As I browsed through a back issue of Real Simple a couple weeks ago, I came across a page of their recommended kitchen gadgets that reminded me why I’m writing a series of budget-friendly gift ideas. I really do enjoy reading Real Simple, but sometimes, it seems like a better name would be “Real Expensive.” The magazine recommended a “knife-resistant glove,” saying: “From legendary knife manufacturer Victorinox Swiss Army, these sliceproof polyethylene gloves will protect your digits during your next fight with an unwieldy apple.”
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Let me get this straight… I’m supposed to pay $24 for a glove that will protect my hand when I use a knife? I’ve actually cut my hand badly when using a knife to cut an apple… so badly, in fact, that I had to get a cast for a few weeks. And I still can’t imagine buying those gloves.
But these gloves got me to thinking… There are some kitchen tools or foods that really are fabulous and worth every penny. And, there are a whole lot of kitchen tools or foods that are not-as-fabulous and not-as-worth-every-penny.
For the people in your life who love to make food, here are some of my top (mostly) budget-friendly gift recommendations:
An Apron – I have a super cute apron from Anthropologie a few years ago and they have quite a few in stock now that I really like. Most of their aprons are more like $32, though. I also found some cute half aprons on Etsy that are less expensive like this coffee/tea cup themed one for $15, this vintage-style one for $16; or this polka dot one for $21.50.
Kitchen Essentials – Things like cutting boards, spatulas, and other kitchen basics wear out and need to be replaced every few years, but aren’t usually fun to spend my own money on. If you know your recipient well enough to know what they need, it can be nice to buy them a higher quality or more fun version of whatever they need. My friend Sarah got me this fun Princess spatula when Beach Girl was born and, while it sells for $10, it was much nicer than I ever would have bought myself, it makes the most delicious cookies, and it brought some fun pink into my kitchen! I think the key here is finding something that isn’t necessarily expensive, but is higher quality or more unique than your recipients would normally buy themselves. If you’re feeling crafty, you could paint these fun colorful wooden spoons or make these homemade wooden cutting boards.