Cheap gifts: 112 gifts under $30 that people will actually enjoy

Cheap gifts are tough to get right. Just because you don’t want to spend a lot doesn’t mean you need to give someone some junk they’ll never use.

Practical and durable, but a little on the fun side. A good gift has that mix of “I’ll actually use this” with just a little “I wouldn’t necessarily buy this for myself. That’s the sweet spot for gifts.

These gifts might not strike you as obvious choices right away (or they’ll seem a little too obvious, maybe a little too practical. Trust me, they’re all things people generally need or want but probably don’t have. If they do have them, it won’t hurt to have more.

I’ll also add this: don’t sleep on presentation. A little presentation and pageantry go a long way in dressing up a practical gift. A nice card, a nice note, some ribbons and gift bags. Pair cheap gifts together around a theme, or compliment the gift with a simple book or bottle of wine. Dress up the gift. It’s an occasion, after all.

Bath and body

1. Bamboo bath mat: $30

Cloth bath mats can be gross. Stepping on this bamboo mat feels like coming out of the shower in a spa, or a beachside rinse off in Bali. Something about wood under your feet after a shower just feels better.

2. Safety razor: $25

Modern cartridge razor companies a priced to lose money on the handle and gouge customers on the blade refills. A few bucks will get you a year or more worth of safety razor blades.

3. Tweezers: $10

Boring, right? But the thing is, nobody splurges for nice tweezers. It’s hard to go back once you try these.

Car and garage

4. Car vent phone mount: $8

Most drivers rely on their phone for navigation or music on rides. Besides, Waze is better than whatever GPS interface came installed with the car.

5. Tire gauge: $20

The best friend a glove box could have. A big upgrade of a tire gauge can be found for $20 or less. There’s plenty of time to give four tires a pressure check when you’re letting the gas tank fill up after running it all the way to ‘E’. Dad would be proud.

Clothing and accessories

6. Timex weekender: $30

The best watch anything less than $50 bill can still buy.

7. Umbrella: $23

Too practical? Wait until you feel and try a wood-handled J-stick umbrella. Stick it in an umbrella can by your front door and it doubles as home decor. You’ll almost look forward to the rain.

8. Canvas tote: $14

A little too practical and dull to gift just a plain one. But you could. Or your could keep your eyes open for a cool design next time your traveling. Pick up a unique one at a museum or concert

9. Beach bag: $27

A beach trip needs a good beach bag. Something to tote around the sunscreen, frisbee, and trashy crime novels.

10. Merino wool socks: $22

There are some serious fanatics over Merino wool socks. The much-celebrated Darn Tough brand offers a lifetime replacement option for any socks that wear out.

11. Collar stays: $15

Nice metal collar stays like this upgrade a dress shirt and keep your collar looking crisp. The plastic ones bend and fall out.

Home and office

12. Fountain pen: $15

This isn’t a common gift, but a great idea for someone who has life’s big paperwork ahead of them. Signing the deed on a new house, finalizing a wedding certificate, signing birth certificates.

13. Label maker: $29

For the type-A organization obsessive, a label maker is surprisingly addictive.

14. Extra long phone charging cable: $18

My life changed after getting a colorful, 6-feet long phone charging cable.

15. Ash tray: $11

Nobody has ash trays around anymore. This is a good gift for someone who entertains, keep it on the back porch for relatives who might step outside for a quick smoke on Thanksgiving.

16. Houseplant: $16

I got a rosemary plant once for a housewarming gift and it effortlessly lived for years. The whole time I lived in that house, actually. Every time I needed fresh rosemary for a recipe, I’d snip off a few stems.

17. Critter catcher: $20

A nice gift for a new homeowner. Capture bugs and spiders without smashing bug guts all over the place.

18. Mini letterboard: $10

This trend will burn out eventually. But it might be a long, long time from now. Because these mini letterboards are just so much fun. And so photographable.

19. Recipe box: $15

This is an inexpensive gift and a great heirloom item. Over time it will be filled with hand written cards full of years of family recipes.

Kitchen and Bar

20. Bottle opener: $12

Not something plastic, not something that came free with a tub of Mexican beer. Get one unique-looking enough to be a conversation piece and heavier than a coffee mug.

21. Fondue set: $26

The 70s look is coming back. It’s the only logical progression from the mid-2000s making everyone 1960s midcentury Mad Man crazed. Just look at all the ferns and shag rugs and burnt orange on Instagram. Embrace the groovy vibes with a nice ceramic fondue set.

22. Carbon steel skillet: $30

Nonstick everything was the biggest scam played on home cooks. Thankfully, people are getting back to stainless steel and cast iron. Chances are your recipient hasn’t come around to the joys of carbon steel. Light and durable, great at searing. Cheap.

23. Cast iron pan: $15

I just couldn’t leave it out. One of my all-time favorite products.

24. 5 pound bag of gummy bears: $19

Or any candy they prefer. Just make it a comically large quantity.

25. Champagne: $17

A home without champagne announces to the world: “nothing good will happen here, we’ll never have cause to celebrate.”

Be the person who helps fix that. Get one $30 bottle, two at $15. Basically get as much as you want to spend without spending less than $15 per bottle. It’s good to have some on hand the next time life sends good news.

26. Infrared thermometer: $16

An infrared thermometer just feels like magic. It’s as much fun to play around with after dinner as it is when your cooking.

27. Sushi kit: $29

Making sushi at home is as hands on and fun of a family activity as making pizza.

28. Pizza stone: $22

Did someone say pizza, a nice pizza stone is a great gift.

29. Pizza peel: $21

I can do pizza gifts all day. Homemade pizza night is an amazing tradition. Get a wooden peel for delivering (putting pizza in the oven) and a metal peel for retrieving.

30. Plastic condiment bottles: $10

Not for condiments as much as all the oils, vinegars and other liquids people use while cooking. Put a strip of painters tape on the side and scribble a label on the side.

31. Chef’s knife: $15

I’ve said it before, most people have more knives than they need. A simple 8-inch chef’s knife is a gift that most people will use 10 times a week.

32. Manual coffee grinder: $17

Coffee grinders are tricky to gift. There are a ton of electric models under $30, but they’re mostly worthless. Quality burr electric grinders are nice, but well over $100. Happy entry point: the manual grinder. Especially for someone only making coffee for one person at a time.

33. Non-stick pan: $28

I’ve said some rude things about non-stick pans. I’m not totally sorry. Your friends should at least have a non-stick for eggs, and they should probably have thrown theirs out by now. Seriously. Replace them every two years.

34. Bar towels: $14

Here’s another habit pro cooks use that more people at home should pick up on. Sling a clean bar towel over your shoulder when you’re cooking. It’s there for grabbing warm handles, wiping scraps off your cutting surface, a temporary resting spot for a hot pan. Get a pack of cheap ones, toss it in laundry after each use.

35. Corkscrew: $25

The Waiter’s Friend is the world’s most ubiquitous corkscrew. It’s handsome, substantial, and less than $30.

36. Chopsticks: $10

Skip the balsa wood mouth splinter take out sticks. Get a set of reusable chopsticks. Nobody ever went broke from classing up take out night.

37. Oyster shucking knife: $17

As fun as food gets. Show up on with two dozen oysters and a few bottles of champagne, leave the shucking knife as a gift and tell them you’ll be back with more oysters next year.

38. Mixing bowls: $13

Another gift that seems a little too practical at first glance. But trust me, heavy glass mixing bowls are a resource. Show your friends and family the pleasure of mixing batter in a bowl that doesn’t suck.

39. Pasta tools: $23

Anything old and Italian is just peak cool. Take pasta tools. Rakes, wheels, rollers, forks. A cutting gizmo called a Chitarra (translation = “guitar”). Expensive electric gadgets can do it faster, but that takes a little of the romance out of it. You’re not making homemade pasta for efficiency, you’re doing it for romance.

40. Pie plate: $21

A colorful ceramic pie plate can last for years. It’s a great baking tool and makes for a nice presentation.

41. Lasagna pan: $18

Not just for lasagna, any kind of casserole will look great in a ceramic lasagna pan. But go ahead and make some lasagna.

42. Mortar and pestle: $29

I’m a huge fan of functional cooking tools that have a great presentation. It’s one less thing to get dirty, one less step to take when you’re entertaining. Would you prefer to serve fresh mashed guac in this heavy, ancient-looking stone or a flimsy plastic store bought container?

43. Thermos: $20

A Thermos is a great weekend friend. If you’re getting up early on a Saturday and heading out somewhere, fill one up for the road. Or get it filled up on you stop at Starbucks. It’s a great gift for someone with kids and a busy weekend schedule.

44. Kitchen scale: $14

Not just for coffee nerds (but the coffee nerd will definitely appreciate another scale). Plus baking and measuring by weight is way more accurate and satisfying than by measure cups.

45. Wine rack: $15

Have a budding wind collector in mind? A simple, sturdy wooden wine rack that holds bottles sideways will really be appreciated. Wine collectors know that bottles should be stored on their sides so the corks don’t dry out. Let the collector save their money for the next bottle.

46. Wine glasses: $25

Everyone should have two categories of wine glasses. A big set of cheaper glasses for entertaining. A nice set of two for quiet nights with just the two (or one) of you.

47. Matcha set: $13

It’s the most photogenic hot beverage since the latte.

48. Deep fry thermometer: $10

People don’t deep fry at home any more. It’s a shame, because it’s a pretty amazing way to turn cheap meat like chicken into a family tradition. You need a dutch over and some peanut oil and a thermometer. Maybe pair it with a cookbook with a good fried chicken recipe.

49. Apple peeler: $20

Spinning an apple peeler is just fun. Making apple pie is fun. Don’t overthink this.

50. Pasta roller: $27

Project cooking is a like the best family activity. Have I made that clear by now? Homemade pasta is the top of the food chain here.

51. Rolling pin: $13

A French style rolling pin is long and tapered at the end without spinning handles. It’s easier to use, looks great, and give you a better feel for the dough.

52. Nice olive oil: $16

A good jar of craft extra virgin olive oil is a great gift for a host. It’s nice to not be the 12th couple to bring the bottle of wine.

53. Olives: $11

A quality jar of olives is another great hosts gift.

54. Silicone Nonstick Baking Mats: $10

These things are incredible. Essentially reusable parchment paper. They really prolong the life of baking sheets.

55. Salt: $15

A salt cube and grater is a fun gift and a nice effect when your entertaining. Or pick up some good pink Himalayan in a bag.

56. Salt dish: $12

Cooking at home means salting things. A lot. All the time. It makes the flavors come out. You need a way to grab kosher salt and sprinkle it in stuff. Salt grinders are unnecessary.

57. Marble pastry board: $27

This is the most luxury you’ll get for less than $30. Marble is a great surface for working with pastry dough and chocolate. Hot candy cools more quickly when poured on marble and it doesn’t stick. And it makes for a pretty great Instagram backdrop.

58. Loose leaf tea pot: $23

Loose leaf tea is a nice and unique gift, but most people are at a loss for ways to make it. Pair it with a handsome loose leaf pot.

59. Cherry pitter: $13

This is an oddball unitasker, something your grandma probably had. Grab a cherry pitter for a few bucks and watch the recipient return the favor with cherry pie, cherry ice cream, cherry muffins, cherry scones. I’m making myself hungry.

60. A big roll of pink butcher paper: $19

For the friend who just got into BBQ.

61. Cooling racks: $21

Once you have these in your kitchen, you won’t understand how you lived without them. Use them for everything from resting roasts to cooling cookies to salting steaks.

62. Knife magnet: $16

It’s very hard to go back to shoving knives into a clunky chunk of wood. Those things always feel like they’re going to topple over and shish-kebab the dog any day now.

63. Pepper mill: $30

You don’t need a set of two. Why? You don’t need to grind salt. Spend the money on a good single use pepper mill. You can almost, almost, get a Peugeot for $30 — just squint and hit “Add to Cart.”

64. Cheese grater: $12

Can you love a cheese grater. Yes. The key is spend more than 99 cents on it. How much do you appreciate knuckle skin? A little? Get something heavier.

65. Tumblers: $25

A set of handsome, heavy tumblers makes anyone happy. Not just for whiskey drinkers.

66. Flask: $16

This is a tough one to include, but I’m going to do it. If you’ve been within 100 yards of a wedding party this Century you probably have 9 of these already. Let me make a case for an unadorned stainless steel flask. Or this from Stanley.

67. Ice ball makers: $10

An ice sphere melts more slowly than a cube. Definitely more slowly than a bunch of small cubes. It’s just science.

68. Serving fork: $10

The only way to serve long pasta.

69. Vintage cookbook: $10

Look for vintage or out of print cookbooks at used book shops, garage sales, and estate sales. Now days every new cook book has an “angle.” But before the internet, cookbooks were like bibles and encyclopedias and instruction manuals rolled into one.

70. Cocktail book: $22

A good bartender’s guide is a great reference for around the house. Meehan’s Bartender Manual and Mr. Boston are a nice starting point.

71. Cocktail napkins: $10

Breaking out some crisp, white cocktail napkins for guests is a really nice touch. Get some custom monogrammed ones for your gift if you really want to impress.

72. Wine making kit: $11

The process for making wine is a little bit more straightforward and accessible than making beer. Homemade fruit wine is a great way to take advantage of peak fruit season. Just, be careful, the outputs can be potent.

73. Canning gear: $11

We’ve got to get back to our roots a little bit. All these amazing farmers markets are out there and we’ve got more fresh produce and fruit than we know what to do with. I support learning to do canning. Gift it alongside some fresh produce.

74. Gin kit: $36

For the craft cocktail fan who already has all the shakers she needs. Did you know you can make your own gin with just a bottle of vodka and one of these kits.

75. Carry on cocktail kit: $15

There’s not a lot of romance left in air travel. Especially when your in 36E and the kid behind you is kicking the back of your seat and the guy next to you is snoring. Reclaim some dignity with a real cocktail.

76. Cheese board: $20

There’s something therapeutic about putting together a cheese board. Lining up the ingredients just right, no two boards are the same.

77. Pineapple corer: $10

Give the gift of perfectly round pineapple slices.

78. Tiki mugs: $27

Kitschy, fun, weird, heavy tiki mugs that your friends may or may not actually use. But if they have any gumption, they’ll invite you back over for Zombies and Mai Tais. If you’re lucky you’ll make it through the night still standing.

79. Local honey: $10

Get the most expensive jar of local honey you can find. Eating honey from bees in your local area is good for fighting seasonal allergies. And honey lasts forever.

80. Cocktail muddler: $5

Sure it’s a fancy bar tool for fancy bartenders. But it’s not just for complicated drinks. Mashing up a few herbs or fruits at the bottom of a glass is an easy way to make a nice drink at home without a lot of extra fuss. Even muddling a few limes into the bottom of a pint glass topped with lager sounds great, doesn’t it?

81. French press: $17

If you can’t hack a cup of gritty French press coffee, you probably don’t deserve good coffee.

82. Aeropress: $30

The easy, affordable, portable way to make an amazing cup of coffee. Really fast too. Non-coffee nerds will love it. Coffee nerds will appreciate having an another tool in their arsenal. Plus they travel really well.

83. Popcorn containers: $14

A set of these is cheaper than a bucket of popcorn at the theater.

84. Stovetop popcorn maker: $27

Because a can of popcorn kernels lasts like a year.

Sports and Outdoors

85. Baseball bat: $21

What good is a baseball bat if you aren’t 11 years old? A handsome wooden one looks great as an interior accent. Plus it’s great for imaginary BP in the den while you ponder deep thoughts. And, you know, clobbering bad guys.

86. Bocce ball set: $25

Most lawn games these days channel Ole Miss frat dudes — put the Leinenkugel down and rethink your summer vibe. Bocce’s the game of well-dressed, 60-year old Italians, sipping Campari under a Lake Como sunset. Pick your speed, man.

87. Pool float: $ 14

I’m convinced pool floats could be the next big consumer product craze. They kind of are already. The world’s getting hotter, and they’re delightfully Instagrammable.

88. Playmate cooler: $20

Speaking of pool. These playmate coolers are a classic. A great canvas for stickers of all the cool places you’ve been.

88. Badminton set: $26

Bring back the backyard badminton game. It’s a fun, social way to take a break from the keg at a BBQ. Sometimes a party game you can’t have a drink while playing is a much-needed break.

89. Beach towel: $25

How big is your family? Multiply that number by three. That’s how many beach towels should be in the home. At least that’s the minimum.

90. Beach chair: $21

Those folding camping chairs Baby Boomers take to parades are … OK. But a chair for the beach, low and sinky. That’s a lot more fun. Get down there by the sand.

91. Insulated picnic bag: $22

Throw in some craft beer, some white wine, some cheese. You’ve got a mobile, day-long party ready to go.

92. Water bottle: $19

It seems like every few years theres a hot new water bottle everyone’s using. Spend $25 on a nice water bottle for someone and you’ve just got them $20 more water bottle then they’d ever be comfortable getting for themselves.

93. REI lifetime membership: $20

If someone has a lot of outdoorsy hobbies or purchases ahead of them, a lifetime REI membership is a money-maker. Members get access to a bunch of special deals and events, and a 10% cash back check from everything they buy each year. Great gift for a college grad.

94. Portable charcoal grill: $30

These light grills are great for small apartments or people who generally just don’t have much space. Also a good pick for camping trips and the beach.

95. Campfire popcorn popper: $15

S’mores aren’t the only campfire snack.

96. S’mores caddy: $12

S’mores are a pretty great campfire snack. Keep all the ingredients in this handy tackle box looking kit.

Tools

97. Swiss army knife: $13

A Swiss Army Knife is a surprisingly handy item to keep in your desk at the office. Or in your glove compartment, or just throw it in a backpack or purse. Be the hero next time someone has a loose thread on a sweater.

98. Opinel folding pocketknife: $19

Opinel has been making knifes in France for more than 100 years. Slice an apple at a picnic, open a package of brie, tear into an Amazon package. Pocket knives aren’t just for grandpas.

99. Flashlight: $26

Since you can get a flashlight for like $3 these days, most people have only have flashlights worth $3. This means a small upgrade is a huge improvement.

Toys, games, electronics

100. Mini RC helicopter: $19

These are insanely fun. I don’t know why, but just lights-out, everyone’s-fighting-for-the-controller fun. And they’re cheap. Get two.

101. Raspberry pi: $27

These tiny, affordable computers can be used to power a bunch of cool DIY projects — robots, speakers, weather monitoring stations. Not for everyone, but a good gift for someone who’s into computers and likes to tinker.

102. Paint set: $21

Help someone unleash their inner Bob Ross.

103. Dart board: $25

An old school dart board you can hang in the garage. Just don’t impale any friends.

104. Hook and ring toss: $20

Another great thing to hang in the garage or the basement. Or the living room of a bachelor pad.

105. Tile sport bluetooth tracker: $25

This friendly little bluetooth tracker helps you find lost keys, luggage, the family cat. Time is money. So give the gift of less time wasted looking for lost stuff.

106. Tie dye kit: $20

The tie dye look is showing up again in some pretty cool, un-ironic ways. Don’t miss the groovy fun, man. This is another great family activity.

107. Blowdart and practice darts: $22

This is not practical. But firing rubber arrows at empty beer cans on the front porch is a pretty good way to kill a summer afternoon. Or something to do with the uncles after the Christmas dinner buzz kicks in.

Travel

108. Luggage tags: $14

Heavy duty luggage tags are a great travel accessory. They keep luggage identifiable and help make sure it isn’t lost in the baggage handling twilight zone.

109. Power bank: $20

People buy cheap power banks in gas stations, they don’t work well or last long so they get lost. Gift a better power bank and help your friends stay connected when they travel.

110. Ear plugs: $13

Another perfect, cheap gift for someone who travels a lot.

111. Phrase book: $10

A simple phrase book is a small, romantic gesture. Even if the person getting the gift isn’t traveling somewhere exotic. It’s a nice suggestion that maybe they will.

112. Compass: $8

Not just for Boy Scouts. A simple compass comes in handy after a day of travel when a dead phone means walking back to the hotel without getting totally lost.

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