holidays? Treat your friends with a gift from Bliss, one of New York's hottest spas. Sure to get raves is the travel-size six-pack of Bliss's famous bath and skincare products, available for $25 at Blissworld.com.

PERSONAL PHOTO GIFTS

Don't roll your eyes just yet -- these gifts have moved far beyond the standard coffee mug or you-really-shouldn't-have T-shirt. We found this set of three carved-wood photo ornaments for $18 at Kodakgallery.com, a smart-looking faux-leather photo box for $24 at Shutterfly.com and, for the kids, a teddy bear wearing a photo T-shirt for $16 at Walmart.com.

Each of these sites is chock-full of inexpensive but thoughtful gifts, so browse around -- you're bound to find the perfect one. And don't be afraid to get creative. For example, instead of creating a standard photo calendar (available at each of these sites), consider scanning in pictures of your children's artwork or old photos of your ancestors.

A SENSE OF HUMOR

Make 'em laugh -- and entertain their inner child -- with a gift from PerpetualKid.com. Among the site's offbeat offerings are these $12 "ABC" cookie cutters ("already been chewed"), a frog-head oven mitt ($10), a human soap dispenser ($8) and a voodoo doll toothpick holder ($8).

And for the workaholic with a sense of humor (or the eternal slacker), check out the demotivating paraphernalia from Despair.com. For less than $25, you can choose among calendars, mugs and lithographs with such messages as "Procrastination: Hard work often pays off after time, but laziness always pays off now" and "Achievement: You can do anything you set your mind to when you have vision, determination, and an endless supply of expendable labor."

FOR THE NEW HOMEOWNER

Any new homeowner is sure to appreciate the money-saving guidance to maintaining his or her new place found in the New Fix-It-Yourself Manual. It includes tips on everything from plumbing problems to electrical fixes to repairing your home appliances on your own. The book currently sells for $22 on Overstock.com, plus $3 for shipping. Don't want to go the book route? Get 'em a hands-on gift with a beginner's tool kit such as the 39-piece Apollo Precision Tool set ($20 at Amazon.com).

ENTERTAINING IN STYLE

A little money really can go a long way. For the entertainer on your gift list, consider a set of 12 Simplicity wine glasses for $22 at cb2.com, a division of Crate & Barrel. The set comes in a sturdy box for storing in between parties.

A dressy table also makes a classy gift for both young adults and older. At Bed Bath and Beyond, we found dozens of beautiful table cloths for $15 and matching sets of cloth napkins for another $10. You can also find a wide selection -- and great bargains -- at your local TJ Maxx or Marshalls.

LOCAL FLAVOR

If you're living away from home, take the opportunity to give your friends and family something representative of your new locale. For example, if you're going to school or working in San Francisco, $25 buys your loved ones a set of inexpensive tea cups and an assortment of teas from your favorite shop in Chinatown. Texas your new state? Buy a few bottles of barbeque sauce from your favorite rib joint to share with folks back home. Local museum shops are another good place to find unique gifts.

And if you're away at school, Mom and Dad are sure to appreciate any paraphernalia from your college bookstore to help them show off how proud they are of you.

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