Finding cheap gifts is no easy feat. It’s often not so much the price of the gift itself, but rather the associated costs of buying the gift! Think of the coffees and donuts consumed in malls across the country during the Christmas shopping period. If we counted those up alone we’d need to rework that budget again to factor in the real costs of shopping.
However, if you arm yourself with fabulous budget gift ideas, you will be a little more prepared to face the gift-buying season. Consider this cheat sheet from the Savings Room your ammunition! If you are on a budget, gift-giving can become stressful and expensive.
Why stressful shopping is expensive
- Rushed shopping leads to bad gift giving decisions
- Bad gift giving decisions lead to spending more money on gifts
- Spending more money on gifts leaves you feeling a pang of regret. Did you have to spend that, really?
Cheap gifts are easy with a little creativity!
On the contrary, it is better to get creative with gift giving.
Budget gifts are definitely not drab or boring. The eco-friendly gift of a retro lamp from a second-hand shop, which is given with thought and meaning, is much nicer than soap or socks in terms of a gift that keeps on giving.
If you are looking for affordable gift ideas, this list contains gift ideas for Christmas, special events and birthdays. Eco-friendly gifts are cheap and even free! You will be amazed by the amount of ideas on this cheat sheet, and this list of budget gift ideas will spark more creativity.
Keep this list handy when writing your Christmas list. Think about thoughtful gifts you can put some time into while sitting on the couch watching your favourite TV show or what you could grow in the garden before Christmas comes! Whatever your tastes, these ideas will help you feel more prepared.
Enjoy the journey of your next gift-giving venture and access the complete list!
Now there’s a win-win! Don’t forget to have fun!
Cheap gifts | 340+ brilliant budget gift ideas
Budgeting Tip
- Set a five-dollar per gift challenge!
Accessories
- Beaded jewellery
- Bling rings
- Bracelet
- Charm bracelet
- Cheap watch
- Claw grip hair accessories
- Cool hat
- Cool sunglasses
- Cufflinks
- Cute purse
- Earrings
- Functional wallet
- Gorgeous hair clip
- Hair ties wrapped around a fake flower
- Headbands
- Homemade jewellery
- Necklaces
- Pretty scarves
- Scarfs
- Homemade coasters
Alcohol
- A six-pack of beer
- Alcohol your recipient likes
- Bottle stoppers
- Brand your own clean skins
- Champagne
- Homemade liqueurs
- Mini spirit bottles
- Mini spirit, can of mixer and a glass
- Wine glass and a cheap bottle of wine
- Wine opener
Arty and inspirational
- A collage relating to a hobby
- Art easel
- Collages
- Fabric art
- Family hand and footprint picture
- Frame a child’s best artwork
- Frame pictures from calendars
- Frame your poetry
- Frame your wisdom
- Framed family photos
- Framed images
- Framed old newspaper pages
- Framed scrapbook paper
- Framed their favourite places and things
- Hand painted rocks
- Jigsaw puzzle – your photo
- Paint silhouettes on a canvas
- Painted coffee mug or ceramic
- Photo calendar
- Posters of a favourite artist
- Revamp and paint a furniture piece
- Sketchbook with custom cover and pastels
- Posters of a favourite artist
Beauty and bath gifts for the budget conscious
- A big tub of Vaseline
- Budget fragrances
- Budget spa and pamper products
- Bulk moisturiser
- Eye makeup products
- Good quality Mascara
- Homemade bath salts in a recycled jar
- Homemade cosmetics – your brand
- Homemade lip-gloss
- Homemade products beauty basket
- Homemade soap and shampoo
- Lip-gloss packs
- Lip-gloss recipes and some Vaseline
- Lip liner
- Lip pencil
- Makeup set at two-dollar shop
- Mirror for your purse
- Nail polish or a set of
- Pencil case as makeup purse
- Pretty makeup bag
- Shaving kit
- Vaseline and the SR quick list
Affordable presents for the book lover
- Beethoven for book Lovers
- Books on sale for less than $5
- Books relating to their hobby
- Bookstands
- Cool bookmarks
- Donation to a library
- Homemade book
- Membership to a bookstore
- Other CDs for book lovers
- Personalised book of history
- Photo bookmarks
- Photo books including stories
- Self help books
- Unread and new books from your shelf
- Your favourite books
Clothing gift ideas
- Dressing gown
- Exercise gear
- Gloves and scarves
- Hold a gift lottery of generic gifts
- Leg Warmers
- Lingerie from K-Mart
- Pack of socks
- Pack of undies
- Pair of thongs (jandals)
- Party or funny t-shirts
- Pop-up book
- Private joke on a t-shirt
- Slippers
- Socks with separated toes
- Stockings for the ladies
- Thongs
- Ugg boots
Educational gifts
- Books geared to hobby
- Cartoon people online
- Computer software
- Magazine subscriptions
- Online subscriptions
- Online training
- Recycled picture calendars
- Reference books
- Signed journal from you
Experiences make for terrific cheap gifts!
- A hot date with you
- Camping adventure invite
- Cheap cruise on a river
- Create a day spa for recipient
- Create a hotel at home
- Give time to a charity on their behalf
- Gourmet gift box at a location
- Invitation to a special dinner
- Invitation to a special picnic
- Massage promise note
- Movie tickets and popcorn
- Restaurant in the backyard
- Ride on a friend’s motorbike
- TV show audience tickets
- Wine tasting day
Cheap gifts for foodies
- Aprons
- Baked goods
- Baking soda and a Savings Room cheat sheet!
- Bowls
- Branded chocolate box
- Cheese and pate knives
- Christmas cake or pudding
- Cups
- Dried herbs and oil bottles
- Food hamper
- Fudge. Oh I love fudge…
- Gourmet foods
- Gourmet olive oil
- Homemade branded sauces
- Homemade biscuits
- Homemade gift baskets
- Homemade jams and breads
- Mugs filled with sweets
- Nice tea and a mug
- Nice teapot and tea
- Personalised mug
- Pieces of Christmas cake
- Recipe and ingredients hamper
- Rock candy in a cool jar
- Truffles, truffles, truffles
- Vinegar and SR quick list!
Cheap gifts for groups
- Beer or wine
- Board games
- Box of homemade treats
- Calendars with their photos
- Food hampers
- Holiday at your house (when you go away)
- Large box of chocolates
- Matching bathrobes
- Matching printed t-shirts
Healthy cheap gifts
- Electronic fake cigarettes
- Health self help book
- Healthy cookbooks
- Healthy hamper
- Journal for recording training and diet
- Magnetic bracelet
- Scales
- Silicon bracelet
- Sports clothes
- Sports heart rate watch
- Tape measure
- Web health subscriptions
Hobby related gifts
- Box of hobby related items
- Calendar relating to hobby
- Hobby eBooks
- Hobby related books
- Hobby related gift vouchers
- Hobby related hampers
Cheap gift ideas for the home and garden
- A cheap retro lamp
- Bathroom accessories
- Baking soda and a Savings Room cheat sheet
- Bulk buy Vinegar and Savings Room quick list
- Candles and beauty hamper
- Cool clock
- Cushions you have made
- Custom key rings
- Decorated jewellery box
- Fridge magnets
- Funky set of bowls
- Home fragrance gifts
- House or garden plant
- Inspiring book
- Journal and pen
- Knitted items you have made
- Goals and dreams book
- Framed family tree
- Filled photo album
- Family storybook
- Mini Zen garden
- Nice vases
- Oil burner and oils
- Painted mosaic mirror
- Reed diffuser
- Scented candles
- Shower timer
- Useful products cleaning kit
Music gifts
- CD of your songs
- Free online music subscription
- Instrument and lesson book
- Gift card for music downloads
- Music CD geared to their likes
- New cool headphones
- Paid online music subscription
- Party CDs
Office
- Annual planner
- Bling mouse
- Colourful USB sticks
- Cool laptop skin
- Cool lunch box
- Cool mobile phone cases
- Cool tablet case
- Desk calendar
- Desk fountain
- Lap desk with coffee holder
- Mini pot plant
- Motivational poster
- Pen set
- Personalise mug for a desk
- Pin Board
- Small table fan
- Success books
- White board
- Wireless keyboard
- Wireless mouse
Op shop
- A funky lamp
- A painting
- Cool clothes
- Cool jackets
- Furniture
- Kids toys
- Retro gifts
- Retro platter or kitchenware
- Second hand books
- Unique kitchen gifts
Personalised
- Address labels
- Colouring books
- Cookbooks
- Fabric journal
- Family story to music
- Framed appreciation notes
- Framed letter
- Framed picture of you
- Personalise recipe books
- Personalised CD
- Personalised gifts at Vistaprint
- Personalised publications
Pet lover
- A big bone for a dog
- Extra walks in the holidays
- Framed pet picture
- New bed or home
- New cool collar
- New pet tags
- New water and food bowl
- Pet jacket
- Pet paw print picture
- Pet toys
- Portable water bowl
- Stuffed pillow
Practical
- Battery drill
- Beach basket and beach items
- Bottle opener key rings
- Colourful USB sticks
- Cool glasses case
- Cool key rings
- Cool pencil case
- Cool tape measure
- Girls mini pink tool set
- Key finder
- Mobile apps
- Mobile phone case
- Restaurant voucher book
- Sunblock
- Tissues for a hay fever sufferer
Safety
- Book safe
- Cashbox
- Child panic alarm key ring
- Colourful Carabiner clips
- Combination lock
- Cool safety glasses for a tradie
- Digital alcohol tester
- Homemade book safe
- Personal alarm
- Thief proof wallets
Stocking fillers
- Free samples
- Kitchen gadgets
- Lollies
- Mini fragrances
- Mini tools
- Nice writing paper
- Op shop relics
- Patterned notebook
- Stationary gifts
- Two-dollar shop gifts
- USB gadgets
Techy
- Cool tablet case
- Electronic gadgets
- Fill a basket with gadgets
- Great apps you like
- Homemade techy cases
- Mobile phone holder
- Phone stickers
- Phone straps
- Tablet accessories
- Techy web subscriptions
Time gifts
- Clean someone’s car
- Dinner invitation. You cook.
- Free baby-sitting voucher
- Gifts related to your skills
- Offer an hour using your skill E.g. Typing or gardening
- One hour massage
- Tape TV shows
- Voucher book for your services
Travel
- Bags and pouches
- Budget suitcase set
- Car accessories
- Car rubbish bag
- Car travel mug
- Pouch for passports
- Power traveller for phone
- Space saver bags
- Special outings in the holidays
- Travel gifts
- Travel makeup
- Universal emergency charger
- Wind up radio