Favorite Things Party Gifts Ideas Under $15 – Viral Favorites!

I’ve participated in a Favorite Things party for a couple of years now and I’ve got to admit it’s one of my favorite get-togethers of the year. I’ve belonged to a bookclub for about 18+ years now with the same group of gals. Some ladies come and go, but the core group has remained the same. Every December, we forgo having someone host book club and meet at a restaurant so that no one needs to host or cook and we review our favorite (and least favorite) books of the year. But the best part? We do a favorite things party gift exchange. I believe our budget is usually around the $15 – $20 range but I do know a lot of folks will cap the parties at $10 per gift.

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Finding gifts for a favorite things party can be a bit of a challenge when you’re looking for something that falls under $15. You want to be something you actually would want to gift (or something you know you love yourself is sort of the point), can work for every person attending the party, and for me, personally, I want people to be excited about it!

Even harder is if you’re attending a favorite things party with both men and women as that can knock some things off the list like your favorite travel mascara or some really good sleep gummies for women in perimenopause, lol.

RELATED: Ultimate Favorite Things Party Gifts Ideas Under $20 – Tik Tok Favorites!

Some things to keep in mind when planning a Favorite Things Party:

• Set a budget: most people agree upon $10 – $15 items but feel free to discuss with your group to find what you’re all most comfortable with!
• Consider Your Audience: Remember that your gift needs to work for everyone attending your party. I was considering giving some super cute pearl-studded headbands, but 2 people in my group just aren’t into headbands, so I went with something that appealed to everyone, a dry bar hairbrush.
• Find a Gift in your price range: Feel free to deviate from Amazon where you know you can get things cheap and quick. Consider shopping on Etsy to support a local artisan or head to your local boutiques on Small Business Saturday. I recently found some pre-made dry mix dips that were $10. All you needed to make the mix was 8oz of cream cheese and some sour cream so I also included those with the dip mix for a complete little DIY appetizer gift.
• Don’t be afraid to get crafty! I had a friend that made a cute little simmer pot package. She put dried oranges, a cinnamon stick, cloves, a sprig of rosemary, fresh nutmeg and a handful of cranberries. Those things still cost money but it’s something homemade and coming from the heart (on top of making your house smell insanely good).

Here are my personal picks for great gifts under $15 for a Favorite Things Party!

FAQs

What exactly is a “Favorite Things” party?

A “Favorite Things” party is a fun gift-exchange where each guest brings one their favorite things under a set dollar limit (in your case, under $20). Then guests swap so everyone leaves with something new they love.

How many gifts does each person bring?

This depends on how you organize your group. You might ask each guest to bring one item under $20 (which is then swapped), or to bring multiple duplicates of the same item so each attendee can go home with the same thing from several people. If you’re attending a party that someone else hosts, be sure you know how many gifts (just one, or one for everyone) to provide.

What kinds of gifts work best for this type of party?

Think shareable things you personally love and feel good recommending. Ideal gifts should be:
Affordable under the budget
Something you already love/use (so you’re genuinely recommending it)
Broad appeal (so other guests will like it too)
Visible value (small luxury, fun, beautiful packaging)

How do I package or present the gift?

Presentation adds to the fun! Include a small card with sentence like: “I use this every morning and thought you might love it too.” That little personal note makes the exchange meaningful.

Can this kind of party work for a mixed group (men & women, families, coworkers)?

Absolutely! It just means you might broaden the gift-categories (e.g., travel gear, tech accessories, home office items, coffee & snack items) and remind guests: “Think of something you love that almost anyone could enjoy.” If kids are involved, you could also do a “junior” version with gifts under $10 or have a separate “kid swap.” Kids are almost always happy exchanging candy!

What do I need to do when hosting a favorite things party?

– Set the budget clearly and early.
– Decide how many items each guest brings (one vs. multiples).
– Provide or link to sample gift ideas so people who have never attended a favorite things party can get the gist of what kind of things to bring.
– Consider how you’ll swap (random draw, steal-game, etc.).
– Remind guests if you’d like them wrapped or unwrapped.
– End with a photo-op with everyone holding their new favs!

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