Gift-giving on a budget -- a rough ride for us all

I've been avoiding the gift-giving suggestion post for several reasons, primary among them that I'm not particularly good nor well-seasoned at the practice.

So first, I want to thank the very patient readers who asked for help in this area, some of whom I'm embarrassed to admit have been waiting since late October for me to finally put forth a few ideas.

In years past, instead of offering small but meaningful gifts to everyone in my social circle, I would usually choose the one person whose friendship touched me the most that year and invest in a bigger gift for her/him and send cards to the others.

This year, however, I've had too many people who've meant too much to me for there to be just one recipient of my gift-giving wishes.

Therefore, like most of you have done for years, I've had to dip into the $25-and-under idea bin five times over this season - a bin, which, unless you're innately creative (I am not), artistically inclined (I am so not) or a good cook (not sure, haven't tried), can be very, very empty.

Or worse, full of crap.

Instead of starting from scratch or reaching for the December issue of Lucky for help on what kind of scented soap my BFF is "sure to love," I did what any blogger would do: I searched my own site to see if I'd written anything on the topic of girlfriend gift-giving.

Thankfully, I came across this post.

In addition to what you'll find there, here are four new items I'd like to include:

(1) a kicky pair of party tights

(2) a keep-for-a-lifetime holiday book, personalized with a meaningful memory

(3) this, because even though it doesn't scream "gift," every woman must own it

(4) find something on eBay like a vintage photograph of the small town where she spent her childhood Summer vacations or a first (or second) edition of her favorite book

The darn things won't write themselves, now will they?

Just a quick heads up to let y'all know that today and probably tomorrow, too, I will be out of blogging commission during lunchtime so I can finally write these two boxes of 12-each "Happy Holidays" greeting cards I bought nearly a month ago.

As an aside, if you've been racking your pretty little head for a good under-$20 gift for a friend or the family member who not only seems to have everything but actually does have everything, do what I did this year and give the gift of personalized postage* from stamps.com.

For serious, even calm and collected Hot Redhead Lawyer went nuts-o for hers.

And while you're at it, get yourself a sheet or two so you share your pet or favorite celebrity with the lovely people over at Comcast, Pepco, Visa or whoever else to whom you still send mail.

I certainly did:

*idea credited to the original "L"

The girlfriend birthday present.

I want to say up front that even though this post may seem self-serving, it sincerely isn't. For some cruel reason, what should be four straight weeks of celebrating all things me - a 31-day Johanna jamboree, if you will - is actually a without-a-break month of present buying for the disproportionate number of Pisces in my circle of friends.

I'm sure it sounds wholly insensitive, but I have created tiers of present-worthiness among my friends. A girl on a budget has no choice but to do so.

In my hierarchy, there are several groups: the $10-and-under just-met-you-but-think-you-have-potential friends, the $20-and-under happy-hour-and-brunch-only friends, the $50-and-under I-like-you-enough-to-tell-you-about-my-personal-life friends, and the $100-and-under inner sanctum of family members and I'm-willing-to-Tivo-your-shows-even-though-I-don't-watch-them friends.

I've also had the displeasure of recently discovering a new group: the you're-on-your-way-out friends. These special girls can expect nothing more than a one-liner in a $.99 card.

I should also mention that the price points I've set are nothing more than ceilings; if I find my preggers sister-in-law - and fellow March 6th celebrant - the perfect gift for $26.75 at a vintage boutique, I don't need to continue looking to spend $73.25. The goal, after all, when purchasing a girlfriend birthday present is not to demonstrate how much cash you were willing to drop on her, but rather, how successful you were in procuring the most so-her item.

Below, I've put together some ideas for every level of girlfriend.

Happy purchasing!

$10 and under:

- A jumbo bag of her favorite candy and a 20 oz. of her favorite soda

- Her favorite '80s movie on DVD (usually in a bin by the register)

- An OPI nail polish in her preferred color palette

- A bag of good coffee beans/tea leaves

- A high-quality card from a specialty shop

- Kiehl's Lip Balm SPF 15

- Her own travel-size bottle of the lotion she's always borrowing from you

- Baking her favorite cupcakes/scones/muffins

- Gourmet treats or a toy for her pet (believe me)

- A bar of soap from Lush

$20 and under:

- A sheet of stamps personalized with a meaningful picture*

- A vintage scarf

- A manicure at her favorite salon

- A tissue-soft Charlotte tee from Urban Outfitters

- A high-quality lipstick/gloss in her preferred color palette

- An Anthropologie headband

- An autographed copy of her favorite author's book**

- A pair of sexy underwear (when in doubt, buy them too small)

- Her favorite luxe hair product you know she's almost out of

$50 and under:

- Two tickets to a 9:30 Club show

- A vintage clutch or cocktail ring

- An on-sale Ella Moss tee from shopbutante.com

- A pedicure or bikini wax at her favorite salon

- Flowers at work (this makes every woman's day)

- A cute pair of on-sale flats

- A good bronzer brush

- A Rachel Weissman/France Luxe headband

- A one-year subscription to her favorite magazine

- A bottle of Moet & Chandon, Veuve, or her favorite wine

$100 and under:

- A blouse she'd love but never buy herself

- A haircut or manicure/pedicure at her favorite salon

- A contribution toward the new pair of premium jeans she wants

- A cute pair of regular-priced flats

- Her favorite perfume you know she's almost out of

- A clutch to complement her new favorite shoes

- The DVD box set of her favorite TV show

- A vintage dress

- A great cuff

- $50 in singles and four drinks on you at Camelot

* credit for this idea goes to the ever-thoughtful L

** the trick is to keep your eyes open year-round for this gift