The Best Christmas Gifts Under $50, According to Gifting Experts
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It’s more fun to give than to receive, especially when it’s a perfect gift for the finicky in-law or ambivalent older man in one’s life. Accomplishing a full gifting round of thoughtful, useful presents that don’t get returned is a tall order. Slapping a budget on that task can make the whole endeavor even trickier.
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To help in the search, SPY enlisted the help of experts in the field who spend each November and December winnowing down the options. The gifting industrial complex has gotten so huge that it’s nearly impossible to not find something for everyone, but there are harder and easier routes to take to get there. Almost everyone SPY spoke with noted that while there are plenty of options above this amount, the gifting sweet spot is $50 and below. That’ll get you plenty, but the amount won’t make most people uncomfortable. We’re not trying to one-up everyone at the white elephant holiday party, so to speak.
Turning holiday gifting into a team effort is, hopefully, something of a shortcut to crossing names off the list. Because while the primary focus of gifting is in satisfying the recipient, it’s undeniable that the sooner holiday shopping is finished the sooner one can truly enjoy the Christmas season.
What the Experts Say
For this story, SPY spoke with Duy Vo, a consumer trends analyst and founder of Sandjest, a platform for personalized gifts, to help define what makes a good gift this holiday and more generally.
“Having navigated the intricate world of e-commerce and consumer preferences,” Vo says, “I’ve realized the profound impact of a well-chosen gift. It’s not just about the material possession but the message it carries — that you understand and cherish that person’s preferences and comforts.”
“People crave connection, utility, and a sense of being understood and appreciated,” he continues. “Gifts that resonate with personal comfort and needs or create or preserve memories hold a special place in the receiver’s heart. This personal touch, this hint of bespoke connection, makes all the difference, turning a simple present into a cherished gesture.”
Instilling this feeling in people doesn’t need to set anyone back hundreds of dollars. Here are the best Christmas gifts under $50, hand-picked by dedicated gifting experts.
SPY'S TOP PICK
Darn Tough Men's Coolmax® Hiker Crew Midweight Hiking Sock
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Socks have a reputation of being a boring gift, but anyone over the age of 25 likely has a pecking order in their basics drawer that welcomes a new, high-quality addition. Being passionate about something trivial like socks is one of those “I’m getting older” things that appears pathetic, but is actually subtly thrilling, and these are a great pick for anyone on your list who’s graduated to this phase.
Fitness writer David Rosales of Roman Fitness Systems says he’s “obsessed with Darn Tough Socks.” He’s had his oldest pair for over a decade, and has never had to use their — very generous — unconditional lifetime warranty. And that might not even be their most impressive feature. ”They also remarkably don’t smell. You can wear them several days in a row,” he says of the Vermont-made socks.
BEST FOR COFFEE DRINKERS
Kalita Wave Dripper 155 Series
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Made For: Kelsey Waddell, a coffee expert and writer for Roasty Coffee, says “This pour-over brewer is perfect for anyone on your list who loves a good cup of coffee but is new to more labor-intensive brew methods.” It capitalizes on an existing interest and can be used everyday, two great qualities in a gift.
Why It Stands Out: Waddell says “The Kalita Wave stands out with its unique flat-bottomed shape and three-hole dripper, which guarantees consistent and even extraction.” It’s very easy for things to get very complicated very quickly when exploring coffee brewing methods, but this made-in-Japan brewer’s simplicity makes it a great gateway into options beyond automatic drip.
BEST FOR HOMEBODIES
2 Note Opus 1 Candles
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Made For: People with noses. Celebrity interior designer and TV personality (and Trading Spaces alumna) Genevieve Gorder calls these hand-poured candles her “all-time favorite,” saying “lavender, black pepper, and sandalwood combo is absolute perfection.”
Why They Stand Out: Unlike most candles, these more luxurious burners are made solely with natural oils and beeswax for a less artificial smell that’s more enjoyable. A fancy candle is the kind of thing most people appreciate but might not buy for themselves making it the perfect gift.
BEST FOR OUTDOORSPEOPLE
Flextail Tiny Pump
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Made For: Serious campers. Adrian Todd, an outdoor expert and owner of Great Minds Think Hike calls it “a super awesome gift for any outdoorsy person who enjoys camping or backpacking and uses a sleeping pad or mattress.” It’s an air pump, a vacuum pump, and a camping lantern in one. It can light a campsite, inflate an air mattress or sleeping pad, and deflate air products and vacuum bags many times on a single charge.
Coolest Feature: Its size, or lack thereof. The Flextail’s longest side is 2.3 inches. It weighs just 3.3 ounces. That qualifies it for teeny-tiny status.
BEST FOR HOME CHEFS
Misuzu Silky All-Purpose Scissors
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Made for: Serious home chefs. Alain Verzeroli, culinary director of the Michelin-starred Le Jardinier in Midtown Manhattan, says “I always have two pairs of scissors, a small one for delicate work (herbs, fruits, etc.) and a larger, sharper pair for opening packages and bigger kitchen tasks. After many years of working in Japan, I fell in love with many Japanese tools and craftsmanship.” These Japanese scissors are Verzeroli’s small pair; he uses these for heftier jobs.
Hot Take: A lot of ink has been spilled over kitchen knives, but a great pair of kitchen scissors will get more use than most of the blades in the block.
BEST FOR THE PAMPER-RESISTANT
Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
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Made for: People who spend all their time and energy caring for others. Vo says “This lip mask is a savior during the dry months, keeping lips supple and pampered, a small nightly routine to show self-love.” It’s a quick, simple thing you can do daily, which is key here since a more involved product is more likely to sit on the shelf. Don’t sleep on simple, practical gifts for those on the list who insist they “need nothing.”
Hot Take: Don’t let the aggressively pink packaging fool you, people of all gender identities will enjoy their soft, supple lips after using this formula of vitamin C, coconut oil, shea butter, and murumuru seed butter.
BEST FOR MUSIC LOVERS
Vibes Hi-Fidelity Earbuds
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Hot Take: Hearing loss is bad. This doesn’t feel like a hot take, but the number of people not wearing hearing protection standing 20 feet away from massive speakers at concerts suggests that most people aren’t doing enough to protect their ears. Show the music heads you know you love them by giving them a tinnitus-free hearing in 20 years.
Why They Stand Out Jamie Sherwood, the business development manager for Vibes, says that they “decrease the volume of loud environments, like concerts, to a safer and more comfortable level that prevents hearing loss and ear discomfort.” And unlike traditional foam earplugs, they don’t prevent the wearer from hearing clearly.
BEST FOR CARRYING OTHER GIFTS
Carhartt Crossbody Bag
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Made For: Anyone who needs to carry more than their pockets will hold. “It’s been perfect for me,” LawnLove CEO Jeremy Yamaguchi says. “It’s water-resistant, and having put it to the test many times, it has done its job each time. It’s also just really comfortable to wear.”
Why It Stands Out: This bag has the toughness that made the brand a workwear titan—chunky zippers, 600-denier polyester construction, Rain Defender water repellant—and the look that vaulted Carhartt into the wardrobes of tons of people who’ve never set foot on a construction site.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gift Giving
What makes a good gift?
Vo says gifting is all about connection. “This personal touch, this hint of bespoke connection, makes all the difference, turning a simple present into a cherished gesture.” If a gift feels like it’s one-size-fits-all, that it doesn’t appeal to something specific in a personality or relationship, then it’s not hitting the mark.
Are there really good gifts under $50?
There’s not a ton of correlation between a price tag and the kind of personal value Vo is describing. Sure, spending a lot on something can be a sign of how much one invests in that relationship, but it’s far from the only way to send that signal. And a personal gift will always be better than an impersonal gift, regardless of cost.
What should you do if your gift is not well-received?
Reflect on where you’ve gone wrong and try to make it up to the recipient. Or blame Santa, if you can get away with it.
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