The 30 Best Gifts Under $30

Just because it's cheap doesn't mean it has to look like it

December 6, 2019 12:55 pm
The 30 Best Gifts Under $30

Nota bene: If you buy through the links in this article, we may earn a small share of the profits.

Stocking stuffers, secret Santa, that person you just started dating right before the holidays. Sometimes you don’t want to spend a whole lot of money on a gift. It’s okay, we’ve been there. But just because something is cheap doesn’t mean it has to be cheap.

So to save you the trouble of selecting the “low to high” category filter on every website you come across, we’ve rounded up 30 of the best gifts under $30. From custom-art coasters to Yeti coozys and vacuum wine savers, these gifts will have the receiver thinking you really care about them.

Tattly Flipside Coaster

A set of four custom-art coasters featuring a naked woman in a martini glass smoking a cig. If that doesn’t get the party goin’ we don’t know what will.

Tetra Coil Lighter

The lighter to end all lighters. These babies require no fuel, are rechargeable and include a USB charger. For the person who’s constantly asking to borrow a lighter — now they’ll never need to again.

Men Soft Touch Turtleneck Long-Sleeve T-Shirt

We’ve written before about how dudes who wear turtlenecks are hotter than dudes who don’t wear turtlenecks. This is still true. And this one is thin enough that it won’t make him too hot, like, in the less desirable way.

Malin+Goetz Rum Body Duo

The perfect travel friendly body wash and lotion so whoever you’re gifting it to doesn’t have to subject themselves to the drying and stripping hotel kind.

Mini Keychain Flask

This mini keychain flask only holds one ounce of booze, but in a time of crisis, one emergency shot can go a long way.

Genius Music (Genius Playing Cards)

Sure, you could play with a deck of boring cards, or you could make the game even more interesting with this deck featuring musical greats.

JACK BLACK – Intense Therapy Lip Balm Set

As the air gets colder and drier, we’re headed into peak chapped lips season. Don’t let your friends and coworkers be unprepared: this limited-edition set includes three flavors — natural mint, Asian pear and black cherry.

Areaware Bent-Nail Bottle Opener

For the beer drinker who also places a premium on design, this thing is sure to be a hit. The nail itself opens the bottle, and the internal magnets keep the cap from falling to the floor. Genius.

Yeti Rambler Colster

This might seem somewhat gimmicky and unnecessarily expensive, given that you can easily buy a coozy for, like, four dollars, but we’re telling you, this thing is far superior. It keeps beers cold forever and looks dope. Enough said.

Tovolo Sphere Ice Molds

Here’s what you do: show up with these idiot-proof spherical ice molds and immediately fill them and stick ’em in the freezer. By mid party, you and the host are enjoying a Manhattan in high style. People comment on it. You look like a hero. Everybody wins.

Star Wars™ Cookie Cutters

These cookie cutters from W&P designs latest collab with Star Wars feature some classic characters from the franchise, and a Yoda you could easily pass off as the baby.

Moleskine Classic Notebook

What kind of asshole wouldn’t be happy to receive a Moleskine as a gift? I’ll tell you what kind: the thoughtless kind who has no taste. Gift away.

Sun Is High Mini Graphic Ashtray

This 70s-inspired ashtray is great for burning incense, disposing of ashes, or whatever other hippie bullshit you’re up to. Also makes a great gag gift for mom.

Taschen Polaroid Book

Coffee table books make great gifts but are notoriously expensive. Luckily this one from coffee table book heavyweight Taschen is only $20 and features over 472 pages from the Polaroid Corporation’s collection.

Utensil Kit

Whether you are a person who actually cares about the environment or just a person who fucking hates those nasty paper straws certain coffee shops are starting to use, this kit will come in handy: two metal straws and a straw cleaner, plus a combination fork/spoon and a pair of metal chopsticks.

Exploded Herringbone Socks

American Trench makes our favorite socks on the planet, and we are particularly fond of these thick, textured boot socks with a playful, oversized herringbone pattern. We get nervous every time we send ours to be laundered, worried that only one will come back. So far so good.

Uniqlo Heattech Knitted Cap

Give the gift of Uniqlo’s Heattech technology this holiday season. Whoever you gift it to will be forever thankful when they find their ears and noggin warm and snug come the worst of winter weather.

Gray Malin Snow Ski Puzzle

There’s nothing more relaxing, or satisfying, than completing a puzzle on a snowy day. Plus, this one is double-sided so it’s two puzzles for the price of one.

Snowe Candles

The signature scent from Snowe is most notable for not smelling like every other candle even vaguely marketed toward dudes, instead offering a wholly unique blend of what they describe as reminiscent of “warm, soothing baking spices and juniper berries.” None of that makes any sense to us, exactly, but it smells awesome. Looks great on a shelf, too.

Mini Cocktail Syrup 3-Pack Set

These mini cocktail syrups are foolproof: all that’s required is alcohol and you’ve got yourself a drink. Even the cocktail challenged can figure this one out.

Original Vacu Vin Wine Saver

When the party’s through and the host has a bunch of half-finished bottles, what are they supposed to do? Pour ’em out? Slug ’em down like the aforementioned boxcar hobo? Nay, we say — with your assistance, they’ll be pumping the air out of those bottles and then finishing them at a reasonable, non-hobo pace.

Pac-Man Retro Arcade Game

This cute lil guy is the ideal desk companion for someone with a low attention span and constantly finds themself bored at work. It even allows for a two player game, so you can join in on the fun.

Anker PowerCore 5000 Portable Charger

Admittedly not the sexiest gift we’ve recommended this holiday season, but they’ll thank you when they’re drunk as hell on New Year’s Eve and their phone miraculously doesn’t die before they can get an Uber home.

Enamel Mug

One can never have too many mugs. This one from HAY Design is a nod to the vintage design of camper mugs and can hold both hot and cold beverages.

Bistro Tile Salt & Pepper Shakers

Salt and pepper shakers that look straight out of an Italian bistro. Also includes a “Bon appetit” dish

P.F. Candle Co. Room Spray

Think of this room spray as an upgraded version of Febreeze. Also, it’s the perfect way to subtly let someone know that their abode could smell…better.

Kiehl’s Hydration Essentials

Skincare essentials to keep yours (or your secret Santa’s) skin hydrated and smooth throughout the bitter winter months. And Kiehl’s is some nice shit so they’ll totally think you balled out for this.

Elago Leather AirPods Case

Because no one should have to suffer the indignity of having their AirPods look like everyone else’s AirPods. Also, it’s kinda handy how it attaches to a keychain, thereby making you 100 percent less likely to lose them.

Intelligentsia Signature Set Bundle

There are newer, fancier-seeming coffee brands out there, but no one would ever turn up their nose at this nice gift set from Intelligentsia. Gotta respect the OGs, after all.

Black Truffle Infused Hot Sauce

Every hot sauce snob needs this black truffle infused version in their repertoire. It’s just slightly hot so it won’t incite any medical emergencies and will enhance rather than overpower the meal.

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