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Living on a fixed income and getting used to retirement finances means it’s probably a good idea to rein in your generous gift-giving impulses a tad this year. Luckily, there are tons of amazing gifts that are super affordable, but also high-quality, thoughtful, and sure to be well-received.
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This gift guide – with everything priced at $35 or less – proves that you don’t have to spend a lot to be a fabulous gift-giver.
Carhartt Men’s Knit Cuffed Beanie
Carhartt, a brand that’s been a working guy’s favorite forever, is having a big moment. It’s actually quite trendy these days, and the young guys on your wish list will be thrilled when they open this warm and cozy beanie. It comes in an array of colors (so you can find some options for the ladies, too) with the infamous Carhartt label sewn on front.
Burt’s Bees Classics Set in Giftable Tin
You can’t go wrong with a Burt’s Bees gift set, especially since the winter holidays happen to coincide with dry skin and cracked lips season. This set includes six Burt’s Bees product favorites: Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream, Hand Salve, Original Beeswax Lip Balm, Res-Q Ointment, Shea Butter Hand Repair Cream, and Coconut Foot Cream. The non-greasy formula, natural ingredients, and pleasant scent make for a universally appreciated gift.
Chefman Electric Kettle with Temperature Control
For hot beverage drinkers and instant oatmeal or cup of soup lovers alike, this electric kettle is a must-have appliance that boils water in as little as three minutes. It has preset and adjustable temperatures and automatic shutoff so there’s no worry. Also cool is that the base is what plugs in, so there are no cords to fumble with when pouring or cleaning. Perhaps the best feature is its removable tea infuser that makes it easy to steep a whole pot when company comes over. The kettle has a 1.7 liters capacity (around eight cups).
Planter’s Choice 9 Herb Indoor Window Garden Kit
Talk about a gift that keeps on giving. This indoor window garden kit provides home cooks everything they need to go from seeds to fully bloomed herbs. It comes with burlap pots, plant markers, and packets of dill, basil, chives, thyme, parsley, oregano, cilantro, sage, and mustard. Just add the pre-fertilized soil discs and follow the step-by-step growing guide to have fully grown plants in no time.
Sol de Janeiro Jet Set
This travel-sized set of the viral Sol de Janeiro skin care regimen will be a hit for anyone in your life who’s into beauty products. There are various sets, but we love the Cheirosa 62 version, which comes with moisturizing Brazilian Play body wash, the famous Brazilian Bum Bum Cream to tighten and firm skin, and the Cheirosa 62 perfume mist, which has notes of pistachio, salted caramel, and vanilla. Ahh…
Northern Galaxy Aurora Projector
This three-in-one galaxy projector can turn any room into a funky planetarium, a peaceful sleep haven, or party zone, depending on your giftee’s mood. It features 33 lighting effects including 16 northern lights options, plus five-level brightness and five-level flow rates. The projector also has a white noise feature with sound options including forest birds, ocean waves, rain, campfire and lullaby. Lastly, you can also use it as a Bluetooth speaker to stream music. It comes with a remote control and has a timer feature for auto turnoff.
VOBAGA Coffee Mug Warner
When the coffee goes cold, it’s no fun at all. This mug warmer will keep their favorite brew piping hot even if they get distracted with a few tasks between sips. Temperature settings go up to 149 degrees, and it shuts off automatically after four hours. Bonus tip: it can also pull double duty as a scented candle warmer for someone who wants to enjoy a little aromatherapy without the flame.
Owala SmoothSip Slider Stainless Steel Insulated Travel Mug with handle
Best. Travel. Mug. Ever. This product reviewer admits her bias toward Owala being the GOAT of all beverage tumblers. So if you know someone who loves their FreeSip water bottles, then you’ll need to get them this 12-ounce insulated stainless steel tumbler (with handle) for their hot beverages. It fits most car cupholders and its triple-layered vacuum insulation keeps coffee or tea toasty for hours. The best part is the 100% leak-proof sliding lock that keeps spills from happening on even the bumpiest of roads. It’s stunning in Black Cherry, but there are other colors to choose from as well.
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