We’ll never forget the story of the practical gift that saved a family — literally. A young man’s gift to his parents — a smoke detector — sat under the tree when a fire broke out in the house in the middle of the night. Fortunately, the giver had put batteries into his gift. Even though it was wrapped and under the tree, the smoke alarm did its job, and the family escaped unharmed.
We doubt most practical gifts will have so dramatic an outcome, but the truth is people want and need practical gifts. If you or your loved ones are on a budget or a fixed income, ignore the inclination to exchange unnecessary sweaters and ties, and make over your holiday gift giving with practical presents. Even better, these useful gifts can be inexpensive to buy.
To make your practical Christmas, birthday or holiday gift a winner, choose something that’s a special treat that people on a budget wouldn’t buy themselves or a way to help offset the cost of something they enjoy or need.
Here are some affordable, practical gifts to consider this year.
You’re sure to find a cheap Christmas gift for everyone in your list.
Photo Credit: Deposit Photos
Gifts on a budget
This guide is designed to help you explore the realm of meaningful and affordable gift-giving, ensuring that you can delight your loved ones without financial strain.
Whether you’re searching for the ideal present for a holiday, birthday, or just because, we’ll provide you with creative and diverse options that cater to every occasion and personality.
Practical health and safety gifts
Photo: Deposit Photos
Sticking with the safety theme to start, you can find plenty of safety items and kits that your friends and family have been meaning to purchase but never get around to buying. Practical holiday gifts are perfect! (and everyone on your list will be grateful for practical Christmas presents!)
Fire extinguishers are something many people don’t think to replace, but they do have expiration dates. Replacements aren’t expensive, which makes them a perfect practical — and thoughtful — holiday gift for our list. You can find various types of fire extinguishers online, ranging from the traditional metal canister to the aerosol sprays that are easy to use and easy to store in the kitchen.
A fireproof document box is a great place to store valuable documents and items so that they are easy to grab during an emergency. Include a money gift inside to add to the surprise.
Carbon monoxide detectors can be purchased as a combination carbon monoxide and smoke detector, or separately. These start at very affordable prices, so you can get one for everyone on your list, or add one to a gift with other safety items.
Electric toothbrush. A thrilling gift? No. Something they’ll use at least twice a day? Probably (at least, their dentist hopes so). My dental hygienist says that electric toothbrushes keep your teeth cleaner and are less likely to damage gums and enamel. Whether you get a basic no-frills model or a fancy option with a water flosser, it’s a gift that will keep them buzzing. (The fancy ones are a staple at membership clubs like Costco, or check your pharmacy and use your rewards from its loyalty program.)
Emergency road kits. Everyone should have an emergency road kit and first aid kit in the car. It’s a great practical gift for folks who commute long distances, live in snowy climates or enjoy road tripping. Throw in a warm throw blanket or sweatshirt to complete the gift. While you’re thinking about cars, consider a gas card. Gasoline is definitely expensive, which is why someone with on a limited income might appreciate filling up the tank for free.
Photo: Deposit Photos
Entertainment gifts make some of the best practical gifts
When it comes to practical Christmas gifts, activities are always a good idea. People love to get out and about and have fun!
Movie theater and/or restaurant gift cards. When people cut back on spending, often it’s recreation like dining out or going to the movies that’s the first to go. A night out without having to hit the ATM would be a welcome gift for a special couple in your life.
This doesn’t have to be a fancy restaurant; pick up a gift card at their favorite local chain, coffee shop or ice cream shop. Plus it’s a great time to buy these, as there are tons of gift card bonus offers available in November and December that can benefit you, too.
Membership to a local zoo, museum or botanical garden. Membership to a local museum or zoo can drastically reduce admission pricing for families who love to go on educational outings. You can often purchase gift memberships at galleries and other places of interest. These practical gifts can also be a great way to support local institutions.
Subscriptions. A magazine subscription is a gift that can be enjoyed all year, and will save the recipient from making impulsive newsstand purchases at higher rates. If your loved one is always running out of free articles for online newspapers, buy them an online subscription; some are just a few dollars per month. TV and movie lovers might enjoy a subscription to a couple of months of Netflix or Hulu Plus, while readers may enjoy a subscription to Audible or Scribd.
The Entertainment Book. For those who hate paying full price for their entertainment, this giant coupon book includes deals for thousands of area businesses, restaurants and attractions. Or for a modern spin on local discounts, a Groupon gift card lets the recipient keep watch for local deals that are too good to pass up.
Photo: Deposit Photos
Practical gifts for the home
Coupons or gift cards for a service. For example, the parents of young children would be thrilled to receive certificates from you that entitle them to a few hours of babysitting. You could also offer pet-sitting or walking services. Other options are for yard work, meal delivery, car detailing or oil changes — whether you can perform the service or purchase a gift card for them. Be sure to include an expiration date, so they’ll redeem the coupons promptly.
- Amazon.com Gift Cards never expire and carry no fees.
- Multiple gift card designs and denominations to choose from.
- Redeemable towards millions of items store-wide at Amazon.com or certain affiliated websites.
- Add funds to your Amazon gift card balance, then use your balance to manage how much you spend while shopping.
- Set up Auto-Reload to automatically reload your gift card balance on a particular date, week, month or when your balance gets low (below a certain amount).
- Save up for a purchase by adding funds to your gift card balance.
Rechargeable batteries. Disposable batteries eat money because you constantly have to replace them, making rechargeable batteries a gift that will save your friends and family money month after month. Rechargeable batteries are more expensive than disposable ones, so many people don’t think to buy them for themselves. But with many people receiving electronics for the holidays, they’ll be grateful for such a practical gift. Combine with a battery charger for a thoughtful touch.
- RELIABLE PERFORMANCE: 8-pack of AA rechargeable NiMH batteries (2,000 mAh)
- DEVICE COMPATIBLE: Ideal for remote controls, flashlights, clocks, and more
- LONG LASTING: Can be recharged up to 1000 times with minimal power loss
- RELIABLE PERFORMANCE: 12-pack of AAA rechargeable NiMH batteries (800 mAh)
- DEVICE COMPATIBLE: Ideal for digital cameras, remote controls, toys, and more
- LONG LASTING: Can be recharged up to 1000 times with minimal power loss
Electric blanket. Know someone who is always cold? They’ll be thrilled to curl up under a toasty blanket on a chilly evening.
Photo calendar. A calendar personalized with photos of family and friends will brighten up anyone’s kitchen or office. It’s an especially nice gift for older relatives who don’t get to see their younger family members all that often. Or pick a calendar/planner that works with your loved one’s organizational style or personality. You’ll find tons of colorful designs to choose from, as well as more professional-looking versions.
New pillow. If you’ve read anything about pillows, they are gross — filled with skin cells and dust mites. Basically, these need to be washed and replaced way more than most of us do it. Yes, pillow comfort is a personal thing, but more than 200,000 people gave this hotel collection pillow good reviews, so we think it’s a safe bet.
School care package. For those students already in college, create a care package for them to take back to the dorms. A practical gift could be a themed “cram session kit” stocked with snacks, a coffee mug, index cards and a pack of highlighters.
Photo: Deposit Photos
Money-saving gifts
Creative cash gifts. Give rolls of quarters to college students and apartment dwellers who may need to feed the washer and dryer and urban dwellers who need to feed the parking meter. Buy videogame-obsessed kids Robux or currency in their favorite game. A small financial gift on your end can be a big winner.
Book of stamps. Yes, there are still folks who use stamps. Think of your Aunt Tillie and other relatives who don’t pay their bills via the Internet and who still like to send old-fashioned greeting cards by snail mail. But instead of buying that big roll of flag stamps, get creative. The USPS has holiday stamps available in the forever stamp. Is your grandmother a history buff? Buy a sheet of commemorative stamps. Check out all the special stamps for enthusiasts.
A Costco, Sam’s Club or Amazon Prime membership. Belonging to a warehouse club like Sam’s or enjoying free shipping and other benefits of Amazon Prime can add up to tons of savings for savvy shoppers, especially if the membership fee is taken care of by a thoughtful gift giver.
A contribution to a child’s 529 plan – Saving for college sometimes falls to the back burner for those paying off debt or saving for retirement. That’s why this is a good gift if you have grandchildren, or nieces and nephews, and contributions can be as little or as much as you’d like.
Cheap family gifts
These cheap Christmas gifts are perfect for a family! Don’t miss this list of cheap gifts for family for your next holiday gathering. These are great inexpensive family gifts!
Board Games: Choose classic board games like “Uno,” “Jenga,” or “Monopoly” that cater to different age groups and provide hours of fun for the entire family.
SaleBestseller No. 1
Sorry! Kids Board Game, Family Board Games for Kids and Adults, 2 to 4 Players, Family Games, Kids Games, Ages 6 and Up- GAME OF SWEET REVENGE: Enjoy classic Sorry! gameplay with this Sorry! board game for kids. It's an edge-of-your-seat race to home, so hurry up and get there first
- FIRST ONE HOME WINS: Who will be the first player to get all 3 of their pawns to the home space? But watch out! Players can get "sweet revenge" by sending each other's pawns back to the starting point
- SO MANY POSSIBILITIES: Slide, collide, and score to win the Sorry! game. This family game for kids and adults features so many possibilities depending on the card picked up and strategy chosen
SaleBestseller No. 2
Jenga Game | The Original Wood Block Game with Genuine Hardwood Blocks | Stacking Tower Game | Ages 6+ | 1 or More Players | Party Games for Kids | Family Games- THE ORIGINAL WOOD BLOCK GAME: Dare to risk it? Pull out a block, place it on top, but don't let the tower fall! The Jenga game for kids and adults is the wooden block balancing game loved for generations
- FAST, EXCITING, ANYTIME FUN: With a simple set up, easy-to-learn rules, and just the right amount of challenge, the Jenga game is a great game for impromptu fun with family and friends
- GREAT KIDS PARTY GAMES: Suspense, surprises, laughs! Liven up a party by taking along this portable game. This wooden blocks stacking game is great for Family Game Night, icebreakers, and kids birthday parties
Puzzle Sets: Opt for a large jigsaw puzzle that the family can work on together during the holiday season, encouraging teamwork and patience.
Bestseller No. 1
Jigsaw Puzzles 1000 Pieces for Adults, Families (Space Traveler, Solar System) Pieces Fit Together Perfectly- Contains 1000 pieces puzzle and a poster. Finished size: 27.56" x 19.69"/70*50cm.
- Upgrade Zoning Design - Compared with other jigsaw puzzles, we have added a back partition design which can effectively avoid chaos when playing this jigsaw puzzles.
- Entertainment- Puzzle can calm your mind and enjoy the fun of jigsaw puzzle. You can also play jigsaw puzzles with your family to make the relationship between your family closer.
Bestseller No. 2
500 Pieces Jigsaw Puzzles Donuts for Adults and Teens and Kids Family Happy Gift Idea New- 500 Pieces Puzzle: Every piece of the puzzle is precisely cut. There are no gaps in the puzzle
- UNnique Pattern: This unique donuts jigsaw puzzle would give you and your family a wonderful parent-child time
- Finished Size: 20.5 by 15 inch (52 by 38 cm)
DIY Craft Kits: Purchase a family-friendly DIY craft kit, such as a gingerbread house kit or a pottery painting set, perfect for sparking creativity in everyone.
Bestseller No. 1
Worgree DIY Wooden Magnets, 36 pcs Wooden Art Craft Supplies Painting Kit for Kids Party Favors for Boys Girls Ages 4-8 8-12 Birthday Easter Crafts Gifts Toys Basket Goodie Bag Stuffers- DIY WOODEN MAGNETS: Includes 36 wooden crafts, 12 colored pens, 36 magnet stickers. Wooden educational toy magnetic art to meet your child's creative needs. They are different designs such as animals, fruits, insects, Easter eggs and bunny, even Christmas elements
- ARTS & CRAFTS KIT: This wooden painting crafts kit is designed to inspire creativity and provide hours of fun for boys and girls, suitable as arts and crafts for kids ages 4-8 8-12. Make their own unique wooden magnets to decorate your refrigerator, iron windows and more
- CREATIVE GIFTS FOR KIDS: Our 36 diy wooden magnets would be the best gift for children, families who love handmade wood products, packaged in an exquisite box, perfect for gifts exchange, creative activities, school art projects, family crafts, classroom prizes, treasure box toys, pinata stuffers, Easter crafts, Easter gifts, Easter basket stuffers, Easter egg fillers and Christmas stocking stuffers
SaleBestseller No. 2
EPUMP Shell Painting Kit for Kids - Glow in The Dark Arts and Crafts for Boys Girls Ages 6-12, Kids Crafts 8-12, Art Supplies, Creative Arts and Crafts Toys Christmas Birthday Party Gifts- Glow in The Dark Art Kits - The main attraction is the glow-in-the-dark paints. (Attention: Absorb Enough Daylight First for A Brighter Glow.) When in the dark, these paints will light up and show beautiful designs. Imagine the look on your kid's face as they watch their seashell designs come to life in the dark
- Ideal Toys for Ages 8-12 - Our arts and crafts for kids not only offer endless entertainment, but it also serves as a delightful gifts for kids ages 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. Suitable for school classroom art projects, party favors, family crafts activities, gifts exchanges, Christmas, Easter, Halloween, coloring gifts, birthdays, and more
- Unleash and Spark Kids Creativity - With this educational and fun arts and crafts for kids ages 8-12, they can unleash their creativity, they can paint and decorate shells and create truly unique and eye-catching glowing shell designs
Family Movie Night Package: Create a movie night bundle with a selection of family-friendly DVDs, popcorn, and cozy blankets for a fun night in.
Bestseller No. 1
Movie Night Basket Gift Set – with Candy Variety Pack, Movie Trays, Movie, Movie Snacks & Popcorn Gift Set – Gift Baskets For Families by Cheshire Gifts
PREMIUM MOVIE NIGHT KIT – Includes 2 Easy to Assemble Movie Night Snack Trays, 2 Retro Popcorn Bags, and an Extensive Theatre Candy Assortment Gift Box to Improve Your Movie Night Decorations
FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT - Go Beyond Your Typical Movie Night With Our Ultimate Gift Baskets For Families Which Include Popcorn Containers, Movie Night Popcorn Gift Set, Movie Night Accessories and Candy Care Package
DATE NIGHT BOX – The Date Night Box Idea That Will Perfectly Complement Your Most Exciting Moments Together. This Popcorn Gift Basket Comes With Popcorn Trays, and Movie Night Supplies
SaleBestseller No. 2
Cheshire Gifts Movie Night Supplies 18 Pcs - Popcorn Bags (12ct) & Movie Night Snack Trays (6ct) - Movie Theater Decor & Popcorn Bowls For Family Movie Night
PREMIUM MOVIE NIGHT KIT - includes 12pcs Popcorn Boxes (Food Grade High Quality Paper) and 6pcs Movie Theater Snack Boxes (Premium Sturdy&Durable Cardboard Material). Cups are not included.- ENHANCE YOUR MOVIE NIGHT DECORATIONS - Perfect For a Home Theater Decor, Concession Stand Decorations, Movie Theme Party Decorations, Sleep Over Party For Girls, Movie Party Favors, 50s Party Decorations And Much More!
CONVENIENT SIZE - Easy To Hold With One Hand - The Snack Tray Measures 5*9.5*2in And Has Large Compartments For Movie Theater Candy, Movie Snacks, Popcorn Box And Your Favorite Drink. The Popcorn Bucket Measures 9.5*3.5in.
Subscription Box: Consider a subscription to a service like “KiwiCo” or “Universal Yums,” which delivers monthly science kits or snacks from around the world, offering new experiences every month.
Bestseller No. 1
Sakura Box Japanese Snacks & Candy 30 Piece Dagashi Set Gift (Box)- Traditional Japanese Dagashi (Candy & Snacks)
- Includes English Information and Instruction Pamphlet
- Perfect to share with family/friends or a great gift idea for Christmas, Birthdays or Valentines
Bestseller No. 2
Midi International Snack Box | Premium Exotic Foreign Snacks | Unique Snack Food Gifts Included | Purple Theme Box | Candies from Around the World | 12 Full-Size + 1 Bonus Snacks- Immerse yourself into the world of snacks with International Yummies by Matleas
- International snacks you find in this crate offer great variety and exotic tastes unlike any other
- Comes with a pamphlet that gives funny trivia about snacks
Outdoor Game Set: Encourage some fresh air with an outdoor game set like badminton, bocce ball, or a frisbee, perfect for backyard entertainment.
SaleBestseller No. 1
GoSports Indoor/Outdoor Ladder Toss Game Set with 6 Rubber Bolos, Carrying Case and Score Trackers- EVERYTHING YOU NEED: Set includes 2 targets with score trackers, 6 rubber bolos, carrying case, and rules
- FASTEST ASSEMBLY: PVC targets are pre-glued so assembly takes under 2 minutes
- KID FRIENDLY: Soft rubber bolos are kid-friendly and great for indoor use; The extra thick rope prevents tangles
SaleBestseller No. 2
GoSports Slammo Game Set (Includes 3 Balls, Carrying Case and Rules) - Outdoor Lawn, Beach & Tailgating Roundnet Game for Kids, Teens & Adults- WHAT IS SLAMMO: Slammo is an action-packed 2-on-2 volleyball style game where teams have 3 hits to return or spike the ball to the circular net; Fun for the whole family at the beach, BBQs, camping, and in the backyard
- COMPLETE SET: Includes 1 Slammo roundnet target, 1 large 12 cm training ball to learn the game, 2 smaller 9 cm competition balls, travel carrying case and game rules
- EASY TO LEARN FOR KIDS & ADULTS: Slammo is the must-have outdoor lawn and beach game for the summer that will engage players of all ages; Retail packaged, makes a great gift
Cooking Class Experience: Gift a virtual or local cooking class that the whole family can enjoy together, learning new recipes and cooking techniques.
Family Photo Book: Compile a personalized photo book with family memories from the past year, which can be enjoyed by all and cherished for years to come.
Storytelling Card Game: Choose a storytelling card game like “Rory’s Story Cubes” to inspire creativity and imagination during family gatherings.
Plant Growing Kit: A family-friendly indoor herb or vegetable growing kit can provide a fun and educational activity that continues to yield benefits throughout the year.
These gifts are designed to foster togetherness and create lasting memories without breaking the bank.
For more great holiday tips, read these articles:
- Kitchen gifts under $25
- Thoughtful holiday gifts on a budget
- Homemade food gifts
- Free cheap and homemade gifts for pets
- Homemade soup gifts that will warm the heart
- Save by shopping early
My favorite practical gift to give was a battery-charger that came with rechargeable batteries. I bought several and gave one to each of those very hard-to-buy-for people in my family. It was economical, practical, everyone loved it, and I’ve had a hard time topping it since.
I bought throw blankets one year for my sister and husband. Loved them and can use them year round.
Last year for Christmas, I hired carpet cleaners to deep clean my brother’s carpets. It was such a great gift and something he wouldn’t pay for himself, but this year, I’m totally stumped. I love your idea about buying a Costco membership! Thank you for sharing such great ideas!
People think about smoke detectors, but totally forget WATER detectors. Under each sink, dishwasher, by each toilet, and shower, the water heater, … any water-using item that could leak where you don’t want it to. There are different types: ones that blast a sound right there at the source, to electronic ones that text you, and everything in-between. Prices start around $10, so it’s worth getting one for every spot you might need it. Be alerted to the leak while it’s still small.