The folks at Real Simple Magazine have come up with their annual gift guide of gifts under $50. In these tough economic times, it's a price point that could be appealing to a lot of people.
The Real Simple Magazine gift guide includes gifts for men, women, and children. The guide features items ranging in price from $10 to $50.
"Key price points now in the $20 to $40 price range because of what has happened with the discounts taking place," says Helen Bulwick, a retail analyst with New Market Solutions and based in Emeryville.
For just $15 you can get an aromatherapy kit from Bath and Body Works. Coffee lovers might appreciate an assortment of the most popular coffees from Starbucks or an electric mug from Eddie Bauer that plugs into your car lighter to keep coffee warm.
"My absolute favorite thing is a laptop essential kit. It's $50 from Brookstone. It's compact and has a lot going on with it. If you take a look, it has everything you can plug into your laptop," says Carly Zipp of Real Simple Magazine.
For the woman in your life, lightweight gloves from Banana Republic will help her get through the chilly months. No woman would ever say no to a make-up kit. An elegant snakeskin clutch from White House Black Market is perfect for that special occasion. Chances are whatever you buy, the price should be right.
"In small gifts like accessories, scarves, socks, we're seeing just dramatic price decreases," says Bulwick.
"If I was talking about your wife, I would definitely say something like the Coach key charm. They're really cute. They're inexpensive. They're $30," says Zipp.
Spend bath time with your children with a bath celebration set from L'Occcitane. It comes in three different scents: rose, thyme and cherry petals.
"These are the cutest things. They're from Trumpette," says Zipp. "Tiny little ballerina (socks) for each day of week and for the boys you have some cowboy socks," says Zipp.
And don't forget the men. Banana Republic has designer cufflinks. Bloomingdale sells an art of shaving kit.
"We have these wool line loafers which I love. I just gave it to my boyfriend," says Zipp.
Eddie Bauer sells the loafers for $50.
For more gift ideas, visit www.realsimple.com
