Inexpensive Holiday Gifts for Employees

• Choose perfect holiday gifts for your employees. David Ellis/Digital Vision/Getty Images

  It's a nice idea to give your employees a gift during the holidays to celebrate the season together and to show them your appreciation for all that they do during the year. But if you have a lot of employees, or if money is tight, choose a gift that doesn't cost a lot of money. There are plenty of gifts that are perfect for the office and don't cost a lot of money.

Coffee Mugs

• Choose a coffee mug for each of your employees. You could choose the same coffee mug for every employee, or personalize the mugs for each employee. For example, select mugs that have the first initial of each employee painted on them. You could also give each employee a mug with his or her favorite sports team's logo monogrammed onto it. Alternatively, choose mugs in different bright colors and let your employees choose which one they want. If you want to spend a bit more money, place a small container of gourmet coffee in the mug.

Relaxation Gifts

• A relaxation gift is a perfect idea for an employee, especially if you work in an especially stressful business or environment. Choose small gift bags or even Chinese takeout boxes for this gift. Fill the bag or box with several small items, such as relaxing candles, aromatherapy lotion, bubble bath and bath salts. That way, your employees can relax and de-stress when they get home.

Edibles

• Give your employees a holiday gift that they can munch on. Consider a tin of holiday sugar cookies that are shaped like holiday symbols, such as stars, ornaments, Christmas trees or candy canes. You can make these yourself or purchase them from a local bakery. Another edible idea is a gift assortment of cheeses, crackers and sausages. Depending on how much you want to spend, you can likely find inexpensive bottles of wine for all of your employees. If you buy an entire case of wine, you can likely get it for a cheaper price.

Day Off

• The best gift you can give many employees is time off. Although it doesn't cost anything outright, your employees will appreciate being able to take time off without dipping into their allotted yearly off days. If you need to, set a few restrictions on this gift, such as not allowing your employees to take their day off on the day of a big deadline or other important work activity.

Gift Card

• If you give your employees a gift card, they will definitely know that you didn't spend too much on the gifts. Still, many employees would appreciate a gift card to a local establishment, even though it might not be for a ton of money. If you give a gift card with a low amount, such as $10 or $20, choose a business with items that are inexpensive, such as a coffee shop.