These Gift Ideas Under $50 Will Wow Everyone on Your Shopping List
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Let’s face it: Holiday shopping is never easy on your wallet. Not only do you need to get gifts for your family, you also need to buy the best gifts for friends, your significant other, your co-workers, and everyone else on your list—and all that spending can pile up really fast. That’s why it’s helpful to always have a budget when you’re shopping. That’s where the best gifts under $50 come in.
Ahead, we’ve rounded up affordable gift ideas that are not only thoughtful and creative, but they also won’t break the bank. There’s something on our list for everybody: Home chefs and foodies will love kitchen gadget gifts, like that air fryer they’ve been eyeing or even something unique, like a hot sauce-making kit. Does your best friend love to work out? Gift them a fitness gift they can use every day, like a brand new water bottle for the gym. And when in doubt, you can never go wrong with a wellness gift, from cozy slippers to a nice sampler box of soothing tea, to help your favorite person relax.
No matter who you’re shopping for, we’ve got you covered with the best gifts under $50 for everyone on your list. From presents they’ll treasure for years to practical picks they’ll actually use, these gift ideas are sure to impress—and the best part is they won’t break the bank. Looking for more cool finds at an even lower price? Be sure to check out our picks for the best gifts under $25 and gifts under $10, too!
Personalized Initial Canvas Tote Bag
This cute canvas tote bag has plenty of room for all their essentials and is great for any occasion, whether they’re heading to a beach trip or just running errands. Plus, you can personalize it with their initial!
Moon Lamp
This LED moon lamp not only makes for super-cool home decor, but it can also help bring relaxing ambience to their bedroom. Made with 3D-printing technology to mimic real patterns of the moon, it can change colors and even comes with a remote control.
Compact Air Fryer
Having an air fryer is just as trendy as owning a slow cooker, but it’s way more cool to gift. The designated chef in your friend group will be able to make homemade fries, chicken wings, and tater tots without all the greasy oils. P.S. the gorgeous color will arguably entice them to keep this on the countertop.
Apple AirTag
If they’re always forgetting things, these handy Apple AirTags might just be their life-saver. They can attach it to any of their essentials—like their keys, wallet, and bag—and then track its location right from their phone.
Skincare Mini Fridge
The skincare-obsessed person in your life will definitely appreciate this compact mini fridge, which they can use to store all their favorite skincare essentials (or even their favorite drinks and snacks).
Book Club Mug
If there’s one thing every bookworm needs, it’s a cozy drink to sip on while they’re curled up with their new read. This adorable mug is perfect for that—and it features a beautiful design with all their favorite classic titles.
Birth Flower Necklace
This unique, timeless necklace has a nice personalized touch: You can order it engraved with your recipient’s birth flower. It’s also made of 18k gold and is hypoallergenic, making it suitable even for those with sensitive skin.
Wireless Bluetooth Karaoke Microphone
If they love karaoke, they’ll be so excited to sing their hearts out wherever they are with this wireless bluetooth karaoke mic (which boasts over 56,000 five-star ratings on Amazon, by the way!). It even comes in 13 fun colors to choose from.
FreeSip Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle
Need a reason to drink more water? You can’t go wrong with the editor-loved Owala water bottle. It’s leakproof and can keep drinks cold for up to 24 hours thanks to its triple-layer insulation, but the best part is that it features a convenient two-in-one spout for two different ways to sip: a built-in straw for sipping and a wide-mouth opening for chugging.
Knit Cuffed Beanie
This best-selling beanie hat has over 130,000 five-star ratings on Amazon for a reason. Made of stretchable rib-knit acrylic fabric, it’s super-soft and comfortable, with reviewers raving that it helps keep their head and ears “nice and warm.” Plus, it comes in 35 different colors.
Oven Mitts Cat Paws
I mean, how cute are these oven mitts that look like cat paws?! If they’re a baker and a cat person (or just love adorable animals), they’ll definitely love using these oven mitts while whipping up their next recipe.
Marina Furry Cottage Slipper
Their feet deserve the ultimate comfort when they’re lounging at home, so gift them these cozy fuzzy slippers from The Drop. They deliver super-soft comfort with every step and come in four cute colors to choose from.
Rambler 10-Ounce Wine Tumbler
Do they love sipping on wine? Now they can enjoy chilled wine wherever they go thanks to this travel-friendly tumbler that keeps drinks cold (or hot!) for hours with double-wall vacuum insulation. Bonus: It comes in lots of colors and is dishwasher-safe, too.
Wreck This Journal by Kerri Smith
How often are you encouraged to wreck a book? Especially a journal of your own thoughts? This prompt-led journal is intended to help you sharpen your creativity while bucking the system (just a little bit) as you tear, cut, and color your way through the journal. It’s the perfect gift for someone who needs to get out of their own head (and their own way) to tap into their personal creativity.
Pour-Over Glass Coffeemaker
Any coffee lover will appreciate a brand new Chemex to make their morning cup of joe. Made of high-quality glass with a timeless pour-over design, it can brew six cups of coffee at a time and will look great displayed in their at-home coffee station.
Body Wash and Hand Wash Bundle
This bundle of body wash and hand wash from Taylor Melrose offers a fresh, genderless scent formulated for all skin types that’s safe for kids and adults. High-end skin care in a practical package, it’s perfect for general gifting, whether for your boss, your kids’ teacher, or your best friend.
Juice Drench Hair Treatment
Allyoos’ Juice Drench hair mask is 99% plant-based, packed full of nourishing ingredients like organic strawberry seed oil, mango seed butter, and spinach. It’s safe for all hair types and is light enough to use as a leave-in conditioner. It’s a pampering gift that’s good for anyone who deserves a little extra TLC but may not have the time to head to the spa.
Baby & Toddler Toothbrush & Storybook
Any parent will appreciate this practical and fun gift for their baby or toddler. The book features fun characters to encourage teeth brushing, and the four included toothbrushes are finger puppets that look like the same characters from the book. If your niece or nephew (or your own child) has been fighting dental hygiene, here’s your chance to help make it fun.
Kids Chill Lunch Box
Nothing starts the year off better than a new lunch box to take to school. This Chill lunch box from Bentgo helps keep foods insulated and cold all day long and offers four compartments to separate foods. It comes in 10 colors and paired with one of Bentgo’s insulated backpacks as a fun way to get your school-aged kid excited to head back to class after the holidays.
Nest Mini (2nd Generation)
If you think you can’t gift a nice tech gadget with a budget of under $50, think again. The Google Nest Mini comes in at under $50, and it’s the perfect home companion. The voice-controlled speaker can play music, control your home devices, tell you the weather and news, and so much more.
Quencher H2.0 FlowState Tumbler
Stanley Quenchers are all the rage nowadays (even Jennifer Garner has one), which means your gift recipient will definitely appreciate this viral, best-selling tumbler for themselves. Not only will it keep their drink cold for hours, but it also comes in plenty of beautiful colors to choose from. Just keep in mind this gift is flying off the (virtual) shelves. If you see one you like in stock, don’t hesitate to order it!
Everywhere Belt Bag
This Internet-viral, celebrity-favorite belt bag from Lululemon is bound to be on many people’s wishlist. Made of durable, water-repellant fabric and available in the perfect compact size (and plenty of colors!), it’ll quickly become their go-to bag that they carry everywhere.
Even if you’re shopping at the last minute, with Lululemon you can order online to pick up in-store if you happen to have a store near you.
Electric Lunch Box
Heating up your leftovers in the office microwave is so last year. For the person who prefers last night’s kung pao chicken or tortilla soup to a cold cut sandwich, the Crockpot Electric Lunch Box is a showstopping gift. Simply add leftovers to the personal-sized crock, and when it’s time for lunch, plug it in and heat things up. Best of all? The internal bowl is removable and dishwasher safe, so cleanup couldn’t be easier.
Deluxe Hot Sauce Making Kit
If they’re the type of person to douse everything they eat in hot sauce, then they’ll love making their own with this DIY hot sauce making kit. It not only comes with three pepper varieties and a gourmet spice blend, but it also includes glass bottles, caps, a funnel, gloves, and a set of labels.
Crags Ferrite Putty
Every workspace deserves a few fun toys to distract and encourage creativity. The Speks Crags Ferrite Putty features more than 500 magnetic ferrite stones that can be mashed or formed into different shapes. It works as a fidget toy to help reduce stress and encourage focus, or it can simply be a fun way to jazz up a desk and get coworkers talking.
Toddy 16-ounce Leak Proof Insulated Coffee Mug
Anyone who spends the majority of the day in their car (or public transportation) will appreciate an upgrade to their to-go cup. The BruMate Toddy is the first insulated coffee mug with a 100% leak-proof lid—essential for any early morning commute when one distracted moment or large pothole can leave you with hot coffee in your lap. Plus, the 16-ounce capacity is ideal for keeping them well-caffeinated all day long.
Premium Scented Candle
Gift them a little reminder of home with these nostalgic candles, which come in unique scents for every state. Vermont, for example, offers a homey scent of cinnamon and apple pie blended with maple syrup.
Nightstand Organizer
Help them keep their nightstand clean and clutter-free with this handy, sleek organizer. Made of high-quality wood, it has a dedicated space for all their essentials: their phone, watch, glasses, and keys.
Satin Sleep Set
Upgrade their beauty rest with this luxurious-feeling sleep set. It includes a silky satin pillowcase (which is a treat for their hair and skin, by the way) along with a sleep mask and a scrunchie made of the same super-soft satin fabric. Plus, the set comes in three other colors!
Gentle Pressure Sleep Mask
Made of super-soft fleece, this unique sleep mask features a patented design that’s meant to be “like a weighted blanket for your eyes.” It applies gentle, evenly distributed pressure across your head—all the while blocking light from your eyes—to help soothe you to restful sleep.
First Big Book of Why by Sally Symes and Stephanie Drimmer
All kids hit the “But, why?” phase in their early years, so it’s best to be prepared when it happens. The Britannica First Big Book of Why answers all the most pressing of questions, like why penguins can’t fly, why music makes you want to dance, and why popcorn pops. It’s an interactive gift for the most curious kids in your life.
Card Game
Forget the boring old deck of cards—they’ll love playing this unique game instead at their next game night or get-together. It contains 150 cards with fun conversation starters, questions, and icebreakers that are great for deepening relationships and getting to know people.
Herbal Retreat Tea Sampler Gift Set
Do they love sipping on soothing tea? This beautifully-packaged tea sampler set offers a collection of relaxing teas, including delicious varieties like blueberry merlot and mojito marmalade, all wrapped in handcrafted pyramid bag infusers.
Bracelet Hair Ties
For the person who is always perfectly accessorized but also keeps a plain ol’ hair band on their wrist, “just in case,” the Maya J Bracelet Hair Ties make a great gift. These beautiful hair ties look just as good worn on the wrist as they do adorning a ponytail or messy bun.
Quinn Phone Bag
Everyone could use a wallet upgrade... especially one designed to carry your phone, too. This vegan embossed croc phone bag from JW Pei is the perfect way to carry your cards, some cash, and your phone when you're looking to travel light.
Socks That Protect the Arctic Gift Box
Socks are pretty much a wardrobe requirement, but you don’t have to stick with a basic white crew sock. By gifting a box of comfortable and cause-themed socks from Conscious Step, you can also help give back. Each box supports a specific cause, like protecting the arctic or oceans, saving animals, or supporting efforts to plant trees. It’s the perfect way to show the environmentalist or activist in your life that you appreciate their efforts and interests.
Tipsy Turvy Bar Glass Set
For anyone looking to set up their home bar cart or expand a collection of cute cocktail glasses, you can’t go wrong with this set of two cocktail glasses from Ban.do. The clear portion holds 6.6 ounces, ideal for champagne or mimosas, or you can flip them over and use the red base as a way to serve liqueur or shots.
Enfant Stroller Warmmuffs
You know those things you see and immediately want but might not buy for yourself? These 7 A.M. Enfant Stroller Warmmuffs are the perfect example. Any parent who takes their kids on cold-weather walks is bound to love this pair of gloves specifically designed to attach to and be used with a stroller, but they may not immediately buy a pair themselves (budget! kids' needs! bills!). That’s exactly what makes this the perfect gift for any new parent.
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