Yes, we know, things are still a little tight for most folks. And while it’s the thought that counts and all that, you’re probably going to need to figure out something to put in a box to represent that fond thought for at least some of the people in your life. Plus others could likely use a little of that bit of economic stimulus you’ve got in your pocket. Thus our usual compendium of gift ideas, as locally sourced as we could manage and arranged roughly in order of most inexpensive to spendiest.

Green Toys

Amuse, various locations, amusetoys.com; Shananigans, 5004-B Lawndale Ave., (410) 532-8384, shananiganstoyshop.com, $4.99-$39.99

When our young’un tore the paper from this Christmas gift last year, we stared slack-jawed in jealousy. Enclosed in a sturdy cardboard box sat a two-tone green recycling truck of a stout and rather funky design, made of, what else, 100 percent recycled plastic. That thing is tough. It’s endured indoor and outdoor play, and still looks good after a year of use. He doesn’t care that Green Toys are a smart, ecological-minded company based out of (where else) California that manufactures a whole line of hardy plastic toys from wheeled vehicles (including a newly-released fire truck) to kitchen sets, blocks, and baby toys. He just loads it up with his own recyclables and off he goes. He also doesn’t care that Green Toys manages the entire process locally, from sourcing the plastic to manufacturing. But we do, and he will too, eventually. Green Toys are available at area aMuse toy stores and Shananigan’s in Roland Park, where they stock pretty much the whole line.

Clay Rowhouse Ornament

etsy.com/shop/baltimoreclassics, $7.50

Painted crab shells and Natty Boh-can angels aside, Baltimore isn’t the kind of city that inspires a lot of Christmas ornaments (unless you count those festive strands of yellow police tape). But for decades, Jon E. Stephens—who grew up in a rowhouse on 39th Street—has been producing charming 2-inch-by-3-inch clay rowhouse ornaments as a tribute to Baltimore. Sure, the real deal tends to be a bit narrow and dimly lit, but the close quarters foster a sense of community. And Stephens’ ornaments—each of which is unique—somehow capture that feeling. They’re carved and painted by hand—with delicate details like marble steps, doorknobs, and street trees—and strung from a satin ribbon. For the price of a decent sandwich, you can make someone nostalgic about their origins or simply happy to be home.

Raw Olive Body Products

etsy.com/shop/rawolive, rawolive.com

Elizabeth Voss, the woman behind Raw Olive, started making her all-natural body products when she realized so-called natural products she found at health stores still contained ingredients such as parabens, sodium laurel sulfate, and petroleum. Her bath and body items stick to human-friendly goodies such as cold-pressed olive oil, raw sugar, and honey, and she’s created an impressive line of indulgent skin treats. We swear by the tangerine mint lip balm ($3) and the grapefruit bergamot soap ($4), but the sugar scrubs—such as the peppermint mocha latte or margarita sugar ($15 each)—look like great gifts. If we don’t decide to keep them for ourselves.

Ostrowski’s Famous Polish Sausage

524 S. Washington St., (410) 327-8935, website, various prices

When you’re trying to find a gift for one of those hard-to-buy-for or person-who-has-everything types, food is generally a good call, and the great thing about food is it’s meant to be shared, so save the money you’d waste on some sort of generic basket of holiday gift-garbage and plan a pop-in sausage party for the holidays with one of the impeccable pork products from Ostrowski’s, which are available only at its South Washington Street store. Make the effort to call ahead and find out what’s fresh and you will be rewarded with a cornucopia of kielbasa, both smoked and fresh, and don’t forget to grab some of the homemade horseradish.

City Paper Cartoonists’ Books

Atomic Books, 3620 Falls Road, (410) 662-4444, atomicbooks.com, various prices

Emily Flake (Lulu Eightball), Dina Kelberman (Important Comics), Tony Millionaire (Maakies), and Tom Tomorrow (This Modern World) all have books jammed full of their comics that will make lovely holiday gifts while encouraging reading, or at least concentration while looking at the pictures. Ben Claassen III of Dirt Farm fame promises us a new release next year, but in the meantime hit him up for one of his classic EMERGENCY CARE FOR CHOKING posters found in the “Comic Features” section of bendependent.com.

Milagro Handmade Jewelry

1005 W. 36th St., (410) 235-3800, prices vary