Gift ideas for those on a budget

Cheap but thoughtful Christmas gift ideas can be hard to come by. Here are 19 of my favourites that are sure to please anyone on your list from bookworms, to green thumbs, to travellers.

Christmas has rolled around, yet again, and I’m shocked by how pricey the holiday gets. As a student living away from home, I am constantly on a budget and this year due to both my physical and mental health I have even less money to spend on gifts. To add to the increasing cost, the list of people I have to buy gifts for every year makes me wonder if cutting back my social circle would be a good cost-cutting measure.

But there’s no need to scrooge away friendships. I’ve compiled 19 affordable gifts that will show your loved ones and your budget how much you care.

FUN & LEISURE

1.     Board Games

Board games are an easy and fun way to bond with family or friends. You can’t go wrong with staples like Jenga or Trouble. There are even adult spins on some games that turn it into drinking fun.

You can also switch it up with a card game – which have grown in popularity over the last few years. A few favourites of mine include Exploding Kittens and Unstable Unicorns. A lot of these games also have smaller, cheaper expansion packs, meaning if the game lover in your life already has the base game you can pick up the expansions for next to nothing!

FOR THE HOME

2.     Meaningful, Framed Poster

Most folks, like me, in their 20s have at least one bare wall in their home. A bare wall in your friend’s home gives you the golden opportunity for an awesome gift. Simply grab an affordable poster of their favourite band, or even a world map for them to plan their next adventure. Then you can slide it into a black frame (Target has some great ones) and bam! Perfect gift.

3.     Desktop Models or Figurines

If you’ve ever met me or stepped foot in my house, you’d know how much I love my figurines. Is your colleague, friend, or loved one constantly going on about a certain car, book, or TV show? Show them you listen to their obsession by giving them a little model for their desk (or like me bookshelf).

4.     Kitchen Tools

Sometimes the best gift ideas aren’t necessarily things people want, but what they need. If your friend, or loved one cooks a lot but still uses the same cheap tools they bought years ago, they might appreciate a long-lasting kitchen tool.

For the right kitchen tool, consider one they don’t have or one that they use every day. These can include a can opener, veggie peeler, fancy corkscrew, or even a pastry cutter.

5.     Scented Candles

There are two kinds of people: those who like scented candles and those who haven’t realised they like scented candles. Scented candles make a great gift for a few reasons. Firstly, they’re affordable. Second, you can still make a scented candle personal. For example, if your friend loves a certain scent like pumpkin or cinnamon, or even if they just like the scents of spring, there’s a candle for virtually everything.

6.     Resilient Desktop Plant

Desktop plants can provide aesthetic appeal and a trickle of mental health. I personally love aloe vera as it’s visually unexpected, practical for healing burns, and only needs watering twice a month.

7.     Gardening Tools, Big and Small

A gardening tool is perfect for a new homeowner. Even if they don’t necessarily garden (although your green thumb friends would love this), yard work tools are essential for keeping a property healthy. A small gift like a trowel or soil knife will fit in a gift bag, but you could also wrap a shovel for a holiday laugh.

8.     A Special Cookbook

Cookbooks have a reputation for being a contrived gift and many end up becoming paperweights. But like all gifts, this only happens when the giver hasn’t made it personal enough. Last year for Christmas I received a Bob’s Burgers Recipe Book and about once a week I make homemade burgers for my partner and I. It has become a weekly tradition I love and look forward to. A lot of popular culture references have been coming out with cookbooks so perhaps a recipe book from their favourite TV show would be great.

For friends who don’t cook but want to, a beginner cookbook that combines low-cost, low-effort recipes is ideal.

If your friend is already an amateur chef who likes to dazzle guests, consider a funny, edgy cookbook like “What the F*** Should I Make for Dinner?”

KEEPSAKES

9.     Framed Photograph

Among the most emotionally charged (and affordable) gifts you can give is a photo of you and the recipient that evokes a positive memory.

Photo prints start at 15c at Officeworks, so you can spend the rest of your budget getting a high-quality frame.

If you’re thinking of giving a photo to a parent or significant other, you can get a laser-engraved frame on Etsyat a very affordable price. Include your names and the date the photo was taken or better yet, an inside joke.  

10.  Journal or Notebook with a Personal Foreword

The practice of keeping a journal can boost mindfulness, focus, reflectiveness, gratitude, and overall joy. You can amplify those feelings by leaving your loved one a personalised note in the front of their journal.

11.  Jar of Handwritten Message Capsules

This is one of my favourite gifts I’ve ever given to loved ones. It’s super affordable and has a massive impact on the receiver.

I did this by buying a jar from a $2 shop and wrote out 52 reasons I appreciated and loved the person on brown pieces of paper then rolled them up as a scroll. Although Amazon sells little “message jars” of plastic capsules, each with a tiny blank slip of paper inside.

APPAREL AND ACCESSORIES

12.  Socks

Socks have pulled a complete 180 from their former reputation as the worst Christmas gift in recent years. Today’s socks are warm, fuzzy, and adorable; get your loved one some socks featuring their favourite cute critter.

13.  Affordable Jewellery

 Not all jewellery has to be expensive to be appreciated. Affordable jewellery comes in two variants: small jewellery and costume jewellery.

Small jewellery – like bracelets, rings, and necklaces – can be made with quality materials. For something personal, consider a birthstone bracelet.

Costume jewellery looks fun and fancy but without the cost. For your loved one who constantly likes to dress up consider a big, chunky necklace.

FOOD & DRINK

14.  Personalised Mug

I know what you’re thinking: everyone has way too many mugs. And that may be true (not that I think that given my large mug collection). But if you see someone using the same bland mugs everyday, they probably don’t have a favourite yet.

You can purchase a personalised mug with a caption for pretty cheap at Kmart. That way, your loved one can relive a pleasant memory or inside joke every time they take a sip of joe.

15.  Hot Chocolate Gift Set

A hot chocolate gift set makes a perfect Secret Santa gift because it’s so evocative. You see it and immediately picture curling up and supping sugary decadence with a loved one. Kmart and Big W alike sell kits like this in their Home sections.

PERSONAL CARE

16.  Epsom Salts

The idea behind Epsom salts is they break down into magnesium and sulphate in warm bathwater, which in theory, get absorbed into your skin for extra relaxation. You can buy 500g bags of scented Epsom or magnesium salts from your local grocery store like Coles and Woolies if you’re looking for a cheap version as well as bath and body stores if you’re willing to spend a little more.

17.  Bath Oils

While Epsom salts are affordable and practical, bath oils are just… nice. They look nice, they smell nice, and they make bathing feel bougie and delightful.

18.  Bubble Bath Bombs

Unlike most bath bombs, there are some that actually create bubbles. These are perfect as a gift of relaxation or even as a stocking stuffer.

PET LOVERS

19.  Dog and Cat Toys

Be careful with cheap plastic toys as they can be easily destroyed and pieces can be swallowed. Instead, I recommend giving rope-based toys, since dogs can pay tug-of-war with their owners or safely gnaw on them on their own time.

As for cats, there seems to be a greater variety of cat toys on the market when compared to dog toys. This means you can buy your cat-owning loved one something more personal.