We are traveling with just carry on bags, looking for ideas for inexpensive but unique souveneers to bring back home to the family, they are young adults. Thanks

Uh. Where are you going?

Oops! Paris, Barcelona, and all around Italy.

Scarves. Most Europeans wear them (at almost any time of the year) so your family can feel very chic. They can be found at any price -- and if you can't fit them in your carryon you can wear them all home on the plane.

Young adults often like unique items such as magnets. They are small,quite inexpensive and special because each one will have a design/motif/scenery/saying that is unique to one area.
If looking for food items, I also enjoy purchasing marzipan,w hich does not melt like chocolate and is always wonderful in taste.
On my last trip to Italy, I also found some aprons with local scenery. A couple cooks in my family appreciated those.
Picture postcards and playing cards with local pictures are my other souvenirs.

Hard to bring back many souvenirs when you're trying to travel light...I've tried it and wasn't too successful! Our next European trip is for this Fall and we already have vowed to mail home our collected treasures.

My suggestions...leather gloves,small purses/pouches from Florence, fragrances from Paris, men's ties from Florence, Chocolates from Barcelona. Just remember that most souvenirs are just that...things that you bring back to help you remember your trip. I contend that a lot of the things we bring back for our loved ones are really not particularly meaningful to them.