So often we associate the word ‘cheap’ with negative connotations, especially when it comes to gift giving. But that doesn’t need to be the case.
Nailing the art of the present exchange isn’t about having the biggest budget. Quite the contrary. You will be far more successful come December 25 by tactically selecting treasures suited to the interests of your lucky recipient. They say it’s the thought that counts, so thought is very much the non-negotiable element.
Christmas is a time for indulgence in every sense of the word. All that eating, drinking and merriness doesn’t come cheap, nor does the shopping list. Investing in a gift for each member of your family can seriously set you back financially, so we have taken it upon ourselves to curate a best buys list of cheap but cheerful items that come editor-approved.
This guide will take you through an array of mood-boosting knick-knacks, sumptuous personal or home scents, self-care staples or charming design details that your lucky recipient will be delighted to find under their tree or stashed in their stocking. And, best of all, when you’re on a tighter budget, they won’t make too much of a dent in your seasonal celebrations.
We have selected palatably priced presents at around the £20 mark or under. It was important to us, however, to steer clear of those novelty finds that will simply end up lining landfills. They may be amusing for five minutes, but more often than not, they’ll make their way into the charity bag before next Christmas rolls around. As responsible shoppers, we can do better than that.
We have curated this guide to inspire with gifts that have a purpose – be it to stash their beauty travel essentials or transform their mid-week dinners. We have been on the lookout for those special selections that will spark enduring joy – and we’ll keep adding them in as we find them.
Shop the best Christmas budget buys below - no socks in sight.
Nata Concept Store Farfalle wax candle
Nata Concept Store’s playful candles look so good you’ll want to eat them. Whether you select the farfalle design pictured, the olive, cheese cracker or Emmental, it infuses notes of jasmine, neroli and orange blossom, but chances are they’ll never get burned (they’re just too cute!).
Buy now £18.00, Selfridges
Phlur Best Sellers Deluxe Trio
It's the cult fragrance on every beauty insider's lips right now. Phlur's three bestsellers are here in mini, handbag-friendly format ready for adding to basket. Each measuring 5ml, you'll get Vanilla Skin, Father Figure and Missing Person in the set. An economical way to trial them before buying your full-size favourite.
Was: £28
Buy now £22.40, Space NK
SKIMS Fits Everybody Scooped Bra and Thong
I don’t even like bras! SKIMS has made me like bras! I eschewed bras in my early twenties after growing sick and tired of how uncomfortable and restrictive they are. Who needs to feel like they’re wearing a physical straight jacket each and every day? Not I. The Fit Everybody bra is so deliciously subtle, that you don’t even realise you’re wearing it. Made of a buttery smooth material that the thong comes in too, the fabric slips onto the skin without any nips, tucks or marks at the end of the day. Seriously, forget those lame strap marks you used to endure: they are so BS (Before SKIMS of course).
As for the thong, any cheese-grater connotations can be left by the door. Just as sumptuously soft as its bra counterpart, the Fits Everybody thong is so comfortable you forget you’re wearing pants. Just imagine that.
Buy now £34.00, Net-A-Porter
For the Love of Food by Paul Ainsworth
Despite being awarded a Michelin star in 2013, For the Love of Food (2024) marks Paul Ainsworth’s first foray into the cookbook world. An instant best-seller filled with comforting classics and exciting dishes to impress your friends with, it features a foreword from one of his former employers, Gordon Ramsay.
Solid recipes, fresh ingredients and cooking with love are the cornerstones of Ainsworth’s brilliant compendium which features recipes like BBQ Mackerel Bruschetta with Pesto Mayonnaise, Brown Butter Pumpkin Tortelli with Parmesan, Sage and Biscotti and Toad-in-the-hole Ainsworth-style.
Buy now £19.12, Amazon
Secret Aardvark Habanero Hot Sauce
Just look at this packaging! No hot sauce selection worth its salt is complete without the striking selection from Secret Aardvark. The Habanero takes its cues from Caribbean and Tex-Mex formulas, calling on the flavours of Habanero peppers with roasted tomatoes. Enjoy on absolutely everything.
Buy now £13.50, Amazon
Jellycat Otto Sausage Dog small soft toy
It’s Jellycat’s world and we’re all living in it. The plush toys are everywhere, stealing the hearts of adults and little ones alike for their adorable design and sumptuously soft feel. Otto the Sausage Dog is one of our favourites and is made for Daschund lovers, whether they are in fact an owner or aspire to be one.
Buy now £19.00, Selfridges
Calvin Klein Men's Trunk (Pack of 3)
Let’s be honest, we all relish the annual underwear update that goes hand in hand with Christmas gifting. It’s practical, always appreciated and will trigger a New Year New Boxers clear out that has been so desperately needed.
Buy now £23.00, Amazon
Owala FreeSip
Best for: the aesthetically pleasing water bottle of dreams
One of the winners of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2023, Owala was praised for its mantra of ‘hydration made fun’. The brand was founded with the intention to – as they put it – create magic out of the ordinary, transforming the mundanity of daily hydration into a fun experience for all.
The Owala FreeSip is the brand’s hero product, though they have an array of other options fit for kids and avid hikers. The FreeSip is available in five different sizes ranging from 710ml to 1 litre and is offered in an array of lovely colourways. It’s got triple-layer insulation, a handy carry handle, a built-in straw, and a large opening for chugging. We’re big fans of the push-button spring opening for easy hydration on the move.
Buy now £33.59, Amazon
Brutto: A (Simple) Florentine Cookbook
Best for: Florentine cooking
“Brutto ma bono” is the ethos at the heart of the late, great Russell Norman’s cookbook. Meaning “ugly but good”, it is the rather relatable motto on which crafting authentic Tuscan cuisine is contingent.
Filled to the brim with the small plate recipes that Norman pioneered, Brutto is all about using simple, high-quality ingredients to craft excellent Italian food – from anchovy with cold butter and sourdough to penne with tomato and vodka.
Buy now £21.98, Amazon
Final Touch Bar Bespoke Loch Ness Monster Glass Tumbler
To be paired with Scotch, there’s a surprise lurking in this glass tumbler. Another Scottish local, the mythical Loch Ness monster will be spotted submerged among their amber spirit.
Buy now £15.00, John Lewis
Aesop Geranium Leaf Body Scrub
Best body scrub for: Unisex scrubbers
Aesop has become a cult label and not solely on account of the brand’s aesthetically pleasing minimalist design - although can we just take a moment of appreciation? The products live up to the hype, especially the body scrub.
There are two variants; Geranium Leaf and Redemption - the latter of which combines pumice, bamboo stem and pine needle oil. Housed in a bold, green tube, the former opts for botanical oils over pine needle oils to give it a fresh, citrusy scent over the aromatic alpine. It has a clear but grainy gel texture that buffs into your skin to increase cell turnover and prep it for the next moisturisation stage.
Use only once or twice a week on wet skin and then rinse.
Buy now £31.00, Aesop
Oliver Bonas Wobble Orange Glass Watering Can
Caring for plant babies is easy when the accessories look this good. A decorative detail in its own right, you’ll be proud to display the Wobble Orange Glass Watering Can with its jelly-like design and soft pastel hues.
Buy now £22.50, Oliver Bonas
John Lewis Sugar & Spice Disco Mushroom Decoration
Mushroom design details have been ubiquitous in the interiors space this year and for a disco take, look no further than this light-bounding mirrored design from John Lewis.
Buy now £10.00, John Lewis
The Flat Lay Co. Open Flat Makeup Bag in Leopard Print
Best for: extra storage
The Flat Lay Co. is changing up the makeup game with its pouches. Loosen the drawstring fastening and the bag opens up almost entirely flat to fully reveal the contents. Topping up your look on the go has never been so simple. Keep your small, prized possessions like jewellery or accessories in the zipped interior pocket, while your brushes are kept firmly to hand thanks to the elasticated slots. There are also two additional exterior pockets for extra storage. It comes in a flurry of different designs but this bold leopard might just be our favourite.
Buy now £19.50, Sephora
Joy Gratitude Journal
For a vast array of pretty colourways and some fantastic prompt-based gratitude journaling, look no further than Papier. Featuring daily prompts and monthly check-ins, as well as a series of uplifting quotes and mottos scattered throughout – this journal feels like paper-bound sunshine. We particularly love the fact that each daily check-in is paired with a different self-love mantra to take with you on your daily journeys.
This journal contains five months of entries for you to fill at your own pace, on 96 leaves of 85gsm paper. You can also personalise it, making it the perfect gift for a friend or loved one.
Buy now £26.00, Papier
Neom Perfect Night’s Sleep Bath Foam
If you are having trouble sleeping, draw yourself a warm bath and add the relaxing aromas of Neom’s Bath Foam which promotes a long and deep rest. Using only natural fragrances, it combines the soothing ingredients of aloe and sweet almond oil with marshmallow and coconut oil as well as English lavender, sweet basil & jasmine and 16 other essential oils.
Buy now £20.80, Amazon
Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream
If you’re not yet familiar with Sol de Janeiro or the Brazilian skin, hair and fragrance label’s cult Bum Bum Cream, you’re in for a treat. We cannot stress enough the effect that it'll have on your mood, as well as your skin.
It is enriched with one of the most heady aromas on the market - a combination of almond, vanilla and coconut that you will catch a whiff of throughout the day. While the scent transports you to Copacabana, the nourishing benefits of cupuaçu butter, coconut oil, açaí oil, and Brazil nut hydrate the skin, smothering it with nutrients, antioxidants and essential fatty acids.
At the heart is guaraná, an Amazonian vine that has a smoothing and revitalising effect with five times more caffeine than coffee.
The legendary body lotion is joined by Bom Dia Bright with a light, floral and fresh scent and Beija Flor Elasti-Cream with the fragrance of the Cheirosa ‘68 fragrance that has notes of lychee essence and pink dragonfruit, salty ocean air and hibiscus and a base of sheer vanilla and sun musk.
Buy now £21.00, Space NK
Anker SoundCore mini
For bigger sound in a small device, the Anker SoundCore mini packs a powerful punch.
You won’t believe how this tiny speaker can fill a room of any size and reach such high volumes without interfering with the sound quality. It has a heavy, powerful bass and crisp audio but best of all, it is offered at a very purse-friendly price.
The device itself has a robust and premium construction. You will get 15 hours of continuous play with quick charging capabilities. It is also fitted with FM radio and hands-free calling.
Opt between the four hues on offer and slip this speaker into your backpack or bag for powerful sound on the go.
Buy now £23.99, Amazon
Galt Slime Lab
Is there anything a kid loves more than slime? Well, actually yes – making their own slime (especially if they can then use it to make farting noises).
This affordable set from toy masters, Galt, provides a ton of fun with a few simple ingredients. The kit contains a pot of glow-in-the-dark slime, bouncing putty, noise pot, slime and putty powders, pipette, notebook, a bug and an alien mould, plus an easy-to-follow lab book. You can get started straight away, by simply playing with the existing putty or starting to make your own. Fair warning, the kit does assume you have a few ingredients at home, including cornflour and PVA glue, so you do need to prep a little, however our tester managed to create something resembling slime with very little assistance.
Buy now £15.99, Amazon
Eleanor Bowmer 'You Got This' New Bone China Mug, 300ml
For a daily reminder that will never go amiss, this cutesy mug from Eleanor Bowmer will brighten up any morning cuppa.
Buy now £11.95, John Lewis
Anthropologie Parker Monogram Mug
If your colleague or family member is forever making cups of tea, help make their next brew more distinctive with this beautifully crafted monogram mug.
The glazed stoneware and geometric print are endlessly cool and you can pair it with a matching saucer for extra brownie points.
Buy now £12.00, Anthropologie
Neal's Yard Remedies Bee Lovely Nourishing Collection
New year, new resolutions to moisturise daily. Skin is the body's largest organ after all - it needs proper TLC and Neal's Yard has just the gentle remedy in this nourishing, Shea Butter-enriched collection. The All Over Balm is made for chapped and wind-burned patches.
Was: £25
Buy now £19.00, Amazon
Urban Decay 24/7 Mono Moondust Eyeshadow
Yet another viral beauty sensation, Urban Decay’s Moondust Eyeshadow has been all over social media as of late – and for good reason. Offered in three unmistakably shimmery shades, the vegan formula features dazzling, show-stopping pigments which – despite being dry-pressed – offer a wondrous wet look which lasts for up to 16 hours.
Buy now £15.00, Urban Decay
CREED Women's Sample Inspiration Fragrance Gift Set
Creed's fragrances are legendary, but they don't exactly come cheap. Before you stump up for a full-size bottle, get your hands on this discovery set which includes five vials. You can see how they develop and how long they last before picking your fave.
Was: £40
Buy now £32.00, John Lewis
