I think it’s time to let you in on a little secret: I buy hostess gifts in bulk! Do you? I hesitated to admit it, since some friends read my blog and have received these gifts, but I don’t think it makes the gifts any less heartfelt. Rather, it’s an acknowledgement that we’re all very busy and most of us are on a budget — so why not plan ahead?

I find this strategy particularly useful around the holidays. For Halloween, I’ll find something cute (this year I got these cute hand towels on Amazon), buy a few, and give a set to each friend who invites us over. I’ll usually wrap the gift with a little twine, make a label (using my handy circle cutter like this one), and add a note like “thanks for the hospitality!” It’s so much better than something I might grab at the last minute.

For the holidays last year I bought maybe 4 or 5 cutting board wreaths from Target ($20 each, no longer available) and paired them with a cute little cheese knife shaped like a Christmas tree and a red-and-white striped kitchen towel. All told, each gift cost about $30 — not cheap, but about the price of a nice bottle of wine — and they felt personal and festive. I wrapped everything together with some twine and added a little tag with a holiday greeting.

This year I need a new idea! I scoured the internet for the best ideas, with an eye toward price. (But I probably won’t buy any hostess gifts until Black Friday, in the hopes that they go on sale. Fingers crossed!)

• gold measuring spoons
• cookbook (we love this one!)
• set of cheese knives
• Christmas peppermint chocolates
• box cutter (everyone needs one around the holidays!)
• state decorative cutting board (wouldn’t it be fun to give a Hawaii board to a couple who honeymooned there?)
• pretty apron
• Frasier Fir candle
• wine stopper (the bird “sings” when you pour)
• Anthropologie candle (every so often these are 50% off, and I stock up!)

When I’ve had a little more energy and foresight, I’ve made holiday gifts that I can give to hostesses, teachers, and friends. A few years ago I put together a sugar scrub (the easiest thing ever!) and some of the kids’ teachers asked me to make them another one the following year.

Last year I made brownies for the neighbors and wrapped them up in butcher paper with a red-and-white string. Don’t tell anyone, but I used a box mix to bake them! I honestly think the Ghiradelli brownie mix is just as good as homemade, especially if you add extra chocolate chips. And the point is to share joy and tell people they’re special to you, right? Not to spend hours baking . . .

Another easy and inexpensive idea: bottles of limoncello. About 20 years ago, I made a batch of limoncello, decanted it into cute jars from Michaels, and handed it out as gifts. Maybe it’s time to do that again? I swear, it’s the easiest thing in the world to make. This recipe looks delicious.

If you need more ideas, check out the hostess gift guides I made a few years ago, all items $30 or under! Here and here.

Happy shopping!