Category: Finances

2017 Gifts Under $5

Under 5

The Holiday season is upon us and I am a firm believer that you don’t have to break the bank when it comes to shopping for loved ones or participating in the office or Facebook grab bag.  The Holidays have become a time of giving and receiving and far too often we overdue it and end up going into the New Year stressed because we maxed out all of our credit cards, or borrowed to make the a happy holiday.

For me the Holidays are more about making plans to be and do better in the next year, spending time with people I don’t get to spend ‘quality’ time with during the year, and to just sit back relax drink hot chocolate with marshmallows or hot apple cider and enjoy those who I love.

However I think we all find ourselves giving or wanting to give, even if it is just a small token of appreciation to those who mean something to us.  I love giving gifts just to brighten someone’s day and to lift the spirit of those who may struggle during this time of year.  So this year I have created a series of gift guides for the budget conscious holiday shopper.  Come back everyday over the next week to see what I have come up with.  There are some great, affordable options available.  Here we go…

  1.  Miss A Makeup Bags  $1 (shopmissa.com)

So I came across this website shopmissa.com. They have THE CUTEST makeup bags. Actually they have a LOT of cute items on their website and the best thing….. most items start at $1. Holiday shopping doesn’t get any better than a cute, trendy, makeup bag for $1.  There are literally many styles to choose from.  These were just some of my favorites.  Ad as you can see they bags can hold quite a bit of your daily makeup items.

2.  Grass Blade Pen Set $4.99 (Amazon.com link here)

Grass blade pen

For the person who likes unusual gifts, or the nature lover, these grass blade pens would be a great addition to any office or home office.  You can find your own decorative holder to store your pens, but this is definitely not your average Christmas gift.

3.  Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate Gift Set $4.99 (Target.com)

Swiss Miss Under 5

What better way to spend the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, than with some Hot Chocolate.  This Hot Chocolate set comes in a variety of flavors and each tin contains 6 individual packets of Hot Chocolate.  Why not help someone experiment with a different flavor, such as the Caramel Cream (pictured above).

4.    Burts Bee’s Gift Set $4.99 (Target.com)

Burts Bees Under 5

We all need extra protection for our lips and hands this time of the year and Burt’s Bee’s is a trusted brand to help with just that.  This is also a great time to find Burt’s Bee’s in gift sets at a somewhat lower price than usual.  Who doesn’t need any lip balm or lotion this time of the year?

5.  Beauty Blender Holder $1 (shopmissa.com)

Blender holder

For the makeup lover you know, this holder for your beauty blender is the a great way to store the tool during makeup application.  A great way to keep foundation and other beauty products off of your countertops and towels, this tool is a great way to keep your beauty blender within reach.

6.  Multi Tool Key Chain $1-$4.99 (Amazon.com here and here)

While not the most glamorous gifts on the list, every girl needs some tools in her life.  You never know when you may need a screwdriver or better yet a bottle opener.  Even if you don’t have this item attached to your key ring, (it’s not that fashionable) it is still a great item to have in your home or in your car.  So why not buy one for yourself and for a friend.

7.  Sunglass Case $1 (shopmissa.com)

sunnies

Who doesn’t like nice cases to keep their sunglasses in?  If you are like me with waaayyyy too many pairs of sunglasses a cute fashionable case to throw in your purse or work bag would make a great gift.  Again, Miss A has all of your cute, low cost accessories which also make great gifts.

8.  Multi Tool Pen $4 (www.kikkerland.com)

copper penFor the business professional or the person who likes collecting unusual pens, this would be a great gift. Also great for the handy person this tool includes a level and a screwdriver.  This could be a great option for a dad or significant other as well.   How handy, and its cute.

9.  West Elm Glass Bud Vases $4 (www.westelm.com)

recycled-glass-bud-vases-o

A great addition to a home or office, these recycled glass bud vases from West Elm offer a nice touch to a space.  Great for a grab bag, holiday exchange or co-worker, this is an excellent gift that won’t break the budget.

10. Words to Love By Notebook $5 (ulta.com)

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I love pretty journals and notebooks.  No list of mine would be complete without one.  Here is a nice beautiful journal from Ulta.  Great for the glam girl on your list who loves to write things down.

The holidays do not have to be a time where you stress about spending.  You can purchase amazing gifts without breaking the budget.  I hope this guide helps you to see that.  These items can be given as gifts individually or purchased in a grouping to provide a nice holiday gift basket or gift grouping.  Stay tuned tomorrow for gifts under $10.  Happy Holidays and Happy Shopping!

 

Be Blessed! Be Fabulous!

pink-lips

 

Facebook Tips From the Pros

boostyourbuswithfacebookFor those of you who may or may not know September 15-October 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month.  In conjunction with the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Facebook hosted a “Boost Your Business’ event in Chicago and I am happy to say that I participated.  These events are taking place around the country, so I encourage each of you to find out if it is coming to a city near you and if so register.  It’s FREE and it is INVALUABLE.

The event started off with remarks from Congressman Luis Gutierrez who spoke not only about how he uses Facebook, but how successful his office has been about sharing important and useful information on Facebook for his English as well as his Latino constituents.  The Congressman shared how successful his interactions have been on Facebook as well as the criticism.  His remarks demonstrated just how much Facebook means in our daily interactions.  Facebook is no longer social it is a lifeline, keeping people up-to-date not only on the social but political and other aspects of life as well.

gutierrez

During an amazing presentation from one of the Facebook staffers, we learned that millions of people navigate social media today and that Facebook has worked hard to tailor your experience to meet your specific needs.  Utilizing Facebook ads, you can specifically target your demographic by gender, age, employment status, time of usage and so many more options.  Using Facebook ads can be an inexpensive impactful asset to your business.  You can also review in real time how effective your ads are and determine, how much, how little and how often your ads are shown to Facebook users.  What helpful information right in the palm of hand or right on your laptop.

There was also a panel discussion with local business owners who are currently using Facebook to promote their business.  They answered pre-selected questions from event registrants about the effectiveness of Facebook and social media in regard to their business.  One major take away from the panel was how immediate you can assess the results of a Facebook ad versus traditional media platforms where it may be some time before you can see the results of your advertising budgets.  The panel of small business owners gave event participants great information on how advertising and marketing with Facebook can be beneficial to successful business.

facebook-panel

In addition to celebrating the contributions of Hispanic and Latino owned businesses, the seminar demonstrated just how valuable Facebook can be to your business.  Before I attended this workshop I was not aware of just how useful Facebook could be to growing my business.  Now there is no doubt that Facebook is a tool that every business no matter what the size, can help with advertising and promoting your services and your business almost better than radio and television advertising.  Facebook is gaining momentum as an advertising and marketing tool.  There were even some apps recommended such as Boomerang and Hyperlapse, which can help you effectively market your business or services.

facebook-businessChicago is not the only stop on tour.  To see where else the event is headed and to see if it will be in a city near you check Faceboo Boost Your Business events.    Check Facebook for Facebook Business as well as courses to learn the various ways that Facebook can help you Boost Your Business.