Paul Colletti
This holiday, you can brighten someone's life with a fun, functional gift. Here we present 20 gifts for $10 or less.
This holiday season, function is in. That's why we compiled this list of 20 great gift ideas that not only are affordable -- each of them can be had for $10 or less -- but they also actually do something worthwhile for the health of the recipient, the environment, or both. These gifts are definitely family-friendly, and many of them would please kids as well as adults.
Low-flow shower head. Give the gift of a great shower that's good for the environment. New low-flow shower heads, which run from about $6 to $10, use about 2.5 gallons of water per minute and provide just as much scalp-massaging water pressure as the old 8 gallons-per-minute shower heads. This gift saves money, helps the environment and just feels plain good. It's something that your recipient's whole family will use every day.
Reusable bag. More than 50 million barrels of oil are used every year to manufacture plastic shopping bags. And by some estimates, the earth's population uses about 1 million plastic bags per minute. Not good. The fix? Buy your recipient a locally-made, reusable shopping bag fromCart By Cart for about $6. You can give a plain bag or decorate one of these natural, biodegradable bags yourself. (Check cartbycart.com or call 319-331-9432 for local sellers.)
Farmers' market gift certificate. Winter markets are being held regularly in Davenport and Dubuque,Iowa, andSterling, Ill., and all of them are offering gift certificates this year.
Gardening gloves. An inexpensive pair of gardening gloves can be had for as little as $3.50 in home-improvement stores, and gardeners always seem to be in need of new, clean, hole-free gloves. Pair the gloves with the next item on this list to create a themed gift package.
Natural hand salve. Good for dry hands in winter and garden-chapped hands in warmer months, hand salve makes a worthwhile gift for anyone who does outdoor work in the backyard or on the farm. Burt's Bees makes a good one with sweet almond and olive oils (about $9 for 3 ounces). The Naked Bee makes a 70-percent organic Hand &Cuticle Healing Salve (about $7.50 for 1.5 ounces). Burt's Bees products are sold in department stores, while The Naked Bee usually is sold in specialty shops, such as The SoapBox, 233 E. 11th St., Davenport; Scheels, 1461 Coral Ridge Ave., Coralville, Iowa; and Mercy Flowers &Gifts, 701 10th St., Cedar Rapids; and Hohnecker's, 2200 John F.Kennedy Road, Dubuque.
Multivitamins. While the best way to get all your essential nutrients is a balanced diet, a multivitamin can help fill in the gaps. If your intended recipient already takes a vitamin, you can buy an extra bottle for him or her for about $8 to $10. It may not be the world's most exciting gift, but it sure does qualify as functional!
Buy Fresh, Buy Local membership. For $10 you can buy your recipient a membership in the Quad Cities BuyFresh, Buy Local chapter. The membership fee functions like a donation to help the group with its marketing efforts, and members get a window cling to show their support. For details, visit bfblqc.org or e-mail Cathy Lafrenz at cmlafrenz@netins.net.
Local wine. There are plenty of wineries from which to buy a bottle, whether your intended recipient likes red or white. Winter farmers' markets are a good place to find locally-made wines. In addition, most Hy-Vee stores in the region carry a small selection of locally-produced bottles.
Safety glasses. Yep, safety glasses. These are inexpensive -- less than $2 at hardware stores -- but they're really useful for DIY-ers. Even home cooks can wear them while chopping onions -- no need to spring for the more expensive "onion goggles" sold online.
Canning supplies. Canning your own jams, jellies, salsas and more has never been more popular. For around $4, you an indulge your favorite "Martha" with a new set of canning jars. Ball's Elite Collection features brushed silver lids and jars in squatty, nontraditional shapes. Jars are sold in department stores.
Homemade soap. It doesn't get more utilitarian than soap, but great soap keeps skin soft in winter and does less damage to waterways after it funnels down the drain. Farmers' markets are a great place to find handcrafted soaps. Prices vary, but you usually can buy a large bar scented with essential oils for $5 or less. Featured on the cover are FullCircle Soaps, sold at the Freight House Farmers' Market, Davenport.
Fishing pole. Give a man a fish, and you'll feed him for a day. Buy him a fishing pole, and ... Well, you get the idea. Though it's easy to spend much more than $10 on a fishing rod, a small, simple rod can be had for less in department stores. Agood companion gift, if you're spending more than $10, would be the cash to cover a fishing license, if your recipient is over the age of 16.
Sprout grower. These nifty contraptions let you grow sprouts on the kitchen counter, and many kits come with seeds included. Small seed sprouters can be had for around $10, but larger ones do cost more. Check for them in garden-supply stores.
Honey. Locally-produced honey, sold at winter farmers' markets, makes a sweet gift, especially when paired with a box of organic tea. For a pint jar of honey, you'll spend around $6. Honey bears are a bit less: about $4.
RoboGrip pliers. DIY-ers agree that RoboGrip pliers will do the job of a wrench most of the time, making them a must-have toolbox item. They adjust and then lock into place. A small, 7-inch set is $10 at Sears.
Hand-crank flashlight. Everyone needs a flashlight at home and in the car. For around $7, you can get a flashlight that never needs batteries. Kids love these. All you have to do is crank the handle for one minute for 20 minutes of power. Hand-crank lights are sold in home-improvement stores.
Local jelly, jam, noodles or salsa. Locally-made canned items and noodles make good gifts on their own or as part of a themed gift basket. Canned goods keep a long time and bring the taste of warmer weather to cold-weather meals. Pictured on the cover are salsa, jalapeno jelly and noodles fromKramer's Specialty Foods, Camanche, Iowa.
Maple-syruping kit. If your recipient has a maple tree, give the gift of syrup straight from the yard. The simples kits come with a spile -- a metal spigot that goes into the tree -- and a hook for the collection bucket. Kits, which are fun for adults and kids, also come with directions for making edible maple syrup from maple-tree syrup, which is a process of boiling and reducing. You can find these at some nature centers and online.
Seed-starting kit. In the middle of winter, green sprouts indoors serve as a reminder that spring is on its way. Kits are sold in home-improvement stores for herbs, peppers and more. Small kits include plastic pots, seeds, soil and a plastic "greenhouse" cover for about $5. You can find them in home-improvement and hardware stores.
A great book. Whether your recipient is a cook, a DIY-er, or a newcomer to the green scene, you can find a book that offers useful recipes, instructions for simple home-improvement projects or clues for living in tune with the environment. Used book stores are a good place to find such books; or check the clearance section at your favorite bookstore.
