By Emma Bouthillette 

Staff Writer

‘Twas a few days before Christmas and all through the ‘Bunks, townspeople were stirring and stashing gifts in car trunks. With welcoming smiles and open doors, shop’s workers have gift ideas for everyone galore — all for $25 or less, not more. 

Sunday afternoon I went on a shopping adventure to see what I could find at stores in Kennebunk and Kennebunkport for Christmas presents on a budget. 

I found stores in Dock Square remain open past the days of Prelude, right through Christmas Eve offering great gifts and discounts to late shoppers. 

Signs in the windows of Too Cool advertise price cuts between 30 and 40 percent off all inventory of T-shirts, sweatshirts and more. Shop owner Denis Salvas told me items marked 30 percent off includes his wide range of “Life is Good” products.

“Life is Good at a good price,” Salvas said.

At the Day Trip Society, worker Lucy Henson pointed out three fun gifts for anyone on my Christmas list. A rack of T-shirts with the stores logo are a fun gift with a purpose — part of the $22 goes to support the Kennebunkport Conservation Society. For the environmentally minded, Henson said one of the many Sigg Water Bottles would be a nice idea. At $23, Henson said recent studies have proved the aluminum construction rather than plastic a more healthy option for reusable bottles. Henson showed me Baggu reusable shopping bags for $8 a piece she designed as a clever wrapping technique — placing the present in the bag and tying it off with a fancy bow. 

A couple doors down I found a display of festive candies at The Candy Man priced just right for stocking stuffers. Boxes of ribbon candy, fresh fudge and red and green gummies lined the shelves with prices ranging between $3 and $10. 

Just before the bridge crossing into Lower Village Kennebunk, the Flaming Gourmet beckoned me with culinary delights. Sitting behind the front counter, Maggie Wrba offered a few gift ideas for the chefs on my list, matching Stonewall Kitchen jellies at $7.50 per jar with crackers or Robert Rothschild mustards at $6.99 per jar with pretzels. With all the jars of jellies, mustards and sauces sold separately, Wrba said they can help coordinate items to create a holiday gift basket.

On Main Street Kennebunk, Marlow’s manager Betsy MacDonald and employee Janet O’Donnell showed me around the shop with a lot of options for budget-friendly gifts, and as an added bonus — gift-wrapping services are also available. MacDonald said the majority of Demdaco Willow Tree Angels are priced less than $25, including ornaments. Toward the back of the store, a rack of “page-a-day” calendars and weekly planners with varied price tags less than $25. 

“A package of cocktail napkins with a couple candles tied to them with a pretty bow would make a great hostess gift,” MacDonald said. 

About a mile down the road on York Street, Bel Gazou shop owner Deb Dolloff said less than $25 is their “price point” for the majority of items in the store. She said some of the most popular gifts include handmade chocolates delivered fresh daily, coffee mugs, kitchen gadgets and Webkins for the children on your list. 

With six days left until Christmas, the clock is ticking and while this list only includes items from six shops, gifts on a budget abound in many local stores. Get out there, good luck — and Merry Christmas!