Creative Christmas Gift Ideas for Under $10
Ten dollars aren’t what they used to be. You can barely feed yourself for one day on $10 (unless you’re Kate Moss and you just don’t eat). It’s a quarter-tank of gas, three cans of soup, or a six-pack of microbrew beer. Still, there are plenty of cool and original gifts you can give for $10…
Creative Christmas Gift Ideas #1: An Internet Domain Name
If you have an aspiring web designer in your family, this creative gift idea could definitely work for you. It’s a variation on the IOU format, except in this case you write “One Free Domain Name” on a card for the kid. Later, you introduce the kid to www.name.com or www.godaddy.com and tell him or her that you will pay for one free domain name (Domain names range from about $5 to $10). You’ve just come up with a unique gift idea that’s potentially profitable. Next thing you know, he could be writing the most popular blog on Nintendo Wii accessories on the internet, starting his own tech company with funding from Google, which allows you to move into a bigger house with plasma screens in every room. OK so maybe that’s a bit of a stretch, but it could allow him to learn some valuable knowledge which he could put on his college application. Just make sure your kid isn’t a smart aleck who asks for www.money.com (which sold for $9 million several years ago).
Creative Christmas Gift Ideas #2: Flash Drive with Music and Photos
While it’s a very small gift, looks can be deceiving (Remember the bunny from Monty Python?). 
This actually makes for a pretty unique gift. Browsing the internet just now, I found several flash drives for $8 – $9 that have between 2GB and 4 GB. Just buy one of these, burn a dozen cd’s onto it, and then add some of your favorite digital photos to it. When you’re done, write a little note explaining why you put those particular albums or pictures on it. If you can’t think of something to write, you can always fall back on the acrostic poem:
Dear Rebecca, I was thinking of you when I put these things on your new flash drive: Rolling Stones albums Embarrassing photos from junior high Beatles albums Embarrassing photos from high school Creedence Clearwater Revival albums Creative photos I took that nobody likes except Mom (you’re going to love them) Alice Cooper’s Greatest Hits
Creative Christmas Gift Ideas #3: Magazine Subscription
According to recent research, it doesn’t necessarily matter what kids and teens read as long as they’re reading. Many famous professors, CEO’s and lawyers spent their youth’s engrossed in comic books and Mad Magazine. So stop forcing them to agonize over The Canterbury Tales and let them learn to love reading. Most adults will also appreciate a magazine subscription because it will give them a chance to forget about their burdens momentarily. Among the magazines for which you can get a year-subscription for less than $10:
- Spin
- Game Informer Magazine
- Esquire
- Snowboard
- Elle
- Golf
- Ebony
- Men’s Journal
- Backpacker
- Bowhunt America (I probably wouldn’t encourage my relative to Bowhunt America – perhaps you could find a copy of Bowhunt Animals in the Wilderness far away from People).
Creative Christmas Gift Ideas #4: Model Airplane
While most model airplanes are more expensive, it’s possible to get a decent one for about $10 either online or at a local store (I know Ace Hardware used to sell them, but I’m haven’t been in the market for one of these in a long, long time). Plus, if you’re a Dad, this will give you an opportunity to do something with your son.
Creative Christmas Gift Ideas #5: Belt
I would wager that virtually every man you know needs a new belt and hasn’t bought one in 10 years, which makes this a great gift for virtually every man you know. When you’re giving a gift like this, though, it’s important to put the belt in a fancy box and wind it up. Whipping your brother with it before giving it to him is also acceptable.
Creative Christmas Gift #6: Wallet
Likewise, most men get a new wallet only when the thing literally cannot hold money anymore. If your husband, boyfriend, father or brother has a tendency to develop a George Costanza wallet, then this is probably the best gift he could possibly receive. WARNING: Duct tape wallets fall apart and lose credit cards (especially when you’re drinking, but whatever you’ve been warned).
Creative Christmas Gift #7: Football
It doesn’t matter whether we’re talking about a soccer ball or an American football. For boys, balls almost always make good gifts. It’s not the most unique gift idea in the world, but he’ll probably like it. Disclaimer: If he dresses up like Harry Potter and plays Magic cards while other kids play sports, get him a badminton racket instead.
Creative Christmas Gift #7: A Group Gift
4 broke people are better than 1! I always collaborate with my siblings to get something for my parents. Last year we got them a new toaster. Year before that, a new chair for the computer. This year, we’ll probably get them another utilitarian gift (as long as people click on ads!!!). If we had tried to buy these things with our own money, we would have been strapped.