Cheap gift ideas: Bags for him and her

In my recent post My gift shopping strategy, or why small gifts rock, I explained why making small gifts the focus can make shopping both easier and cheaper.

With that in mind, I’ll be compiling the ultimate lists of gifts for under $20 between now and Christmas. First up: bags for him and her.

Some women would never be caught dead with anything but a Prada bag on their shoulder. That doesn’t mean that other women on your list wouldn’t love an addition to their collection — even it did cost less than $20.

Young girls will likely be excited by anything fancy looking, particularly if it’s nice and shiny like these sequinned evening bags for just $19.99.

Grown women may be pickier, so look for a bag that speaks to their personality or fills an open niche in their bag collection. For instance, consider getting your Aunt Edna this evening bag for just $9.99 if she showed up dressed to the nines for your cousin’s wedding… but with her everyday, schlumpy purse in tow.

Don’t forget other types of bags besides handbags! For a dancer, you might give them this dance shoe tote, just $19.99.

Of course, guys have stuff to tote too. These military-style messenger bags from Rothco come in 14 very masculine styles, most for under $20.

And the great thing about bags, they also make great gift bags — especially when you can get a nice tote bag for just $6.95! You can even use a purse hook to hang them with your Christmas stockings!

Other bargain bags under $20 we’ve written about:

• Murval of Paris satin shopper bag - $19.99
• Black lace clutch - $9.09
• La Regale sequinned clutches - $13.98-$25.98

There’ll be more lists of gift ideas for under $20 between now and Christmas, so stay tuned.