So you just got the office holiday party invite and now you’re on the lookout unique gifts for your co-workers that won’t break the bank. If you’re anything like me you’ve got a healthy competition to go with your holiday cheer and that means finding the best gifts, the ones that’ll knock your co-workers socks off! With a $20 limit and making sure your gift is office appropriate you may feel like you’ve got a challenge on your hands. But not to worry, I’ve got 10 of the most unique gifts under $20 for co-workers that will have everyone wondering how in the world you thought of that!
This gift is sure to be a hit! Made from real vinyl records, these record coasters from Uncommon Goods will have your recipient singing with joy! Each set comes with six original LP record labels and has a price tag just under $20, making it a budget friendly one of a kind gift.
We were super excited to check out the new Chicago Market,Fete,last Thursday. It was put on by 3 former Dose curators in the lofty and very cool space, Room 1520. We respect the hell out of a highly curated mix of vendors and products, it’s tough to do (as evident by amount 97% of holiday markets out there) but Fete did it flawlessly. It was a great mix of food + gifts, minimal but chic decor and a very hip and in-the-know crowd.
We’ve been spreading our holiday cheer from Chicago to Detroit to New York to give you some of our best holidays picks! Check out our appearance on NY1 and see some of our gift ideas we cover in our segment below.
This easy-to-use app by OpenTable makes getting restaurant gift cards a breeze! Choose a city, a restaurant and an amount, and your gift card will be emailed to your lucky recipient. Cards available from $25-$500.
Just add eggs, oil and water to this cute Detroit start-up Brys + Edgewood’s DIY Fondant Glamour Cupcake Kit! With fun illustrated instructions included, it’s easier to follow along and stay inspired while creating your delicious masterpieces. It’s the perfect gift for the cooking fanatic or DIY queen. Cupcake kits make 18 and start at $35. Gift Insider members GET 15% OFF with this code.
This a must-have for most! How many times have you freaked because your phone was about to die? Just carry around one of these handy and stylish portable iPhone chargers and you can juice up your device in no time! GET 25% OFF with The Gift Insider discount code here.
Collaborate with loved ones to create special messages online, that will be sent in this beautiful chest, for a gift anyone will truly treasure. Send reasons “You Love Grandma” or “I Remember Whens” for a gift that will be passed down for generations. $49.99 or GET10% OFF code here.
Plug in some nostalgia! This super awesome retro handset (that comes in a bunch of colors) is the hippest way to make phone calls from your iPhone. Hey, the 90s called and they want their headset back! Use code: giftinsider at check out to GET 50% OFF.
Bottle a memory with this DIY kit that’s from the hip capital of the U.S. Enclosed is a blank canvas, a message card & a marble to throw in the bottle for good luck. Regular price $10.Get 20% OFF with The Gift Insider discount code here.
Spice up your nest with these hip city-reppin’ posters from BirdAve City Prints. Pick your color and pick your city! With over 700 cities and colleges to choose from, there’s a print for everyone. Prices range from $20 – $47. See our coupon code to get 25% OFF.
The iconic red party cup — so classic, but also not the best way to keep your beverage of choice cool. That’s why we love these Red Koozie Cups! A simple red cup design with an added bonus – a koozie to keep your drinks cold! Regular price $20. Get 15% OFF until 1/31/13 with The Gift Insider discount here.
You can’t go wrong with a bottle of wine! Named in Wine Spectator’s Daily Picks for quality and value – House Wine is always a good choice for a hostess gift or for the person who’s hard to shop for. Priced from $11 – $17.Get 30% OFF with a coupon code from us!
A great addition to giving wine is giving it with a cool bag or tote and we’re really diggin’ this Double Wine Tote. A hip design on a simple canvas bag with 2 wine compartments is the perfect accessory for any wine lover. Priced at $22.
Embroider whatever you want — from koozies and blankets to t-shirts and stuffed animals. Great baby gifts and personalized gifts for everyone on your list. Prices range.Get 15% OFF with our special coupon code.
Dark chocolate in the form of gems really ups the ante for all of the chocolate gifts this season. It’s for the chocolate lover who’s into the finer things in life. Priced at $16.75.
Get beauty delivered to you monthly from Birchbox. For the beauty junkie who loves to try new things, this is the perfect gift! Membership is $10/month.
I’ve always loved the “idea” of Birchboxand subscription boxes but truthfully never thought it was something I actually needed. I have an obscene amount of shampoo samples from every city I’ve ever been too, and spend way too much on Sephora.com. I didn’t really “get it” until TODAY. I had quite the Aha moment while opening up a few boxes of samples that Birchbox sent over.
IT IS SO FREAKIN’ EXCITING OPENING UP A BOX OF STUFF when you have no clue what’s in it, but that you know is going to be good. That’s the key, and in our case always the key, curation.
3 Top Reason Why I Loved It:
- PS I Made This DIY Napkin Kit
- Tips, Inspiration and Recipe cards (like an edited mix of your fav entertaining advice from your fav mags, party playlists and all)
-Truffle and Sicilian Sea Salt from Rome and Dean and Delucca Rosmary, things I’d never normally splurge on my own but love to have
Friends, Food, Drinks and Gifts! We invited some of our favorites over last night for a little festive Sunday Funday.
Our stress-less holiday tip: make your holiday party super easy and cute by using a decor theme gift set. Our was from Minted and came with stickers, banners, confetti, the whole bit.
It’s a great time-saver to decide on some “Go-To” gift ideas during the season. That way you will save time, effort and many times money buying multiples of the same products for similar people.
• For The Hostess- Stock up this winter on bottles of wine from local wineries. Couple a bottle of wine with fun and funky wine glass markers or cheeky beverage napkins from IMProperor !
• For Teachers- The chalkboard trend is huge and oh-so-perfect for teachers! Give a chalkboard frame, coaster or candle that your child can write a special note on.
• For People You Didn’t Plan For- Ideas to stock up on: Expandable Vases, Letterpress Coasters, Whiskey Stones, Herb Growing Kits or Electric Wine Bottle Openers.
• Go -To Treats for Anyone- We love Baked By Melissa super mini cupcakes, chocolate covered illustrated Oreos by SweetRexies and the huge hand dipped rice krispy treats by The Crispery.
• Have a Signature DIY Gift- Browse DIY blogs like P.S. I Made This to get your creative juices flowing! Pick one signature DIY gift to master and make multiples on the second or first Sunday of December. Only give to special recipients who you know will appreciate these handmade gifts.
Personalized party decor for the hostess that’s always trying to out-do herself. Choose from an array of trendy designs for banners, place cards, party signs and so much more. They also have Decor Packages if you want the whole she-bang.
The larger the handset, the better the reception…or something like that! These retro hip phone accessories are the coolest way to turn your phone back into the phone you use to use in the 90s. With so many colors to choose from an exclusive TGI discount, you can rock a different color everyday!
Give a much hauter chocolate this year with this Rare Facet 6-piece box from Kohler handmade in Wisconsin. Dark chocolate flavors include: pomegranate, blueberry, pineapple, sour cherry, mandarin ginger & cranberry-raspberry.
Membership to this exclusive society 4 bottles of the Society’s single cask, single malt scotch from 4 different regions in Scotland, a leather-bound handbook, a notebook for tasting notes and a members-only quarterly magazine. Plus, check out exclusive member events in 13 cities.
Choose from an array of mirrors to personalize and they’ll create a lasting memory using their unique laser process to customize your mirror with pictures, texts or logos.
Mirrors start at $37.50 but GET 30% OFFwith The Gift Insider coupon code here
So you’re not a fan of wrapping and you want to add a more personal touch to the gifts you bought online…but have no clue what to do? Delightfully will take your personal photos and wrap your online gifts. It’s sure to help with some of your last-minute woes and plus, they’ll think you spent so much time wrapping.
$3/gift but use coupon code from The Gift Insider here & it’s FREE until 12/3/12 only
7. For THOSE FAR AWAY
Project Treasure
Collaborate with loved ones to create special messages online, that will be sent in this beautiful chest, for a gift anyone will truly treasure. Send reasons “You Love Grandma” or “I Remember Whens” for a gift that will be passed down for generations.
· Do it Solo- Research shows that when shopping with a spouse or children, you are more likely to spend more time and money. Focus on the task at hand and head to shops at off-hours or on weekdays.
· Support Local Businesses-Support your neighborhood brick-and-mortars this season by doing your in-store shopping on Small Business Saturday, November 24th.
· Browse Before You Go- Use the Catalogue App to check out all the latest catalogues from 100′s of national chains. Take note of what you need from each retailer so you can stay focused and save time.
· Black Friday-Caution, this is a very stressful day to shop, if you can handle it, go for it. If not, spend the day organizing your online plan of attack for Cyber Monday.
Personalized gifts are always on the top of our lists, but they’re not the kind of gifts you can get with next-day shipping. Save yourself some stress (and money!) by planning early for the holidays this year.
We’ve chosen out some of your fave holiday gifts you need to plan ahead for that are well worth the wait. And we have discounts for most from 15-50% off!
