For some people, Christmas is one of the most magical times of the year, but it can also be quite hard on our wallets. Buying presents for our loved ones (not to mention all of the extra food and drink) can quickly add up, especially this year with the cost of living crisis.
While Christmas certainly doesn’t need to centre around shopping and gifts, if you do want to treat someone while keeping the cost down, then there are still plenty of small, thoughtful options.
To help, we’ve come up with a list of 10 gifts for £10 or less.
1. Seashells Scented Candle
Price: £10.00, M&S
Scented candles have the power to transport us to exotic places through our sense of smell – from the spice-filled markets of Istanbul to the wintery woodlands of Canada. And this Seashells Scented Candle from Library of Scent is no different.
With an aroma the company compares to ‘fresh white linen’, featuring layers of lily, bergamot, grapefruit, and mandarin, this great value candle – with a burn time of up to 40 hours – will take your loved one on a journey to faraway sunny shores. It’s ideal for brightening the house on a dark winter day.
You can pick up this candle in-store at your local M&S, or order it online.
2. Monopoly Deal Card Game
Price: £7.82, Amazon ¦ £7.49, WHSmith
For some of us, games are an essential part of the Christmas festivities – and they can make good gifts because your recipient can put them to use straight away. Though, unfortunately, they’re often quite expensive.
But this Monopoly Deal Card Game is a budget option that doesn’t compromise on the fun. We’ve all been a part of a game of Monopoly that’s gone on for far too long, and what makes Monopoly Deal so appealing is that you can play it in as little as 15 minutes. It’s just like the real game, only quicker, and you can play it anywhere!
You can find Monopoly Deal online at Amazon, or at your local WHSmith.
3. English Ivy
Price: £8.00, The Stem
There are lots of benefits to having plants in the house. As well as making an eye-catching addition to your decor, they can also improve your mood and productivity, as well as the air quality in your home. However, plants are another type of gift that can be surprisingly dear.
This English Ivy provides plenty of bang for your buck. As a vining plant, it can trail or climb along almost any surface. We recommend placing it on a shelf and letting the vines hang down to provide a striking vertical dimension to your home’s interior.
Your recipient could even consider propagating their English Ivy by taking cuttings of their present. The new plant could then serve as a present to someone else, which would keep the cycle of gift-giving going!
You can find this English Ivy online at The Stem.
4. Humane spider catcher
Price: £9.99, Amazon
We all have a friend or family member that’s terrified of eight-legged creepy crawlies, so why not do them a favour this Christmas and get them this humane spider catcher?
This is a whimsical gift that works perfectly as a secret Santa, although it’s actually surprisingly useful. It works well to remove spiders from the home without hurting them – so no longer will your friend find themselves cornered in their own home, waiting for someone to come and rescue them with a magazine and cup.
5. Resistance band set
Price: £5.59, Amazon
More and more people are swapping the gym for home workout alternatives. As well as being much more convenient, doing exercise at home can be just as effective in helping us to achieve our fitness goals and cheaper than a monthly gym subscription.
So if you’ve got a home workout lover in your life, you could consider giving them this resistance band set. Resistance bands are a handy piece of equipment because not only are they versatile and can provide a whole body workout – check out this article from the British Heart Foundation to find out some of the ways you can use them – but they’re portable and can be stuffed into a bag.
This set of resistance bands by CKB is available to order on Amazon.
6. Five Minutes in the Morning: A Focus Journal
Price: £9.95, Amazon
Journaling, and taking some time each day for reflection and planning, can have a massive positive effect on our mental health, as well as help us to achieve our goals. In fact, experts say that the simple act of writing our ambitions down makes us significantly more likely to achieve them.
But with a busy schedule, it can be difficult to make the time. This focus journal encourages us to take a few minutes out of our day to dedicate ourselves – to concentrate on what matters most.
This will make a thoughtful gift for anyone in your life with big dreams. Budget allowing, you could even think about pairing this journal with one of these elegant fountain pens from Jinhao.
7. Dipped Fine China Mug
Price: £10.00, John Lewis
Looking to make a stylish addition to one of your loved one’s kitchen cupboards? If so, this Primitive Dipped Fine China Mug from John Lewis is a great option.
It features a design that’s simultaneously rugged and sophisticated, so it’ll look at home in anyone’s cupboard. And if you’re looking to get creative with it and your budget allows, you could consider filling the mug up with a treat you know your recipient will love. If they have a sweet tooth, hot chocolate stirrers like these ones from Lakeland are always a good choice.
8. Felt Fallow Deer Tree Decoration
Price: £4.80, John Lewis
For many of us, decorating our homes in the run-up to the holiday season is a joyous and comforting time. Dusting off our decorations, some of which we may have had for decades, provides a chance for us to become nostalgic and reminisce about Christmases gone by.
This is why giving someone a decoration for Christmas is so special, as you’re not just giving them a gift, but a memory they’ll be reminded of each and every year.
When it comes to tree ornaments, there are endless styles and designs out there too. But this felt deer from John Lewis is beautifully made and offers decent value for money.
Alternatively, if you’re looking to give a more personal touch, why not head over to Etsy and browse their seemingly endless selection of personalisable decorations?
You can pick up this decoration in-store at your local John Lewis or online.
9. Henry Hoover Screen Cleaner
Price: £5.99, Amazon
If you like to give comedic presents, then you’ll know the best ones aren’t just those that’ll make your recipient crack a smile, but the ones that they can actually use!
We’ve all tried to wipe the dust on our computer screen off with our sleeve, or rubbed our phone against our trousers to get rid of a smudge – but with this Henry Hoover Screen Cleaner and his microfibre bottom, you’ll no longer have to.
This gift will make a great secret Santa present for a work colleague, or for grandkids who can’t help but get fingerprints on their screens.
10. Tin of Grind Coffee
Price: £9.00, Grind
Between aluminium pods that threaten to pollute the environment and the industry’s infamous track record of exploiting farmers all over the world, shopping for coffee can be a bit of a maze if you prefer to buy honest products.
So if you know an ethical shopper who likes to start their day with a good cup of coffee, why not gift them a tin of Grind coffee this Christmas? Grind is a London-based brand that has not only pioneered compostable machine pods but their coffee is ethically sourced from farms around the world – so your loved one can enjoy their caffeine fix with peace of mind.
Plus your Grind order will arrive in a stylish metal tin that your recipient can enjoy long after it’s empty.
Final thoughts…
Things are tough at the moment, especially when it comes to our outgoings – and the extra expenses that come with the holiday season may leave you wondering how you’re going to afford gifts for your loved ones.
With this in mind, we hope our list of 10 gifts for under £10 has given you some inspiration and demonstrated that you don’t need to spend big money to get fun and thoughtful presents for your friends and family.
For more gift ideas, check out our gift guides for him and for her, or take a look at our tech round-ups of the best headphones, fitness trackers, and air fryers.