Gifts Under $10 | Gifts Under $25 | Gifts Under $50 | Splurge Gifts | Books
Do you find it pleasurable or rewarding to dash through the picked-over aisles on December 24, jostling for crumbs and scraps alongside other frantic shoppers, or waiting on your porch to see if your package will arrive in time? If so, this is not the article you’re looking for. However, if organization is thy middle name, and you love having creative and clever presents on hand for last-minute invites, get-togethers, that Secret Santa office swap you didn’t realize was mandatory and surprise guests, read on!
Below are 24 perfect-for-everyone, versatile gift ideas in a range of price points to carry you through any parties and surprise pop-overs from friends and family, as well as special somethings for those special someones. Also, browse for fun ideas for yourself, because you deserve it.
So take advantage of all the early sales this year, order now, and then kick back and relax with a hot chocolate (or a hot toddy, you don’t have to go anywhere) on Christmas Eve.
Read on to see all the best early holiday gifts for everyone you know, starting at less than $4.
Gifts Under $10
Sprout Wood-Cased Pencils Plant a Tree Edition
Step aside, boring office supplies! Meet the world’s first plantable pencil. Sprout makes their pencils with certified wood, sourced from responsibly managed forests, that you use. Once it’s too short to write with, plant it to grow a spruce tree. Fans of SproutWorld include Save the Children, brands like Coca Cola, Marriott, Disney, Ikea and celebs including Michelle Obama and Richard Branson.
Why It’s A Smart Buy: It’s fun to find twists on the usual, and Earth-aware kids and adults alike will love the 2-in-1 benefits they get from these pencils.
Price: $9.99 at Amazon.com
Drumstick Pens
These drumstick blue ballpoint pens are made out of poplar wood, with a nice feel and weight, making them ideal for writing and for tapping out a favorite song.
Why It’s A Smart Buy: We’re 100% behind anything to make our desks less boring, especially for under $10.
Price: $8 at UncommonGoods.com
Golden Girls Rose Crew Socks
Warm your feet and your heart with Golden Girls-themed socks. Buy all four of the ladies — Rose, Sophia, Dorothy, and Blanche for your best friends and bust out the cheesecake.
Why It’s A Smart Buy: Fun socks are a fun gift — they don’t take up a ton of space, and even people who don’t like to dress too flashily will enjoy a little sneaky pop of personality on their feet.
Price: $9.99 at Kohls.com
Compartés Chocolate Bars
Award-winning Compartés has been pleasing chocolate lovers (including Oprah, Elton John, Billie Eilish and even Winston Churchill) for almost 75 years. Order a handful of their creative, beautiful, handcrafted chocolate bars and you’ll never be without an awesome gift, or snack for yourself, within reach.
Why It’s A Smart Buy: In all sorts of fun and creative flavors (Matcha Green Tea White Chocolate, Red Velvet, California Love Pretzel Dark Chocolate) these make great stocking stuffers, hostess gifts and desserts to serve when special guests come over.
Price: $9.95 at Compartés.com
Burt’s Bees Limited-Edition Peppermint Lip Balm
This holiday-exclusive peppermint lip balm is made with beeswax and peppermint for a seasonally appropriate, and very refreshing way to condition chapped lips. Prefer other flavors? They’ve got vanilla maple, salted caramel, chai, mint cocoa, pumpkin spice and more.
Why It’s A Smart Buy: Burt’s Bees is a beloved brand that manages to offer all sorts of gentle and nourishing skin and beauty products at reasonable prices. An affordable, festive balm is a good stocking stuffer for all ages.
Price: $3.99 at BurtsBees.com
World’s Smallest Official Nerf Basketball
Look, a teeny-tiny working basketball and hoop, with a suction cup bottom so it stays upright no matter how many shots they take.
Why It’s A Smart Buy: All of the World’s Smallest mini games and toys (think tiny Jenga sets and Monopoly games) are cute, actually work, and make great stocking stuffers for kids or clever desk-friendly presents for colleagues.
Price: $7.80 at Amazon.com
Gifts Under $25
Kraft Mac & Cheese Necklace
An 18-inch gold-plated smile noodle necklace from a brand known for their yummy snacks, not their jewelry. Super cute!
Why It’s A Smart Buy: You’ll certainly put a smile on their face with this quirky purchase.
Price: $24.95 at KraftMacAndCheese.com
Goaliath 18-inch Mini Basketball Hoop
An easy-to-install, indoor mini basketball hoop has a shatterproof backboard and a foam-padded bracket so doors, closets and dorm rooms won’t get scratched up. Comes with a mini, lightweight basketball for practice whenever the mood strikes.
Why It’s A Smart Buy: I know a few teens with this set and they love it and haven’t damaged anything in their rooms while using it. (Do note that the thumping isn’t too loud, but it’s not whisper-quiet either.)
Price: $24.99 at DicksSportingGoods.com
Fluffie Stuffiez
If you might see a niece or nephew, younger cousin, or maybe your kid gets a last-minute cookie decorating invite, it’s nice to have a few reasonably-priced toys on hand. This fun plush sensory toy reveals itself fully once you pull the fluff off.
Why It’s A Smart Buy: RetailMeNot editor Kristin McGrath says this is one of the season’s hottest toys, so it’s one you’ll want to get your hands on early.
Price: $14.96 at Walmart.com
Old World Christmas Pickleball Ornament
Old World Christmas is known for their clever holiday ornament designs, and they come up with new ones each year. Each is hand-made, glass blown and high quality.
Why It’s A Smart Buy: What better to get for your pickleball friends?
Price: $17.99 at Amazon.com
Drunk Elephant Mates for Life Kit
From the popular brand beloved by beauty aficionados and editors, this cute little holiday gift set contains travel-sized versions of their Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser and Protini Polypeptide Cream for cleansing and hydrating, all without any added fragrance, dyes or alcohols.
Why It’s A Smart Buy: These products work for all skin types, even people with sensitive skin, and Ulta lists them as being cruelty-free and using clean ingredients and sustainable packaging.
Price: $25 at Ulta.com
Gifts Under $50
Bloom Nutrition Greens & Superfood Powder
Give your friend a glow up, courtesy of this gluten-free, plant-based powder that’s chock full of vitamins and minerals, probiotics, fiber and fresh fruits and veggies for an overall boost to skin and digestion in a tasty, orange passionfruit-flavored drink.
Why It’s A Smart Buy: The health-conscious friends and family members in your life will enjoy a super-easy and yummy way to get their greens on the go, thanks to this TikTok-trendy brand.
Price: $39.99 at Amazon.com
Pink Moon Over the Moon Lunar Rose Mist
This lovely mist from an AAPI, female-founded brand is made with rose quartz crystal, rose water, gromwell root, kimchi, and hibiscus can be used on face, body and hair. Spritz all over to hydrate and balance you out.
Why It’s A Smart Buy: Since it’s perfect for a mid-day work pick-me-up, to cool off post-workout or to refresh dry skin on flights, just about everyone will find a use for this gentle spray.
Price: $38 at PinkMoon.co
VoChill Personal Wine Chiller
Freeze the chill cradle ahead of time, then use any glass on hand for wine that stays the perfect temp throughout cocktail hour or dinnertime.
Why It’s A Smart Buy: Sometimes the best gifts are ones you wouldn’t splurge on for yourself but once you get them, you use it all the time. A good example is this wine chiller, which is not cheap but works well and really makes that evening glass of vino more enjoyable.
Price: $49.95 at Amazon.com
Handcrafted Bonbon Collection
This showstopping 16-piece collection of handmade bonbons comes in all sorts of incredible flavors like ancho chile, brown butter caramel, earl grey tea, and sunflower seed praline. They’re made with organic, natural ingredients, and look as good as they taste.
Why It’s A Smart Buy: It’s such a thoughtful and gorgeous gift for chocoholics, and you also have the option of having the company write out a handwritten note when you send this box of yummy desserts to someone special.
Price: $44 at MyChocolateSecrets.com
Ban.do Mushroom Vase
Why did the mushroom have so many friends? Because he was a fungi! Mushrooms are everywhere, from unusual coffee blends to fashion and home decor. This vase is a fun way to enjoy the trend.
Why It’s A Smart Buy: This small ceramic 5-inch x 5.6-inch vase is a cute addition to any work or home space.
Price: $26.95 at Amazon.com
Bonita Fierce Cafecito Con Leche Candle
I can vouch for this coconut soy wax candle’s delicious, sweet, creamy, coffee, caramel-y scent, because I got one as a gift and love it. The Latinx-owned and founded brand also crafts other amazing candle scents, like Lavender Fabulosa and Abuela’s Bakery.
Why It’s A Smart Buy: It will burn for about 50 to 60 hours, so less than $1/per, and is USA Forest Stewardship Council certified and meets Nordstrom Sustainably Sourced Materials criteria. And as noted above, it smells great and has a fab design.
Price: $30 at Nordstrom.com
President Barbie in a Pink and Gold Dress
It’s been a whirlwind year for our girl Barbie — and now she’s President, as she should be.
Why It’s A Smart Buy: Pretty much everyone from 2 to 92 fell for Barbie (again) this year, and President Barbie is just one of the gift ideas for fans of this icon that Lisa Davis recommends if you’re looking to add to your bestie’s Barbie collection.
Price: $50 at Amazon.com
Splurge Gifts
Uncle Nearest 1856 Premium Aged Whiskey
Jack Daniel learned everything about making whiskey from a formerly enslaved man named Uncle Nearest, who gets overdue credit now, thanks to Uncle Nearest CEO Fawn Weaver. Pick up a bottle of this smooth spirit and then save it to give to someone you really like.
Why It’s A Smart Buy: Forbes reports that this Black-owned brand “is the fastest-growing American whiskey brand in U.S. history, the best-selling African American-founded spirit brand of all time, and was the most award-winning American whiskey (including bourbon) of 2019, 2020 and 2021” so it’s going to be appreciated.
Price: $59 at Reserve Bar.
Big Blanket Co 10’ x 10’ Original Stretch Blanket
This is the best blanket! It’s an amazing 120” x 120” big — yes, that’s 10 feet by 10 feet – so it’s awesome for snuggling up in bed or cozying up on the couch or rolling up like a big old burrito. Fun for sharing or solo, it’s soft, comes in a big range of colors and patterns, and feels wonderful.
Why It’s A Smart Buy: Throws are all well and good but this is a really fun and unexpected present. If you’re stumped on a gift for a teen, this might be the way to go.
Price: $159 at Amazon.com
David Beckham Refined Woods Eau De Parfum Natural Spray
David Beckham recently launched a line of three new unisex Eau de Parfums, all inspired by his love of travel and adventure. The woodsy, spicy Refined Woods contains notes of cardamom, cedrat, sage, lavender, geranium, cedarwood and vetiver and it’s perfect for wearing during cooler weather.
Why It’s A Smart Buy: Yes, fragrance is not an impersonal gift, but for the right person, this new scent would hit just right.
Price: $54.99 at JCPenney.com
The Maja All-Star Pack
Buy a batch of fun baking mixes for tasty treats and healthy breakfasts if you’re going to be a houseguest. This starter set includes cacao and coconut overnight oats, banana bread overnight oats, chocolate cake mix, chocolate chip cookies baking mix and pancake/waffle mix.
Why It’s A Smart Buy: Friends and family with dietary restrictions won’t feel cheated, thanks to these vegan, gluten-free, protein-rich baking mixes that taste so good.
Price: $54.99 at MajaFood.com
And Finally, A Pile Of New & Noteworthy Books
Why It’s A Smart Buy: Hey, good news — if you buy these and don’t have an occasion to hand them out, you get to keep them! Win win.
Here are just a few suggested 2023 titles getting all sorts of buzz:
“The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder” by David Grann
A fascinating historical nonfiction account of a shipwreck, its survivors and the trial to uncover what really happened to them at sea — and who was to blame. Another page-turning, unputdownable true saga from the author of “Killers of the Flower Moon.”
Price: $27 at BarnesAndNoble.com
“The Reformatory” by Tananarive Due
Author Tananarive Due is a professor of Black horror and Afrofuturism at UCLA, and she’s written a thrilling, powerful ghost story about Robert, a Black 12-year-old who is sent to a reform school after trying to protect his sister from a wealthy white teenager harassing her. Decades earlier, 25 children died in a fire in the reformatory, and now Robert discovers he can communicate with the dead souls on the grounds.
Price: $28.99 at BarnesAndNoble.com
“Everyday Grand: Soulful Recipes for Celebrating Life’s Big and Small Moments: A Cookbook” by Jocelyn Delk Adams with Olga Massov
‘Tis the season to celebrate after all, so giving someone a cookbook full of festive, celebratory meals makes perfect sense. Blogger, chef and TV personality Jocelyn Delk Adams offers up over 80 doable, delicious and flavorful Southern-style dishes and desserts that everyone will love.
Price: $32.50 at BarnesAndNoble.com
“Bright Young Women” by Jessica Knoll
One of the biggest releases of the fall, Kroll (author of “Luckiest Girl Alive”) writes a serial killer thriller. This flips the typical script by focusing on the survivors, and not on the killer himself, as two women join forces to seek justice for the friends the killer murdered.
Price: $25.19 at BarnesAndNoble.com
The post 22 Early Holiday Gifts to Stash in Your Gift Closet Now appeared first on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.