The holidays are approaching fast, and if you're like me, you’re doing the holidays on a budget. I’ve been searching and searching for the perfect gifts for my family, but all of them seem too impersonal and too expensive. After searching and searching for the perfect gifts, I almost gave up, until I decided to take matters into my own hands and make the perfect gift giving guide for anyone’s budget.

$5-$15

For any one that’s looking for the perfect gift, but doesn’t have a lot to spend, or has or many people to buy for, here are some ideas of what to get every one on your list.

Hand Written Cards:

A lot of times we get hung up on the material things, and forget the reason for the holidays: being together. Sometimes its nice to simply reflect on what we have, and cherish the relationships that we have built. For this present, write your special someone a card, with a picture of an old memory. Reflecting back on your relationship, and telling that person that you care and how much they mean to you can go a long way.

Candy Filled Candy Canes:

Sometimes, the best gifts come in small packages. This time of year the stores offer candy canes filled to the brim with different types of candy. This gift may be small, but it will always be appreciated, because, who doesn’t love candy.

Gift Sets:

If you’re not entirely sure what the person that you’re shopping for likes, sets are the way to go. These are affordable, and easy to pick out for everyone on your list. Sets can be found at almost any store that you go to. Gift sets are a great idea for people that you know exactly what you want to give them, and for when you don’t know what to get them. There is a big variety of different types of sets ranging from perfume/cologne, coffee, hot chocolate, jewelry, and candy.

Candy Decorations:

If you absolutely do not know what to get, candy is always the way to go! Pinterest has lots of different designs that you can make using candy, such as, Santa’s sleigh. All this gift requires is purchasing the candy, and putting it together for everyone on your list. This gift may be small and simple, but it can end up being one of the coolest gifts.

$15-$25

If you’re planning on spending $15-$25, here are some great ideas on what to get your special person this holiday season!

Gift Baskets:

While this may sound like not enough of a present, gift baskets are an easy way to get your friends and family a present that they will appreciate, while maintain in budget. This present requires you to know the person that you are buying for. It would be helpful to understand what this person likes or is interested in, and use their interests as a theme. If your friend really loves movies, you can make them a movie basket. If they love basket ball or football, make them a sports themed basket.

Now, lets say you really don’t know what the person that your buying for likes, you can still get them a gift basket. In this instance, your basket would be composed of things that everyone generally likes. This could be something as simple as a holiday basket, filled with holiday goodies. You could include, hot chocolate, decorative mugs, candy canes, chocolate, and holiday scented candles.

When you're making your baskets, keep the items small and inexpensive. For instance, if I was making a movie themed basket, I would incorporate candy, DVD’s, movie posters, popcorn, and popcorn toppings. All of this I could purchase for $25 or less.

Here are some basket themes that you may want to consider:

Holiday

Include hot chocolate, decorative mugs, candy canes, chocolate, and holiday scented candles.

Baked goods

Include homemade baked goods such as, an assortment of different flavor holiday cookies.

Movies

Include popcorn, popcorn toppings, popcorn bags, candy, DVD’s, and movie posters.

Sports

Include a football/basketball, whistle, player trading cards, sports team posters or pictures, and sports apparel.

Spa day

Include a nail kit, bubble bath bombs, scented liquid bubble bath, bath sponge, and candles.

Comfy and cozy

Include socks, pillows, books, hot chocolate, candy, snacks, decorative mugs, and movies.

Crafts:

Crafting is an inexpensive way to show everyone on you’re list that you care. Through personalized touches, you can design anything to give to everyone on your list. Some designs may be ornaments, picture frames, quotes on canvases, or hand drawn pictures. No matter the craft, everyone is sure to love whatever it is that you decide to put together.

$25-$50

Looking for the perfect gift is hard, especially when you have a $25-$50 price range, but luckily there is something for everyone on this list!

Tickets:

Tickets are an easy present to grab for the people on your list. If there is an event near you and you know someone that would love to go, get the tickets! The tickets don’t need to be very expensive, sometimes simply going to the event is enough. It’s the thought that counts and the memories that make the difference, not how close to the stage you are. Tickets don’t need to be to a major event either, this could be as simple as getting tickets to a movie that just came out, or an event that is going on downtown. For this gift, keep an eye out for different events going on near you.

Gift Cards:

While gift cards may seem like a last resort present, they are still very much appreciated. The best way to give someone a gift card is to write them something special and meaningful in the card. This present is perfect for someone that you're not sure exactly what to get, but still want to get them something to show them that they are appreciated. For this present, it really is the thought that counts.