One of the best things about the holiday season is the gift of giving! When I was little, my parents used to have my siblings and I line up in the hallway and file in so they could capture our reaction to all the gifts under the tree. Some would be wrapped and some wouldn’t, so as you can imagine, we have lots of photos over the years of those shocked faces from all the toys we could see waiting for us. As we got older, we continued the tradition , even into our college years; though at that point it was more about letting mom and dad have their fun of tradition! The older I get, the more I appreciate those little silly traditions with family. It’s what makes the holidays so fun and memorable. I can tell you a few certain stand-out gifts from my childhood but to be honest, what I remember most is the special time we had together.

Through the years, I have run into ups and downs (as we all have) and sometimes I remember just trying to scrape by in order to have money to buy gifts for my family. One year I found ads on Craigslist to clean homes so that I could make sure I had spending money for presents. We all do what we can, and I think that is what makes each gift important, no matter what it is or how much is spent.

I never want to speculate that everyone has extra spending money to splurge on gifts, especially this year in 2020. Many jobs have been lost, work hours reduced, pay reduced. Trust me, I know, I’ve been right there too. The pandemic has brought strain to our lives in numerous and incomparable ways and I, for one, am feeling ready to celebrate that Light and Joy that comes with Christmas.

So, before I share my favorite gift ideas that are under $20, I want to share with you three quick tips. I call them my Holiday Mindset Trimming Tips. We trim the tree, cook all the trimmings for the turkey dinner, so let’s trim our mindset too! 😉

Don’t feel the need to curate big gift baskets this year. Pick one item and package it nicely. This one is hard for me because I am this person! If you really want to, just choose things from this lower price point instead of buying something nice and then feeling the need to “put something with it.”
Go back to greeting cards. Seriously! When someone writes you a card, you know they have been intentional with their time to think about you. It’s also unique because nobody’s handwriting is exactly the same. It’s a gift all on its own to receive a piece of someone that they have created just for you.
Remember, your loved ones are going to love you no matter what. Everyone is a little more understanding this year, so extend that same grace to yourself too!

Okay, if you have made it this far then you definitely deserve to dive into these picks! These aren’t all just Amazon quick finds. I have spent hours looking at different retailers and finding good brands that are running deals or have low-priced items.

I have linked each product and included descriptions for some of them. Please know that these are affiliate links, so if you make a purchase after clicking on these links, I will receive a commission at no extra cost to you. I appreciate you using my gift guides this season as you shop!