“Always read the reviews when shopping online. [An item may seem great], but reading the reviews and looking at pictures is so important,” said Lindsay Roberts Schey, creator of the gift recommendation website The Gift Insider. Quality is another vital aspect to consider, even more so when working with smaller budgets. To ensure you’ve picked out one of the best cheap Christmas gifts, you’ll want to research it beforehand. “Holiday shopping isn’t the time to test out a  [brand or retailer] you’ve never used before,” Schey says. So, it is best to stick with brands you know. Though if you find yourself still stuck on what to get? We are here to help. From the best throw pillow to the best gift basket, we’ve rounded up 27 of the best cheap Christmas gifts, and the best part? They’re all $30 or less. Plus, be sure to check out our top choice the Hydro Flask 12-Ounce Mug, it’s sure to be a holiday favorite. Keep in Mind: The personalization area is small, so keep your message brief. The best part of the envelope necklace is the personalizable metal card inside. Engrave a message, date, name—anything you’d like. Because of the magnetic close, the card stays hidden until opened, so it’s up to the wearer whether they want to show the message or keep it concealed. Since the necklace is small, the message needs to be brief in order to fit on the metal card. That means no long poems or quotes! Price at time of publish: From $16 Includes: Envelope necklace and personalized pull-out metal card | Colors: Silver, gold, or rose gold | Material: Titanium steel Keep in Mind: The mug must be hand-washed and isn’t suited for microwaves, dishwashers, or freezers. Though the temperature attributes are great, mug care is another story. The mug must be hand washed, and it cannot be put in the microwave or freezer. That means hot or cold drinks must be their desired temperature before entering the mug. As a result, the temperature can’t be changed afterward unless a secondary vessel is used. Price at time of publish: $28 Includes: Insulated mug, closable lid, and lifetime warranty | Available in: 10 colors | Size: 12 ounces, 4.5 x 5 inches Keep in Mind: Frames are not included, so you’ll have to spend extra if you want them tacked in frames. Though, the downside to this bargain wall art is that it doesn’t come with frames or any other method to display the prints. That’s something that will need to be purchased separately, and picture frames don’t exactly tend to be cheap. The alternative is hanging the prints on the wall with a tack or laying them on a surface. Price at time of publish: From $15 Includes: Six different prints | Material: Linen | Size: 16 x 12 inches Keep in Mind: The bowl fits 1 and 3/4 cups—so it might feel small depending on portion preference. Depending on the user’s desired portion, the two areas may be too small. The bowl fits one and 3/4 cups. If you enjoy a large bowl of chili or more than a handful of chips, you may have to go back for seconds because it won’t all fit in the container. Price at time of publish: $32 Includes: Two soup and two side bowls | Colors: Blue and green or red and cream | Size: 8.25 x 7 x 2 inches Keep in Mind: If you don’t like the flavor you selected, you’re stuck with 6-12 cubes, depending on how many were purchased. Now comes the downside. Herb & Lou’s does not sell sample packs under $30, so the person you are giving the cocktail cubes to is stuck with one flavor. It can be hard to guess what someone may like since taste buds vary from person to person. On the off chance they don’t like the flavor gifted to them, they will have five to 11 cocktails cubes to give away. Price at the time of publish: $20 Includes: 12 cubes of cocktail mix | Available in: Five flavors | Amount: One cube (25mL) Keep in Mind: The pillow is only available in four different dog styles, meaning it might not match your furry friend. Nevertheless, the downside of these adorable pillows is their variety. This cushion is only available in four options: Bernese Mountain Dog, Boston Terrier, Golden Retriever, and Pug. That means if you own a dog outside of the offered designs, you won’t be able to purchase a pillow in the likeness of your pooch. Price at time of publish: $25 Includes: One Pillow | Available in: Bernese mountain dog, Boston terrier, golden retriever, and pug | Material: Wool Keep in Mind: The set only comes with three bath bombs, so you’re paying $10 per bomb. Keep in mind that these bath bombs are rather pricey, with the three-pack ringing in at $10 per bomb. But we think their high quality and beautiful design justify the splurge price. Price at time of publish: $30 Includes: Three bath bombs | Available in: ‘Focus and Balance’ or ‘Calming’ | Time: Fizzes for three minutes Keep in Mind: While the price is fantastic, we’ve already seen many beauty boxes like this on the market. With so many other contenders on the market, we searched for an option in a league of its own; a beauty box that offered the most products at the most affordable price. Enter: Succulent Kreations. This gift box includes six different items including a sugar scrub, bath salt, and scented lip balm (to name a few), along with a card that can be personalized. Suitable for birthdays, retirements, and even weddings, it works year-round. Do we even have to say more? Price at time of publish: From $25 Includes: Scented 2-ounce candle, jar of matches, sugar scrub, bath salt, scented lip balm, satin scrunchie, and card with personalized message | Additional add-ons: Nine add-ons available | Shipping: Free Keep in Mind: The slippers might fit too big or small depending on your foot since each size of S-XL includes two standard shoe sizes (i.e. S (5-6); M (7-8); L (9-10); XL (11-12)). Depending on how you like your shoes to fit, these slippers may present a problem. They’re available in sizes S–XL—not the standard numerical sizes of 5–12. Each size encompasses two numerical sizes, meaning anyone with a size ranging from 7–8 would wear a medium. If you wear a 7, the slipper might feel loose. Or, if you wear an 8, the slipper might feel snug. Broad sizes mean greater chances of ill-fitting footwear. Price at time of publish: From $18 Includes: Pair of slippers and a one-year warranty | Colors: Black, oatmeal, or ivory | Sizes: Available in S–XL Keep in Mind: You can’t smell the candles when buying online, so you’ll need to read the fragrance notes and know what scents your loved one enjoys. Oh, and speaking of scents, blindly purchasing a candle without smelling it first can be difficult. That’s where the list of fragrance notes comes in. Fragrance notes describe the scent by comparing it to familiar items (i.e. coffee, lavender, nutmeg, etc.). Though we can’t guarantee the candle will smell incredible, fragrance notes should help you decide which candle will suit your loved one’s preferences. Price at time of publish: $22 Burn time: 90+ hours | Available in: 30 different scents | Size: 14 ounces Keep in Mind: What’s easy to execute and dependable to Ina Garten may be different than the average home cook. However, we wonder if “simple to follow” and “works every time” mean the same to Ina Garten as it does per se to the average cook. Compared to us, Garten has more knowledge and experience in the kitchen than most. Sure, we can’t guarantee the recipes will be as simple and dependable as they claim, but we also can’t say they won’t. Price at time of publish: From $25 Available in: Hardcover or digital | Pages: 256 Keep in Mind: The tone of the wood may appear different than pictured because of differences in natural beechwood. It’s also worth noting that the utensils can’t fit long messages or tributes, so keep the text short and sweet. Additionally, there may be a bit of color variation in the wood shown on the site versus in person. This is normal for wood, but it can be understandably frustrating for those with a specific color palette in mind. Just remember to not rely too heavily on the image shown on the site. Price at time of publish: $16 Includes: Spoon, slotted spoon, wood spatula, and red silicone spatula | Available in: 32 fonts | Personalization: Fits one line of text Keep in Mind: There are not many colors to choose from. It comes in red and white and black and white. If you’re looking for a towel that’s not red, white, or black, this tea towel may not be the best fit. Though versatile, there are limited color and design options. Do some sleuthing to make sure the towel will match the recipient’s kitchen. Price at time of publish: From $25 Colors: White and orange or white and black | Material: Cotton | Size: 28 x 28 inches Keep in Mind: Color options decrease the larger the size of the box. Small boxes come in 11 colors, while large boxes come in three. If you are dead set on a particular color, check their website and make sure they carry it in the size you’d like to gift. The small box comes in 11 colors, while the large box only comes in three—gray, navy, and tan. Consider buying several small boxes to ensure they have your desired color or opt for the neutral offerings. Price at time of publish: From $10 Available in: Three to 11 colors, depending on size | Material: Recycled cardboard | Size: Small (3.3 x 13 x 10 inches); medium (5 x 14 x 12 inches); large (5 x 16.3 x 14 inches) Keep in Mind: Besides a few woodland images, the inside is quite basic. It’s standard line paper, with no headings, bookmarks, or designated categories. Design-wise, the outside of the journal stands out, but the inside falls short. It features standard lined paper and sporadic woodland pictures throughout. If the person you are gifting this to loves a traditional setup, this journal is great. However, if they prefer more bells and whistles, such as prompts, headings, bookmarks, etc., this journal may not be the best fit. Price at time of publish: From $19 Features: Watercolor illustrations | Size: 7.5 x 6.35 x 0.8 inches | Pages: 160 Keep in Mind: The macrame hanger does not come with pots or plants. Those will have to be purchased separately. It’s important to note that the plant pots must be purchased separately. If you’re on a tight budget, consider checking whether the intended gift receiver already owns three small- to medium-sized plant pots. If not, it may not be the best gift, given the receiver will have to purchase additional items in order to use it. Price at time of publish: From $10 Features: Can be used both indoors and outdoors | Material: Woven cotton | Length: 70.87 inches Keep in Mind: The infused aloe vera may dissolve in the washer over time, leaving the wearer with regular fuzzy socks. The selling feature of these socks, the aloe, is great while it’s present. However, over time, the aloe washes out of the fabric—leaving the wearer with a standard, fuzzy sock. To extract the most wear out of the aloe socks while they last, follow the wash instructions on the packaging: machine wash on gentle and tumble dry on low. Price at time of publish: From $12 Includes: One printed short-length pair and one solid long-length pair | Available in: One size fits most | Colors: Green or grey Keep in Mind: Sherpa fleece mattes over time, so it may not stay as soft and fluffy as it did on the first use. When compared to other fleece-based blankets on the market, where those blankets tend to matte over time, this blanket will also lose its fluffiness and softness. There are hacks on the internet to fix this, but it will require extra time and effort. For those who want durable items that will sustain over time, this fleece throw may not be a match made in heaven. Price at time of publish: From $30 Available in: 15 colors | Materials: Polyester, microfiber, and fleece | Sizes: (50 x 40 inches), (63 x 51 inches), (80 x 60 inches), (80 x 71 inches), or (90 x 90 inches) Keep in Mind: The small opening of the vase makes it difficult to clean, so you’ll need an additional tool to get into the nooks and crannies. Due to the small opening at the top of the vase, the container cannot fit many flowers or an entire bouquet. It is made for a few flowers or sprigs. This is not the vase for large displays. Because of the small opening, the vase is also difficult to clean. A hand cannot fit through the top, so an additional tool will be needed to clean it. Price at time of publish: $15 Colors: Clear, bisque, dark blue, olive drab, or dark salmon | Sizes: Three bubbles (6.3 x 2.3 inches); four bubbles (8.7 x 2.3 inches) | Shipping: Free Keep in Mind: The speaker is a lot smaller than it seems in the image. It’s only 3.75 inches tall and 4.75 inches long. This speaker packs a punch with its sound, considering it’s only 3.75 x 4.75 inches. For reference, that’s roughly the same size as a postcard. Though it may not be a large statement piece to set centerstage, it still looks cute atop side tables and shelves. Price at time of publish: $23 Includes: Speaker and USB cable | Features: Portable and wireless | Size: 3.75 x 4.75 inches Keep in Mind: The watering can is plated in copper, so it can corrode and tarnish. The issue with this particular can is that the copper material will patina over time, which may be a welcome change for those who prefer a more antique look. To help the watering keep its original shiny hue, the recipient will need to maintain it regularly. Price at time of publish: $30 Features: Holds three quarts | Material: Copper-plated steel | Size: 12 x 16 x 6 inches Keep in Mind: The planter has a width of 5.1 inches, so it is too large to fit on most windowsills. It will need to be placed on a ledge or flat surface near sunlight instead. Though controllable in size, the planter is still too large to fit on most windowsills because of its 5-inch width. Another home will have to be found. For those with few windows, minimal direct sunlight, or small living quarters, it can be difficult to find a place to set the planter. However, if space can be found, the planter is one of the best cheap Christmas gifts to give. Price at time of publish: $18 Features: Can be used both indoors and outdoors | Material: Terracotta ceramic | Size: 4.7 x 9 x 5.1 inches Keep in Mind: The minimalistic design doesn’t feature any pictures or designs. It is solely an undated monthly planner. Many calendar users appreciate it when beautiful images accompany each month. For some, imagery is the biggest selling point of a calendar. However, this planner airs on the side of minimalism with no pictures or designs. It is simplistic and sophisticated. If you want something with more pizazz, it’s best to keep looking. Price at the time of publish: From $20 Features: 15 months, undated sheets | Colors: Water blue or sand | Size: 8.5 x 11 inches Keep in Mind: There are many other similar “conversation games” on the market—some only slightly different than others. A conversation-centered game is not revolutionary. It has been on the market for a while with card games such as ‘Table Topics’ and ‘We’re Not Really Strangers.’ The Hygge Game offers a similar take on other conversational games while narrowing in on the market of ‘comfortable, cozy’ questions. If you have similar question cards, there may not be a need for The Hygge Game, but it is a solid option within the conversation game category. Price at the time of publish: $20 Includes: 110 cards with 330 questions | Players: Two or more | Ages: 14 and up Keep in Mind: The ice globe handles do not have covers, so they will be very cold when held. The greatest attribute of these ice globes is also their greatest weakness—coldness. Because there is nothing to cover the handles, they reach the same level of coolness as the globes. This makes them chilly to use and hold. Of course, makeshift covers can be made with towels or gloves, but that requires additional materials. Price at time of publish: $15 Includes: Two facial tools | Material: Glass | Size: 5 x 2 x 2 inches Keep in Mind: The kit includes all kinds of coffee roasts, from espresso to dark. If the person you are giving this to only likes one type of roast, they may only drink a few of the eight packets. Sample kits are great for those who want to stray from their usual morning cup and try something new. They are not for coffee lovers with a specific palate. If the intended receiver of the kit dislikes a specific roast, this may not be the best gift for them. They would only be able to enjoy part of the kit. However, if they are open to all types of coffee, this is a true bang-for-your-buck option. Price at time of publish: $30 Includes: Eight different bags of ground coffee | Features: Roasts vary from espresso to dark | Amount: One bag (2.5 ounces) | Grind: Medium-coarse Keep in Mind: The coasters are made of bamboo and cork, so they will have to be hand washed if anything spills on them. Due to the bamboo and cork makeup of these coasters, they will have to be hand cleaned. Their bright color and white middle will show spills and stains easily, so a wash now and then is recommended. The pattern is also very bold, so if the person receiving the coasters isn’t a fan of bright rainbows—the set will be hard to repurpose. Price at time of publish: $24 Includes: Five rainbow coasters and one cloud holder | Materials: Bamboo, cork, ceramic | Size: 4 x 5 x 1.5 inches

What to Know About Cheap Christmas Gifts Before Shopping

Practicality

The best cheap Christmas gifts are often ones that provide a service tailored to the needs of the person receiving them. For example, a vase is a practical gift for someone who loves flowers, and a journal is a practical gift for someone who loves to write. Though sandals are cute, they may not be the best gift for someone who lives in a cold climate. Remember to consider how the intended recipient will use the gift.

Interests

Pay attention to the interests of those around you. Ask yourself: how do they spend their free time? What do they talk about most? What does their perfect day include? A present will feel infinitely more special when a person’s hobbies and interests are considered. “Listen for any hints throughout the year and start a note on your phone for each person,” says Lindsay Roberts Schey, creator of the gift recommendation website The Gift Insider. “This helps tremendously when it comes to purchasing Christmas gifts for your loved ones.”

Price

Let’s make one thing clear—expensive doesn’t always mean great! The best cheap Christmas gifts are often inexpensive homemade items or handmade gifts. What counts is thoughtfulness and understanding what a person enjoys—that’s what makes gifts great. Important things to consider when thinking about price are tax and shipping. They are easy to forget, but they are added whether you remember them or not. If your budget is $30, choose an item that is $25 or lower to account for extra costs when purchasing.

Your Questions, Answered

How much should you spend on a Christmas gift?

Schey recommends spending anywhere from $30-50, but feel free to decrease or expand to find the best cheap Christmas gifts. “It all depends on your relationship to who you are gifting, your age, and what you can comfortably afford,” said Schey.

What is the best way to wrap a Christmas gift?

If you enjoy making the outside look as great as the present inside, be sure to check out our step-by-step guide on how to wrap like a pro. Schey’s trusty present wrapping advice is simple: “a gift bag and pretty tissue paper is an easy way to go.” For an extra dose of pizazz, incorporate different textures through gift toppers or ribbons.

Who We Are

This story was written by Kate Franke, a freelance writer for Better Homes & Gardens. To find the best cheap Christmas gifts, she consulted with Lindsay Roberts Schey, a gift-giving expert and creator of The Gift Insider. She also considered factors such as quality, customer ratings, and quantity compared to the price to ensure those giving and receiving gifts are informed.