Christmas gifts on a budget – 30 gift ideas that won’t break the bank

‘Tis the season to… accidentally overspend, resulting in a rather dreary January and a stressful entry into the new year. It doesn’t have to be, though! There are plenty of ways to embrace all the festive feels without breaking the bank. 

Avoid overstretching yourself this Christmas with our quick guide to buying Christmas gifts on a budget. Read on to discover tips to avoid overspending and a whole host of low-cost Christmas present ideas for all tastes.

Our top tips for Christmas shopping on a budget 

• Set an overall budget – break this up into a budget per-person. For example, £10 for friends, £20 for close family members. Stick to it religiously!

• Get into homemade presents – super thoughtful, unique, and easily one of the cheapest ways to gift

• Remember it really is the thought that counts – gifts made or bought on a budget can often mean more than big ticket items

• Only browse within your set budget online – set online shop filters to £10, £20 or whatever your per-gift budget is. It’s much easier to avoid overspending when you don’t have to trawl through all those out-of-budget gifts

• Secret-Santa it – organise with your family that the grown-ups will do Secret Santa this year, rather than everyone buying everyone a gift. Huge money-saver

• Bulk buy – see a 3-for-2 deal? Whether it’s on make-up, books or something else, make use of it and split your goodies into three different gifts.

Christmas gift ideas on a budget

This carefully curated list promises a whole range of creative, sentimental and crowd-pleasing gift ideas that will make sticking to your budget easy.

Homemade treats & DIY Christmas gifts

Budget: £0.50 - £2 per gift

You can easily get cost-per-gift down to a pound or two (or even less!) when you get into making your own treats and trinkets.

Jar of spiced nuts, candied ginger, or honey-roasted treats

1. Homemade jams, pickles and chutneys

2. Mini baked loaf (banana, gingerbread, or pumpkin) wrapped in festive parchment

3. Layered hot-chocolate or mulled cider mix in a jar with instructions

4. Homemade cookies or fudge in a decorated tin or box

5. Handmade Christmas baubles or other decorations

6. A crocheted winter hat

7. Flavoured simple syrups (vanilla, cinnamon, or orange) in a glass bottle, decorated with twine and festive tags

8. Homemade gin with festive spices and flavourings

9. Selection of dried herbs picked from your garden and presented in a pretty jar.

Crowd-pleaser budget Christmas gifts 

Budget: £5 - £10 per gift

You should be able to grab each of these Christmas stocking crowd-pleasers for under a tenner.

1. Quirky, novelty or stylish mug 

2. Socks! Cosy socks, fashion socks, novelty socks – imagination’s the limit

3. Scented candle or a stylish candle holder

4. Box of chocolates or fancy biscuits

5. A nice pen and/or notebook

6. Fancy pantry cupboard treats – good quality olive oil, farm shop jams and chutneys

7. Books – see note on making use of 3-for-2 deals above!

8. Mini beauty items and travel-sized grooming kits

9. Small succulent plant in a pretty pot.

Pretty-much free Christmas gifts 

Budget: £0 per gift 

Showing someone you care doesn’t have to involve spending anything at all.

1. Personalised playlist – a curated mix of songs that remind you of them

2. Gift your talent – whether you’re a keen painter, photographer or writer, use your creativity to offer a truly personal and unique gift

3. Recipe giveaway – share a collection of your best-loved recipes with a fellow foodie

4. Gift your time – a coupon for a night’s babysitting, a week’s worth of dog walks, or a helping hand with a big move 

5. Gifts from your garden – a handmade bouquet or collection of dried winter herbs.
   

Low-cost sentimental Christmas gifts 

Budget: £5-10 per gift

Warning: may cause teary hugs, especially after an eggnog or two.

1. Photo in a photo frame – a classic for a reason!

2. Old-school photo album with thoughtful notes throughout

3. Personalised mug or teatowel with an important date or photo

4. Framed map marking where you met, fell in love, or travelled together

5. Framed quote or lyric that means something to you both

6. Personalised calendar made with your own photos.

That’s a wrap (sorry!) on our budget Christmas gift guide. 


*The article above includes general information and should not be taken as financial advice. If you have questions about your specific circumstances, please speak to an independent financial advisor.