For the environmentalist

As going green becomes more expensive, it’s easy to spend a fortune on green gifts.

Reusable items make great gifts for the environmentally aware because they promote the reduction of waste.

A reusable water bottle or to-go mug is both practical and environmentally friendly. Water bottles and mugs can be found at retail stores, prices varying. Nalgene water bottles start at around $5.

Battery chargers are a way to be green and tech savvy. They can be found in retail stores and electronic stores, some options, such as the Duracell Battery Charger, available online at Target’s Web site starting at $16.99

Reusable shopping bags are also a great gift and are sold at retail stores. Heavyduty reusable shopping bags and canvas bags can be purchased online.

For the athlete

Gifts to make breaking a sweat look easy.

Buying new equipment for the athlete on your list can prove to be expensive. Some smaller items can be just the right thing. A six-pack of Gatorade or another sports drink is a good idea to give an athlete who works out frequently. Sports drinks can be found at grocery and retail stores.

Energy and protein bars are nice for the athlete to have on hand when heading home from the gym. They can be found at grocery stores and some retail stores. Prices vary, depending on the brand of bar.

Bamboo crew socks wick moisture away from the foot and help prevent blisters by keeping the foot dry while the athlete works out. The socks cost $8.99 for a two-pair pack.

For the music lover

Gift cards to purchase music online are always something to fall back on, but how do you find a unique gift for the fanatic whose ear buds are always within reach?

A thoughtful gift for the music lover would be a vinyl record of his or her favorite artists. Amazon.com has a variety of records, but there is a large price range.

Posters and band paraphernalia, such as bumper stickers, are also great gift options for the music fanatic. www.Allposters.com has a large selection of posters starting at $8.99.

Vintage concert T-shirts are another great idea. Goodwill, The Salvation Army and Savers have buried treasures, many for less than $10, but that requires a little searching.

For the child-at-heart

Sometimes we all need to play a little.

Remember Legos? Have fun building, playing and rebuilding. While the original Legos blocks are fun, the themed pieces make play more interesting and are great to have on hand for procrastinating. The official Lego Web site carries all the different types of blocks, some sets starting at $9.99.

Sea monkeys can provide a fun little science experiment, just like when you were a kid. The Sea Monkeys Web site gives the address of stores that carry the tiny animals in every state. Prices vary depending on the size of tank and the amount of sea monkeys purchased.

Nerf toys are a fun excuse to run around shooting foam darts at friends. Nerf Dart Tag Strike Fire 2-Player Duel system, which comes with two Nerf tag guns, two scoring vests and Nerf darts, is $19.99.

Board games are another way to pass the time. Popular games such as Monopoly, The game of Life and Clue can be found at retail stores for $17.99.