• christmas-gifts image by Maria Brzostowska from Fotolia.com
  
  Hurray for the holidays and the spirit of giving! But the exchanging of gifts can be a cause for consternation. Little boys and girls may be easy to shop for; other people in your life, not so much. What do you get for your boss? Your hard-to-shop-for spouse? Or teenager? Because you don't want to break the bank, what gifts are meaningful without seeming cheap? Here are a few ideas when the Santa inside you needs more than elves for help.
  
  

Snuggie, the blanket with sleeves

• Say what you will about this comical gift, but I'll be darned if it ain't an all-round good gift idea. It's perfect for grandmas to college kids or business fliers who need a bit of cozy in their seat. Heck, they even have camo snuggies for the hunter or military buff in your life. (Around $15.)
  
  

Gift Certificates

• The no-brainer standby gift: it's easy to get and very easy for the recipient to use. And, new federal regulations prohibit gift cards from expiring for at least five years. Choose between a bookstore, wine store, movie theater, Starbucks or Amazon. Your kid/boss/friend/spouse will thank you.
  
  

Magazine Subscriptions

• Give the gift that keeps giving the whole year. True, some subscriptions can be pricey, but there are plenty that are cheap ("Vanity Fair") or just over $30 ("Us Weekly"). Buying subscriptions online is the best way to save and allows you to send the gift directly to the recipients' door.
  
  

QuikPod Handheld Convertible Tripod

• How many times have you gone on vacation with a loved one and only had one photo of you together to prove you went at the same time? How many distorted photos have you taken from the length of your arm? This ingenious device attaches to your camera, extending it far enough away to get a good shot. Well worth the $20-ish price. Facebook fiends will love it.
  
  

Key Finders

• How many times have you misplaced your keys? This device attaches to your keys. Akin to a portable phone, when you lose your keys, simply press a small "home base" button that you can stick anywhere in your home. Prices vary, but the best value is the FindIt Key Finder for around $20.
  
  

A Homemade book of Redeemable Coupons

• The name says it all. Much like the kind you can make for Valentine's Day promising a massage, for example, so too, can you do the same with any standby gift. Customize it to the recipient and you can either offer a massage, a chore, a night of babysitting or help tutoring. The possibilities extend as far as your willingness to partake. However, if you haven't made good on your Valentine's Day coupons, you may want to reconsider giving this gift.
  
  

Acupuncture massage balls

• Take the ancient use of massage balls and mix them with little nubs to create acupuncture and voila! A truly great gift for stressed and sedentary nine-to-fivers of the 21st Century; coworkers, bosses or employees will appreciate a gift that provides some respite. (Around $20.)