30 Gift Ideas for Under $30

Not Finished Your Holiday Shopping?

Meghan Kerr, Perspectives Editor

Lush Bath Set
For the person in your life obsessed with self-care and smelling fresh, a Lush bath gift set is the perfect gift. They range from $15.00 all the way up to $300.00 and come pre-wrapped for your convenience.

Card Game
Perfect for a friendly get-together or family gathering, a card game is a fun gift to give to anyone who loves board games. Games such as “What Do You Meme?” or “For the Girls” are good options.

Headphones
Whether they like small earbuds or over-the-ear headphones, there are plenty of cheap options on Amazon for music lovers.

Fluffy Slippers
Especially in the cold months, fuzzy slippers are a comfy staple for anyone. Amazon and Target have many cute and trendy options to gift to your loved ones.

Wallet
A nice, sturdy wallet is a staple for anyone in your life. Amazon has plenty of good quality, cheap options. However, if you’re willing to splurge, you could also buy a customized wallet off of Etsy.

Skin Care Products
Skin care is a crucial part of self care and feeling good about yourself. As the months get dry, a nice moisturizer is a nice gift to have. You could also buy a jade roller or Gua Sha to allow for relaxed, smooth skin.

Echo Dot
As Amazon continues to come out with varieties of Amazon Alexas, they begin to get cheaper and more useful. An Echo Dot only costs about $25.00 and is a great alarm clock and source of knowledge when you need to ask a quick question.

Watch
While some watches can be extremely expensive, there are a variety of cheap, stylish options on Amazon and at Target or Walmart. A watch makes for a useful and stylish accessory and is a convenient gift for anyone.

Perfume/Cologne
This is a nice, thoughtful gift for anyone in your life. You can pick out a signature scent from Bath and Body Works, TJ Maxx, or Pink to show your gift-recipient how much they mean to you.

Jewelry
Whether it is earrings, a necklace, or a bracelet, jewelry is a gift that you can customize to the person you’re giving a gift to. Every time they wear your gift, they’ll be reminded of your generosity.

Lego Set
A Lego set is a fun idea for the creative person in your life. You can pick out a small set catered to their interests or even give a large elaborate set to grant them hours of fun.

Vinyl Record
If your gift recipient has a record player, a vinyl record is a trendy and thoughtful gift to give them. Order a vinyl of their favorite album from Amazon or Target for a musical gift.

Candle
A candle makes a beautiful decoration and warms up a room. During the holiday season, stores such as Yankee Candle and Bath and Body Works have a variety of festive candles to give, ranging from sugar cookie scents to peppermint.

Water Bottle
Nice water bottles such as Yetis or Hydro Flasks can be found on Amazon for under $30.00. Pick out your gift recipient’s favorite color and gift them the perfect object to keep their favorite drinks cold.

Phone Case
With a variety of designs and colors, a phone case is a simple way to decorate the object most of us use every day. Pick out a case that matches your gift recipient’s personality to both decorate and protect their phone.

Squishmallow
As the Squishmallow franchise has become more popular, the soft toys have become both a collector’s item and a fun decorative piece for a home or bedroom. Places like Target and Five Below have a variety of adorable Squishmallows to make someone smile this holiday season.

Personalized Keychain
Car keys and house keys are objects we carry around every day. If you want to give someone a sentimental and memorable gift, head over to Etsy or Amazon to customize a keychain with a nice photograph or message for your loved one.

Bath Salts
Especially with college applications, AP exams, and finals slowly coming up, many students are expected to be stressed. Some nice smelling bath salts from brands such as Dr. Teals allow for a gift to soothe away some of this stress with a relaxing bath.

Flower Press
For the person in your life who loves receiving flowers, a flower press is a gift that allows them to keep and preserve this gift for a long time. Dried flowers make a beautiful decoration in a home, and a flower press is a thoughtful and creative gift for the person who seems to have everything.

Weighted Stuffed Animal
A weighted stuffed animal is a cute and cuddly gift that also helps to soothe anxiety. Places like Target, Walmart, and Marshall’s have a variety of animals that you can buy your loved one.
Sweatshirt
Especially in Maryland, the winter months can be extremely cold. A warm sweatshirt is a staple gift for anyone in your life. Sweatshirts under $30.00 can be found at TJ Maxx, on Amazon, and at Target.

Planner
Being organized is a valuable skill for anyone to have. It can help you keep track of things like due dates and work schedules,. For the person in your life who loves to be organized or who wants to be, a beautifully decorated planner can be purchased at a variety of stores such as Michael’s, Target, and TJ Maxx.

Streaming Service
Who watches movies on DVD anymore? Streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu are popular programs that allow you to watch a variety of movies and TV shows. Most packages for streaming services are very affordable. You could buy someone three months of a streaming service and give the gift of unlimited movies. Services such as Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+ are all under $10.00 a month.

Exotic Candy
Trying new foods, especially foods from different countries, is an interesting experience. Boxes of exotic candy and snacks can be ordered on Amazon if your gift recipient loves trying new things. There are a variety of different countries to choose from ranging from Asian snacks to European snacks.
Car Magnet/Decal
Decorating your car is a simple way to show the world a little bit about who you are as a person. If your gift recipient is passionate about a music artist, movie, or sports team, a magnet/decal specific to these interests allow for a cute and creative car decoration.

Blanket
Fluffy blankets are a holiday staple. Whether you cuddle up with one by the fire and Christmas tree or use it to warm up after a snowy day, they are a useful and warm gift for the winter season. You can purchase a neutral design or one with fun colors from a variety of retail stores like Target or Walmart.

Reusable Tote Bag
Plastic grocery bags are horrible for the environment. To make your loved one and the earth smile, stop by Etsy or Target, and pick out a beautiful tote bag for your gift recipient.

Car Karaoke Microphone
If you and your loved ones enjoy scream-singing to your favorite songs in the car, a karaoke microphone is something creative and fun to get for your family members or friends. Amazon has a variety of cheap options that allow your gift recipient to sing artists like Taylor Swift’s songs from the top of their lungs.

Beanie
In the cold and snowy months, a cute beanie is a convenient accessory to have to keep you warm and stylish. Trendy beanies such as Carhartt beanies are only about $20.00 and make for simple yet thoughtful gifts.

Hair Accessories
Whether it is a pack of hair ties, hair clips, or even an inexpensive styling tool, hair accessories are great gifts for the beauty lover in your life. Amazon, Ulta, and Target have inexpensive hair accessories which make for cute and easy gifts.