By Joy Kraft
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Time's-a-tickin' . . . four more days to shop (today is a bonus if you get out). Better hustle if your Santa's sack is empty. We know budgets are tight and wallets are thin, so we've been searching the shelves from downtown to the 'burbs for gifts that check out under $20 (not counting tax). Here are 20 under $20.

1. Big belts: Menfolk looking for a savvy fashion gift for their sweeties can't miss with any big belt or one of the new long scarves/wraps. Make sure the belt is at least 2 inches wide (or wider) and big enough to wear loosely fastened. The best scarves are looooong and wide enough to be worn around the shoulders as a wrap. (Leather belt with grommet trim, $19.99, TJ Maxx).

2. Pocket tutor: Tuck French 101 class in your pocket with these mini-learning packs from Magnetic Poetry kits. French on one side and English on the other. Comes with 60 tiles, dry erase pen, language guide and magnetic workspace. Also Spanish, multiplication and addition backpacks. $4.95 at the Friends' Shop of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, downtown.

3. Chocolate treats: No need to break the budget to fill stockings with the mouth-watering sweet stuff. Galerie. a wholesale distributor of giftware and candy near the airport, has bulk candy and chocolate for $1 a pound (5 pounds for $4) plus sequined gift boxes, stuffed animals and gifts with candy on the side. 3380 Langley Road, Hebron. (859) 538-8080.

4. Key chain twister: It's a puzzle. It's a key chain. It's a cure for nervous fidgets. The magic is in the motion with this plastic Junior Tangle key chain that hangs onto keys then twists, turns and tucks away snugly into pocket or purse. $4.99 at Ted's Toys & Trains, Terrace Park.

5. Benders: Kids love these Hog Wild poseable magnetic sculptures,and parents love that they fold up and tuck away into their own containers with accessories. $8.99 at Ted's Toys & Trains, Terrace Park.

6. Fortune-teller: Eight balls are like so yesterday doncha know? Harper Image has the Valley Girl's version in, like, neon lime and blue with a stretchy strap. Ask your question, push a button and it like responds with an assortment of California girl responses from "Fer shure" to "That's is soo like wrong." $14.95 at Sharper Image stores or www.sharperimage.com.

7. Pottery: Ceramic art and pottery from local artists at Throwing Clay Pottery, a gallery and studio at 4719 Vine St., St. Bernard. $20

8. Football remote: Soft three-in-one remote controls TV, VCR and cable box after entering codes from the included booklet. . $9.99 at Radio Shack stores or at www.radioshack.com.

9. Bicentennial bell: Cincinnati's bell-ringer, the Verdin Co. is casting a 200-pound bronze chimer by the end of October for each of Ohio's 88 counties. Miniatures (80 percent copper, 20 percent tin) are available in 5-inch heights ($20), 6-inch heights ($40) or 8-inch heights ($60), complete with the Ohio Bicentennial logo and the Verdin stamp. At www.verdin.com or 241-4010.

10. Simpsons talking watch: Order a burger Value Meal or Kids Meal at Burger Kings and get a watch guaranteed to drive any parent bonkers - for $2.39. The translucent watches with oversize faces spout "Are we there yet?" "Cool your jets, man," and two more well-known show phrases. Through Dec. 29.

11. Tree greetings: JC Penney has a set of three snowflake-shaped jeweled stars (33/4-inch diameter) for photos on silver cords ($14.99 set), while Sharper Image stores have photo insert ornaments (21/2-inch diameter) that record and play a 15-second greeting (two for $29.95). At stores or www.jcpenney.com or sharperimage.com.

12. HotSpots: Use these sunny 6-inch silicone squares as hot pads withstanding up to 675-degree heat, trivets to protect counters or tables or to get a better grip on jammed lids. Toss 'em in the dishwasher to clean. $7 at Cooks' Wares, Symmes Township, Springboro and West Chester.

13. Stained glass: Clarence and Nancy Sekerak's Stained Glass and Art DÈcor in Sharonville offers his glass creations, her watercolors (including hand-painted cards) and daughter-in-law Crystal's jewelry. Gold-plated stained glass ornaments ($15-$20). 3277 Creek Road, Depot Square. 769-1050.

14. Auto hot cup: Plug your cup of joe into the car cigarette lighter to keep you morning mocha at a toasty 165 degrees. Double-wall insulation in 14-ounce lidded cup with cup holder-friendly base. $19.99 at JCPenney.

15. Mini-music boxes: Palm-size, with itty-bitty handles cranking out "Humpty-Dumpty," "As Time Goes By" and more. At the Friends' Shop of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, downtown. $9.45.

16. Sweet baskets: Volunteer-staffed Ten Thousand Villages in O'Bryonville carries creations from around the globe, plowing profits back into the communities. This sweet grass basket from Bangladesh, at $5, is a bargain compared to prices for sweet grass weavings on the streets of Charleston, S.C.

17. Drill-in-a-drawer: This new Grip & Zip Cordless Drill ($9.99) is part of Igo's new line of tools small enough to fit in the kitchen junk drawer but big enough to do the job - under 1 pound and battery-operated. At Office Depot, Radio Shack, Walgreens, Kroger and www.igohomeproducts.com.

18. Crystal bead ring: Faceted Swarovski crystal bead is centered in a silver-plated stretch ring. Buy two for $19 each or $24 for one. At Coldwater Creek, Rookwood Commons, Norwood.

19. Collar, charm: Fashion designer Liz Claiborne has gone to the dogs with stylish collars ($12) and charms ($8), as well as leashes, sweaters and scarves. At Lazarus and Dillard's.

20. Pen: This Hog Wild pint-size pen pivots from a holder. About $1 at Ted's Toys & Trains, Terrace Park, and the Friends' Shop at the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, downtown.