Hello friends! One of my favourite things about Christmas is the fun of planning and shopping for gifts. I’ve been known to start buying gifts in September (or even earlier!) Although I set a dollar amount for each person, I always want to get the most bang for my buck. That’s why I love finding budget-friendly Christmas gift ideas. In today’s post, I’m sharing 10 fun gift ideas that won’t break the bank.
Read on for 10 budget-friendly Christmas gift ideas.
Budget-friendly Christmas gift: fountain pen + journal
For this gift, choose a comfortable, high quality fountain pen. Pick up a cute journal from Dollarama or Walmart. (Or you might find one on sale at Staples.) Then, tie to the pen to the journal with a festive ribbon- and you’re done!
Cost: $10-15
Framed Scripture print
One gift idea I love is framed Scripture verses and art. If you’re a graphic designer, you may want to design your own print on Canva. Or, you can use a free printable Bible verse (you’ll find lots on Google image search). I’ll link to a free download of several 8 x 10 graphics I’ve designed.
You can print these images at Walmart Photo Centre.
Then, slip it into a frame from Dollarama (about $3.50).
Cost: $5-10
My Picks:
Free download of 8×10 Scripture printables designed by me (All rights reserved; personal use only.)
Custom Notecards
Does your loved one enjoy writing cards and letters? If you know how to do graphic design, you could create custom notecards for them. Browse through the card designs at Paperless Post and Etsy for inspiration.
Then, design a 5 x 7 card on Canva or your favourite graphic design program. You could use the person’s initial, a monogram, or a print/floral that they like. You can design an image for front only or images for both front and back.
You can print them at Walmart Photo Centre for $0.97 each. When you upload your photos, you will need to choose a pre-made design. Just pick a simple one, delete all the extra elements, and upload your image. The Walmart designs are in portrait orientation. So, if your card is in landscape orientation, you will need to rotate your image 90 degrees to the left so that it will print correctly. These cards take a few weeks to be delivered, so I recommend ordering them several weeks in advance.
Cost: Your design time + $5.82 for 6 cards
Budget-friendly Christmas gifts: thrifted books
If you know what type of books your loved one enjoys, thrifted books are a wonderful budget-friendly Christmas gift! Shop your local thrift stores, Value Village, Mission Thrift, etc. for affordable books.
If you’re shopping online, search ThriftBooks for secondhand books.
I’ve also found some fantastic deals on new books at BookOutlet (Canadian).
Cost: Varies according to source
Mason jar mixes
Everyone loves to eat- and a Mason jar mix is one gift they are sure to love! Mix up a batch of chocolate cookie mix, BBQ spice rub, or anything else you can mix the dry ingredients for. Add a festive ribbon and gift tag, and it’s ready to go!
My Picks:
Cost: Varies according to recipe
Budget-friendly Christmas gift: quality coffee or tea
Since 90% of Americans consume some form of caffeine daily, coffee (or tea) is a gift that most people will appreciate. For bonus points, choose a local roaster or a blend your recipient especially likes. Or, for an extra-special gift, you can even order bubble tea kits!
My Picks:
Rustic Mountain Coffee Co. (Ontario company that roasts your coffee within 2 days of order and lets you pick a custom roast and grind)
Just Us! Coffee (based in Nova Scotia, fair-trade organic coffee that is roasted and shipped on the same day)
The Brew & Bubble (Nova Scotia business that sells bubble tea kits in several different flavours – I’ve ordered them for friends and they loved them!)
Stash Teas (high quality teas- you can also get these at grocery stores)
Cost: $5-15
Book clock
If you are looking for the perfect gift for a book lover, try this fun idea! The Art of Manliness has a detailed step-by-step tutorial on how to make a simple clock from a hardcover book. Read the full post here:
How to Turn a Book Into a Handsome Clock
You can purchase a clock kit on Amazon or at a hardware store.
DIY Pocket Square
This budget-friendly Christmas gift is perfect for the fashionable men in your life! You will about half a yard of fabric (cotton, silk, or blends will work), hem tape, sharp scissors, and a cutting mat (optional). You can find full instructions here:
Budget-friendly gift idea: A cookbook
Cookbooks are a fun yet practical gift- and you can find one for almost any cuisine or dietary preference! Buy one for your aunt, a starving college student, or newly engaged friend. Here are some of my top picks for cookbooks ($20 and under).
My Picks:
Budget Bytes (this author has the best Asian food recipes)
The Hot Sauce Cookbook: Turn Up the Heat with 60+ Pepper Sauce Recipes
Cost: Under $20
Handmade earrings
For girls and ladies who have pierced ears, handmade earrings are a fun and feminine gift. You can find earrings (and other jewelry) at your local farmers’ market. Or, I also recommend checking out the handmade earrings from Something Handmade. This brand is owned by a sweet Christian lady in Cape Breton that makes on-point, affordable earrings. Most are under $20, and she has great sales, too!
Cost: $8-20
Looking for more gift ideas? Read this post:
My 2020 Holiday Gift Guide for Curly Girls
Let’s Chat:
Are you looking for budget-friendly gift ideas? If so, which one of these did you like best? Please share your best affordable gift ideas in the comment section. I’d love to hear them!
p.s. Some of the items in this post are affiliate links. I only post about products that I love + think you’ll probably love, too! As an Amazon Associate or affiliate for other programs, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you SO much for your support!
p.p.s. Please note that including a website or link does not mean that I endorse all the content of that website.