20 Gift Ideas Under $50 That Look Expensive and Thoughtful
I try to keep a budget when gift giving. A certain amount for friends birthdays, another amount for parent’s holiday gifts, and then ofcourse, the budgets for the. various children I love that are in my life. It all adds up during the year, and forget about it when the holidays roll around. I try to start shopping for people in September to break up the costs instead of having to fund everything in December. It can be a lot!
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I’m always on the hunt to find a gift that looks like it cost a lot more than it actually was… gifts that are unique, personal and look thoughtfully chosen. While I may not be able to spoil some of my favorite people in the way I see celebrities gifting folks, I do like to give gifts that are reasonable and usually under $50 but are something they actually want. Btw, have you SEEN the Goop holiday guide? Aye yay yay! I love my friends but cannot afford to give them a $900 cashmere blanket, lol!! Must be nice to be in their world.
RELATED: Thoughtful Personalized Gifts For Every Budget
I’ve pulled together some gift ideas that are both under $25 and under $50 that I feel look more expensive than they are. When choosing a gift for someone, I try and think about their interests, what they normally wear and think about things like does she wear dainty jewelry or chunky? Do they stick to certain colors or are they a fan of patterns and stripes? I also like to think about their home and their decorating style. The more you think about their personal tastes, the easier it is to tailor a gift. Additionally, if you are struggling with their likes or interests, I think about what the things I use all the time like kitchen gadgets, a favorite candle, or a great coffee table book.
Gift Ideas $25 and Under That Don’t Look Cheap
Oven to Table Plate
This is such an adorable oven-to-table plate! Not only is it useful (it can also be used in the microwave), it’s such a pretty piece to leave out as decor in your kitchen. I adore this as it’s both useful nad a pretty piece of decor. A two-for-one, if you will.
Vera Bradley Quilted Jewelry Roll
This is such an adorable gift for well under $25. This is a great idea for anyone that travels a lot (or even sometimes!). It packs down smaller than a normal jewelry bag or box.
Candle Warmer
This candle warmer is my go-to gift. I have given this several times and each time, the receiver is beyond thrilled. In my opinion, it looks way more expensive than it is. Even better? Give an inexpensive candle in a pretty scent to go with it. She will be thrilled!
Terracotta Butter Keeper
Here me out on this one. This seems like an odd gift, but I was gifted a butter keeper once and it’s something I now use every day. It’s especially good for anyone with kids that ends up buttering a lot of toast and pancakes. A great add-on for this? Include a couple of hand-written recipe cards for speciality butters like brown sugar cinnamon honey butter. It makes it that more personal.
Orastone Rechargeable Hand Warmer
This rechargeable hand warmer is so much prettier than some of its counterparts. This is great for anyone living in colder winters and they have different designs to choose from so they work for everyone.
Bluecorn Beeswax Taper Candles
I don’t know what it is about beewax candles but they just feel more expensive and luxe than other candles (not to mention they are non-toxic which is a plus). Wrapped elegantly, this is such an understated but expensive looking gift for well under $25. If your budget allows, pair it with a pretty but inexpensive candle snuffer.
Personalized Canvas Tote
My sister-in-law has this and trust me when I saw it looks way more expensive than it is! I was SHOCKED when she told me how much it was. Plus, the fact you can get a personalized tote for under $25 is almost unheard of. Personalized gifts tend to be a bit more expensive.
Retro Bluetooth Speaker
I love this little guy! This portable wireless speaker is a great idea for both men and women. It. comes several different colors (I personally love the green).
Fountain Pen
A great gift idea for someone who loves to send handwritten notes or is just a general lover of stationary is a nice fountain pen. This is a pretty good option for under $25. Better yet? Get an inexpensive pack of pretty cards to go along with it.
Beautiful Boards Book
I have given this as a gift several times, and it’s always well received. I like to pair it with a nice jar of honey and a package of speciality crackers or nuts. This also makes a great hostess gift.
Gifts Ideas $50 And Under That Look More Expensive Than They Are
Birth Month Flower Scarf
These scarves are soft and lightweight and I love the personal aspect that you can gift her with the flower pattern of her birth month. Uncommon Goods is a great place to get unique gifts, by the way.
Beehive Candle
Another beeswax candle recommendation and this is one that I personally love. I received this as a gift several years ago and absolutely adored it. It’s all natural beeswax and burns for up to 70 hours! Plus it looks so unique and pretty sitting on a side table.
Le Specs Work It Retro 90s Sunglasses
These 90s inspired sunglasses are so fun! If your person is fun, trendy, and stylish, these sunglasses are the prefect gift!
Ralph Lauren Way of Living Coffee Table Book
You absolutely cannot go wrong with a great coffee table book. This is a gorgeous one, for sure.
Mango Shopper Bag
A GREAT tote as a great gift under $50! I am picky about my tote bags. If the handle isn’t long enough, I hate having to struggle to get it over my shoulder. But this one? Perfection. It even has a zipper to keep everything nicely contained inside. No one can have too many bags!
Brightland Basil Olive Oil
A great gift for any home chef or foodie. This is olive oil is infused with basil but they have other pairings like lemon, chili and rosemary. On top of it, this looks gorgeous sitting out on any counter.
Nod Pod Weighted Sleep Mask
I cannot recommend this enough, especially for women over 40 who have trouble sleeping. This weighted sleep mask instantly relaxes me. It really truly does help people get to sleep easier and faster. It’s like a little hug for your eyes.
Papier Undated Daily Planner
I have this planner and use it, well, daily. I’m picky about my planners but this is a great one. A good gift idea for anyone who likes to stay organized (or needs help to stay organized like me). There are all sorts of different designs to choose from. They have gorgeous address books as well.
Bala Bands Resistance Bands
This is a great under $50 gift for anyone who is a fan of working out, staying active and healthy. I like to take these bands whenever I travel to get in a quick workout in my hotel room. But they are great to have on-hand for any at-home workouts as well. They come in a couple of different color combos or you can get them all in black.
Olive Oil and Vinegar Dipping Tray
A great gift for anyone that loves to host parties or just a great gift all-around! The tray has an indented olive leaf design that the vinegar nestles into perfectly and then you pour the olive oil on top. Such a pretty presentation!
A Good Gift Doesn’t Have to Cost a Fortune
I’m a firm believer that you don’t have to spend a lot to give a really good gift. Some of my favorite things to give (and receive) fall well under the $50 mark. The trick is finding something that feels a little special, useful or just indulgent enough that someone probably wouldn’t buy it for themselves.
Whether you’re shopping for a friend, sister, teacher, hostess, coworker or that person who is notoriously hard to buy for, I hope this list makes it a little easier. I’ll continue adding to it as I find more gifts under $50 that pass my very unofficial test: would I be happy to unwrap this myself? If the answer is yes, it makes the cut.
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