Holiday gifts for tight budget

Put away those boring baked goods and $20 gift cards. Present loved ones with less pricy, handpicked gifts instead. Not only will they be lighter on your wallet, but the thought put into a personal gift will also warm the hearts of friends and family.

Zhu Zhu Hamsters

Chunk, PipSqueak, Mr. Squiggles, Num Nums and Patches are cute and cuddly robotic hamsters that can keep a person entertained for hours. Avoid the endless expenses and hassles needed to maintain a pet by giving your friends a life-sized mechanical rodent.

Zhu Zhu hamsters are battery-operated pets that offer all of the fun and enjoyment of a real hamster without the smell and clean-up. These interactive plush robots provide endless fun as they scurry around by themselves. According to the Zhu Zhu pets website, “simply pet the hamster’s back, set him down and watch him Zhu Zhu Zhu-oom!” Zhu Zhu hamsters can be purchased at Toys R Us for $8.99.

Sea-Monkeys

Give the gift of a “true miracle of nature.” Sea- Monkeys are a unique species of brine shrimp. They arrive in eggs, which then magically hatch when placed in water. They come in several varieties including cow, lion, horse, monkey, sea-cow, sea-lion, sea-horse and sea-monkey. Sea- Monkey eggs and food can be ordered for $3 each from the Sea Monkey online store.

Ukuleles

“Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say on a bright Hawaiian Christmas Day. That is the island greeting that we send to you from the land where palm trees sway,” Jimmy Buffet sings.

Teach a friend to serenade with the sweet sounds of Hawaii with the song “Mele Kalikimaka“ by giving a ukulele. These tiny stringed instruments are just as fun as any guitar, and are portable too! Ukuleles are conveniently found at Wal-Mart for under $20.

Marshmallow Bow

Bring out a friend’s inner medieval warrior with this confectionary shooter. These cleverly named Bow and Mallows launch marshmallows up to 30 feet with a 34-by-14 inch frame. With a magazine that can hold up to 25 marshmallows, the Bow and Mallow provides sugary, safe fun. Besides, any toy that can turn a marshmallow into a weapon should be given as a gift. While Marshmallow Bows stretch the “cheap gift” title at $17.95, these action-packed toys will provide friends with hours of entertainment and fun.

Luxury Toilet Paper

Brighten the dark corners of a friend’s bathroom with the neon colors of Renova toilet paper. According to Renova, this fancy tissue will wipe with a “soft and silky” experience the recipient will never forget. Renova is currently made in five different colors: jet black, bright red, lime green, fuschia and a vivid cyan. Renova is reasonably priced at $13 at Renova’s website, www.renovaonline.com. When friends receive Renova, they will surely flush with joy.