A Gift Guide for Normal People (With Normal Budgets 🙂👍)

curated & beautiful & REALISTIC gift ideas

I don’t know about you, but MOST of the gift guides I’ve seen lately seem to think $100 is the starting point for a gift (???).

If I see one more $350 designer sweater listed casually, I may actually scream. Because, let’s be real— that is not my vibe.

…orrrrr my budget. 😅

[How do we gently explain to the authors of these guides that the rest of us are *clearly* in different tax brackets? 🤣✌️ ]

But, here’s the deal— I promise I’m not the Grinch.

I absolutely LOVE buying gifts. I just believe you don’t need to spend a fortune in order to give a thoughtful, meaningful gift.

Sure, there are a few people I’ll splurge on— my husband, my parents, my in-laws—but for most gifts, I like to keep it budget-friendly (yet still thoughtful).

Which brings me to today’s post… your REALISTIC gift guide that still includes curated items that are fun, unique, and meaningful!

Below I’ve listed gift options for every budget:

• 🎁 Gifts for $15(ish)

• 🎁 Gifts Under $35,

• 🎁 Gits Under $75,

• 🎁 ...and some splurges for the extra special people in your life.

To peel back the curtain—the way most online creators make money on gift guides is through affiliate and commission links. And there’s nothing wrong with that! Believe it or not, it takes a weird amount of time to curate a gift guide, and it’s totally fine they are compensated for their energy.

That said, the beauty of the paywall and the fact that my newsletter is financially supported by my paid community (ily!!!🫶) is that I can include SO MANY ITEMS that aren’t very commissionable— hidden gems from random small businesses or super affordable finds that will only generate a few cents from each conversion. The result? A truly unique gift guide that wasn’t crafted with the sole intention of making a zillion dollars in commission.

I’m so excited to share this with you! Hunting down beautiful items and aesthetic moods are some of my favorite hobbies (if you follow me on Pinterest, you already know this 😅), and I can’t wait to hear what you think.

So without further ado, I present Kate’s Great, Non-Grinch, Budget-Friendly , Cute-And-Curated Gift Guide of 2024!!!! (Still workshopping the name, tbh.)

Gifts for $15(ish) dollars:

• Embroidered Beaded State Ornament ($18)

• Vintage Green Clock ($14)

• Create Yourself Guided Journal ($14)

• Holiday Simmer Pot Kit ($9)

• Aldi Quarter Keychain ($8)

• At-home press on manicure ($10)

• 75 Homemade Salad Dressings Booklet ($15)

• The Tiny Incense Burning Kit ($16)

• Royal Blue Pelican Art Physical Print ($18)

• Colorful Weekly Planning Sheets ($16)

• Tech Taffy: This Goo Grabs Dust From Your Computer ($12)

• Black & White Striped Socks ($14)

• Blue Floral Mug ($15)

• What I Love About You Book ($10)

• The Whole Year Puzzle ($16)

• Old Soul Club Pin ($12)

• The Great Big Weekend To-Do List ($13)

Gifts Under $35: