Forget luxe: Head to a 99-cent store for a world of inexpensive gifts to please all

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Not looking to spend a bundle on holiday gifts? Head to the nearest dollar store instead.

Such emporiums are alive with holiday trimmings at the moment, but they’re also stuffed with goofy, stylin’ and branded gifts and stocking stuffers to please everyone. We headed to a Jack’s World in Manhattan and picked up 11 items with price tags of $2.99 and under, for a grand total of $17.04.

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HIPSTER HATS: A blue-stripe Where’s Waldo knit style for the guys and a brimmed cap with bow in swirls of forest green, black and white for the gals.

COIN BANKS: Let the Monsters Inc. and SpongeBob SquarePants gangs help teach toddlers the value of saving their pennies with mini coin banks. These two are stuffed with multicolored candy canes.

SALT AND PEPPER: Though we’re not sure who’s who, this condiment set is truly friendly. Its two arm-in-arm ceramic shakers are described thusly: “Meet George. He’s Claude’s best mate and not afraid to show it.”

CALENDAR: Dogs, cats, bunnies and goats in get-ups for 2016 in a hanging calendar that declares: “Dear Human, Nasty Notes from Dressed-Up Pets.” The cover is Chuckles the dog clown. August features a dachshund in bun and ketchup and this personal note: “Dear Human. Bite me. Love, Oscar M. Eyer.”

HIGH FINANCE: The iconic Wall Street bull on a coffee mug with a background showing the New York Stock Exchange and other details from the neighbourhood.

CANDY: Can you go wrong with Teenage Mutant Nina Turtles Gummy Turtle Power Candy Pizza and Disney Frozen Best Friends Gummies & Stickers? We think not.

CANDY FOR THE GROWNIES: Send someone back into childhood with a bag of Dad’s Old Fashioned Root Beer Barrels.

GOT A BASEBALL FAN?: This five-inch plastic Christmas ornament in holiday green is filled with a Big League Chew Bubble Gum Pouch, four trading cards, two tattoos and three gumballs. Ballpark perfection.

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Follow Leanne Italie on Twitter at http://twitter.com/litalie