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    Recipes » Hospitality How-Tos » Inexpensive Hostess Gifts

    Inexpensive Hostess Gifts

    Published: Jul 9, 2019 · Modified: Nov 12, 2021 by Kate Shungu · This post may contain affiliate links

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    Inexpensive Hostess Gift Ideas

    While not always necessary, hostess gifts are such a sweet way to say thank-you to someone for hosting you. Here are nine ideas for inexpensive hostess gifts that your host or hostess will love.

    Inexpensive Hostess Gift Ideas

    I love hosting and never expect to receive hostess gifts, but I do love to give them. They’re such a nice surprise for a host or hostess who has undoubtedly spent a lot of time planning and preparing the meal or party.

    A bottle of wine is an easy hostess gift, but I usually steer away from that option.

    I usually don’t know what kind of wine my hostess enjoys, and it can make for an awkward exchange. Is the wine for the party? Should she save it for later? What if she doesn’t drink?

    The same goes for appetizer-like gifts. I once brought fancy cheese and artisan crackers as an inexpensive hostess gift, intending for the hostess to enjoy them at a later date. She opened them at the party and served them to everyone.

    She was obviously welcome to do what she wanted, but I didn’t want her feel obligated to do serve them, you know?

    Now I bring items that are obviously gifts for the hostess to enjoy herself (or himself!). Lately, I’ve been bringing a treat for breakfast the next morning.

    After cooking and entertaining the night before, I think it’s nice for the hostess to enjoy a treat for breakfast the next morning!

    To gift or not to gift?

    I should mention that hostess gifts are not really necessary when the party is a potluck. Something small would be a generous gesture, but if you’re already bringing food and/or drinks for the group, I’d argue that those are “enough”.

    Hostess gift etiquette

    Hostess gifts are simply a kind gesture of thanks. Any gift is often well-intentioned, but you’ll want to take note of these tips in making your selection:

    • Avoid bringing something that your host/hostess will need to attend to when you arrive. For example, bring flowers already cut and in a mason jar, instead of a bouquet, which your hostess will need to scramble to find a vase for.
    • If you’re unsure if your host/hostess drinks alcohol, avoid bringing wine as a gift.
    • Be discrete when you present it to the host. You can even leave it on the kitchen counter or side table for him/her to discover later.

    Read on for some inexpensive hostess gift ideas also that also make great housewarming gifts!

    three jars of jam in mason jars with fabric lid toppers.

    Jar of Jam & a Loaf of Bread

    This is a great gift to get at a local farmer’s market: a jar of homemade jam and a fresh loaf of bread. The total is less than $10, and it’s a gift that the host can enjoy the following morning. In the fall, look for jars of apple butter or pumpkin butter!

    Baking Mix with a Pan

    This idea is from my friend Glenda. She enjoys giving a package of baking mix with a pan to bake it in. A few ideas:

    Trader Joe’s Cornbread Mix with a pretty 8×8 inch pan
    Williams Sonoma Quick Bread Mix with a nonstick loaf pan
    King Arthur Flour Scone Mix (from the grocery store) with a silicone baking mat

    Tie a pretty ribbon around the mix, place it in the pan, and present to your hostess!

    llama tea towel
    Photo credit: M. Lynne Designs

    Tea Towels

    You can never have too many kitchen towels! I like buying tea towels at cute gift shops when I see them, and then I have a stock for gift giving.

    You can also find a great selection of tea towels on Amazon. How cute is this llama tea towel?!

    slices of apple bread falling into a wooden board

    A Loaf of Homemade Quick Bread

    This Apple Cinnamon Streusel Bread is my go-to for gift giving. It’s particularly timely in the fall but delicious year-round.

    You could either wrap it in foil or bake it in a new baking pan with instructions for the recipient to keep the pan.

    Attach a note that says “Breakfast for tomorrow!’ on it. Homemade banana bread is a great idea, too.

    pink and purple tulips in a mason jar

    Bouquet of Flowers

    This idea is common but never gets old! Many grocery stores sell bouquets in mason jars.

    Opt for a mason jar bouquet instead of a bouquet with no vase. That way, the hostess doesn’t have to stop what she’s doing to put the flowers in a vase.

    A Pack of Cocktail Napkins

    I once received a package of cocktail napkins as a hostess gift and I was thrilled. So fun, so easy, and of course they are useful. Local gift shops are good places to find these, and Amazon has tons of fun cocktail napkin options, too.

    succulent plant
    Photo by Silvia Agrasar on Unsplash

    A Small, Hard-to-Kill Plant

    I don’t have much luck with indoor house plants. But some varieties are easier to keep alive than others. Succulents are a great option for an inexpensive hostess gift—they’re hard to kill, gorgeous, and match many types of decor.

    Floral shops have some great options, and I’ve also stopped at Whole Foods Market before a party to pick up a succulent from their floral department.

    box of six artisan donuts on a table with a coffee mug and a smart phone.
    Photo credit: Zach Miles on Unsplash

    A Breakfast Treat from a Local Bakery

    This inexpensive hostess gift idea is great for new neighbors. Head to your favorite bakery and pick up a few treats. You may have just introduced them to their new favorite bakery!

    For hostesses, opt for breakfast treats like croissants, donuts, or muffins for the next morning.

    chocolate bar with decorative wrapping

    A Fancy Chocolate Bar (or Two!)

    I love chocolate as much as the next girl, but the prices on artisan chocolate bars are a little bit expensive for the everyday. But I’d happily buy a fancy chocolate bar for my hostess to enjoy (and I’d love getting it just as much).

    Specialty grocery stores will have a great selection. Two of my favorites: Askinosie, which has an amazing vision, and Mast Brothers, which has the prettiest packaging.

    Wrapping hostess gifts

    In most of these cases, you can skip the wrapping paper or gift bag. Just present the item with a little note card that says “Thank you for hosting us!” and that’s all you need.

    I love flat note cards for this—I’ll punch a hole in the corner and use a ribbon to tie it to the gift. Or sometimes, I’ll just scotch tape the card right onto the gift! 🙂

    I’d love to hear from you in the comments—what are your best inexpensive hostess gift ideas?

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    kate

    About Kate

    I’m a believer, wife, mom, and big fan of old cookbooks. I live in Chicago with my husband and two young sons. I love discovering old fashioned recipes that will transport you back in time! Read more...

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    1. Peg Mauro says

      January 10, 2020 at 3:07 pm

      I love to put together a basket of fruit or vegetables from my garden. Also, I am a crafter so have many times purchased tumbled stone tiles at a big box store (less than $.50 a piece!), attached a wine label or cut-out from a pretty paper napkin and mod-podged to seal, adding a very thin cork board to the back! Tie up four of them with a pretty ribbon and you have a unique gift!

      Reply
      • Kate Shungu says

        January 12, 2020 at 12:56 pm

        Hi Peg, those are such great ideas. The recipients must be thrilled (I know I would be)!

        Reply

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