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.
- Gift Cards are shipped active and ready for use.
- This card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Funds do not expire. If available funds remain on your card after the valid thru date has passed, please call customer service for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout. No fees after purchase.
- To access your card information safely, type the complete website address shown on your Gift Card (MyGift.GiftCardMall.com) directly into your browser's address bar. Don't use search engines or shortened versions of the website address, as these may lead you to fake or fraudulent sites. Do not provide any Gift Card details (example: Card Number) to someone you do not know or trust. If you believe you've reached an illegitimate website, contact cardholder service at 1-888-524-1283. Be cautious of phishing sites, there are a variety of scams in which fraudsters try to trick others into paying with gift cards.
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.
- Rechargeable NiMH Batteries and Chargers Combo - EBL Rechargeable AA AAA Battery Charger could charge 1-8 Ni-MH Ni-Cd AA AAA rechargeable batteries with 2 USB charging ports and 8 Pack 2300mAh AA Rechargeable Batteries, 8 Pack 1100mAh AAA Rechargeable Batteries.
- ProCyco technology - 1200 Tech, up to 500 times deep charging & discharging cycles (others normal is 400times).
- Low self-discharge Batteries - Embedded seal structure expand the space of crystal lattice, make more room for hydrogen, so EBL batteries will holds 80% power after 3 years benefit from its concentration to low self-discharge project.
- 【Intelligent Safety Protection】 Automatic power-off and thermal protection prevent overheating, monitored by red/green LED charging indicators
- 【 Low-Carbon Certified】Certified by ClimatePartner, the product’s lifecycle carbon emissions have been measured
- 【USB High-Speed Charging】With a Type-C input, charge anytime, anywhere，8 isolated circuits charge 1-8 AA/AAA batteries simultaneously, compatible with mixed NiMH/NiCD sizes
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.
Bestseller No. 1
Do You Really Know Your Family? Fun Family Game for Kids, Teens and Adults | Best Family Game Night Card Board Game for Kids 8+ & Adults, Family Edition Trivia & Conversation Cards, Top Family Gifts- Get ready for the best family game night as you laugh and learn new things about each other with this fun card game.
- See who really knows the family best as you answer fun questions about each other while sparking interesting conversations.
- Create hilarious family memories as you compete and perform silly challenges together.
SaleBestseller No. 2
Sorry! Board Game for Kids Ages 6 and Up; Classic Hasbro Board Game; Each Player Gets 4 Pawns; Family Game- 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
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
Mudpuppy - Ghostly Gathering 500 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle | Illustrated by Jenny Miriam Hughes, Halloween, For Adults, Family, and Kids, Recycled Paper, No Dust, Finished Size 20" x 20"- 500 PIECE PUZZLE – The Ghostly Gathering 500 Piece Puzzle by Mudpuppy features a spooky illustration of adorable ghosts getting ready for Halloween. This puzzle is just the right level of challenge for the whole family to join in on for hours of puzzling fun! The box includes an insert with the full puzzle image for reference.
- BRIGHT AND BOLD ARTWORK – This puzzle features a spooky scene of ghosts getting ready to celebrate everyone's favorite spooky holiday, Halloween!. Children and their families will have a great time putting together this lovely scene of ghosts!
- PERFECT FOR GIFTING – A perfect gift for celebrating Halloween with the young ones in your life, the Ghostly Gathering 500 Piece Puzzle is made of sturdy greyboard and is brightly colored to engage young children's senses and encourage screen free playtime. The puzzle is designed to develop problem solving skills, spatial reasoning, and hand-eye coordination, all while having fun! The perfect puzzle for families to do together.
Bestseller No. 2
300 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle for Adults, Fun at The Amusement Park Dog Puzzles, Funny Puppy Jigsaw Puzzles, Animal Pet Lover Challenging Puzzles for Friends Family Activity Game Nights Gifts- [Puppy Party Jigsaw Puzzle]: This delightful 300 piece puzzles for adults features an adorable dog and pool party theme that will brighten your puzzling experience. Put together this lively scene of playful puppies enjoying a fun summer day by the outdoor pool, perfect for dog lovers
- [300 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle Set]: Enjoy hours of entertainment with our dog jigsaw puzzle! This set comes in an elegant box and includes a vibrant full-color poster to assist you. It’s perfect for dog lovers and puzzle enthusiasts looking for a fun challenge
- [Perfect Gift]: This adorable 300-piece jigsaw puzzle is perfect for both adults and kids. It makes a wonderful gift for children, friends, family, lovers, colleagues, and parents. It's an ideal choice for anyone who appreciates the laughter and charm of our furry friends
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
Taba Squishy Making Kit for Kids - Squishies Craft Kits - Gifts for Girls | Kids Crafts - 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Year Old Girl Birthday Gift - Kids Crafts - Arts and Crafts for Kid for 8-12 - Toys for Girls- MAKE YOUR OWN TABA SQUISHIES: Bring the magic of squishy making right into your home! With the Dan&Darci Taba Squishy Kit, combine special goops, add vibrant colors, and fill the six-character mega mold to watch your squishies come to life.
- SIX FUN & CUTE SQUISHY SHAPES: Create a paw, a goofy capybara, a cuddly koala, a tasty cookie, a yummy doughnut, and an adorable bunny — each one with its own charm to squish and enjoy.
- ALL-IN-ONE KIT: Includes 6-character mold, 6 sets of Goops, 5 color bottles, glitter, glow-in-the-dark powder, flocking powder, squeeze detail pen, mixing cups, stirring sticks, store-’n-squeeze bags, and a detailed illustrated instruction guide — everything needed to start creating right away.
SaleBestseller No. 2
Arts & Crafts Supplies Kits & Materials Set for Kids, Toddler - Carl & Kay- ALL INCLUSIVE CRAFT KIT: Looking for a fun one-stop, ready-for-anything craft supply bundle that covers all the basics? You found it!
- HUGE ASSORTMENT: Materials included are 100 pipe cleaners, 50 colorful popsicle sticks, 100 craft matchsticks, 50 buttons, 100 adhesive googly eyes, 150 assorted size pom poms, 100 craft feathers, 100 foam sticker shapes, and 1000 sequins. (Some items packed by weight—quantity is approx.)
- EASY TO STORE & CARRY: Clean up time is a breeze! Each craft item comes neatly packed in small zipper bags, all conveniently stored in a large zipper bag that allows your kids to store and transport them without any hassle. Take them on-the-go for car rides, camping, vacations, friend’s houses, after school and more!
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 Gift Basket 42-Piece Movie Night Supplies Box Popcorn Candy Set | Great for birthdays, date night, family & kids, teens & adults, Christmas, Mother's Day, Father's Day, raffle prizes- INCLUDES 42 ITEMS inside our newly designed gift box! All food is well known brand names (3) Packs of Popcorn (4) Food Safe Popcorn Containers, (2) Salted Peanuts (2) Chips, (2) Crackers (4) Beef Jerky Stick, (1) Pack of Licorice Candy, (4) Chocolate Candy, (2) Cookie Packs, (8) Sugar candies, and (4) Sweet or Sour candies . Also includes movie night extras (1) Director Clapboard, (4) Movie Night Bracelets, (4) Erasable Pens and (4) Movie Night Bingo Game Cards for extra fun!
- ULTIMATE MOVIE NIGHT GIFT BASKET: Elevate your movie nights with our all-inclusive Movie Night Gift Box. Packed with popcorn, candy, snacks, and extras, it's the ultimate movie night gift basket and movie night kit for a fun-filled evening of entertainment.
- UNFORGETTABLE DATE NIGHT MOVIE EXPERIENCE: Create a romantic ambiance with our Movie Night Gift Box, ideal for a memorable date night movie. Indulge in movie theater candy, popcorn, and snacks while enjoying quality time with your loved one. This makes for a perfect family movie night gift basket or a romantic movie gift basket.
Bestseller No. 2
Nostalgia Tabletop Indoor Electric S'mores Maker - Smores Kit With Marshmallow Roasting Sticks and 4 Trays for Graham Crackers, Chocolate, and Marshmallows - Movie Night Supplies - Brown- Outdoor fun brought indoors: Bring S'mores fun indoors and roast marshmallows to perfection over the tabletop electric flameless heater
- Electric Flameless heater: Forget the hassle of cutting wood and open flames, this unit is built with safety in mind; the electric flameless heater requires nothing but an electrical outlet to start making perfect golden brown smears
- Roasting forks: Includes 2 stainless steel roasting forks to make S'mores with friends and keep hands a safe distance from the heater. Never use abrasive cleaners on the unit
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
International Snack Box, Unique Experience with Universal Exotic Candies and Treats from around the World, Gift-Ready Foreign Foods in Packages Inspired by European, Japanese and Korean Cultures- Unique Gift: A hilariously unexpected treasure chest of global snacks that instantly makes you the most interesting gift giver in the room
- Cultural Exploration: Every bite doubles as a mini world tour—no passport, no jet lag, just shockingly delicious cultural discoveries, including a few unforgettable Asian surprises
- Holiday Ready: Wrapped and ready for gifting, because nothing says “I put thought into this” like snacks from far-off lands you definitely didn’t visit
Bestseller No. 2
International Snack Box, Unique Experience with Universal Exotic Candies and Treats from around the World, Gift-Ready Foreign Foods in Packages Inspired by European, Japanese and Korean Cultures- Unique Gift: A hilariously unexpected treasure chest of global snacks that instantly makes you the most interesting gift giver in the room
- Cultural Exploration: Every bite doubles as a mini world tour—no passport, no jet lag, just shockingly delicious cultural discoveries, including a few unforgettable Asian surprises
- Holiday Ready: Wrapped and ready for gifting, because nothing says “I put thought into this” like snacks from far-off lands you definitely didn’t visit
Outdoor Game Set: Encourage some fresh air with an outdoor game set like badminton, bocce ball, or a frisbee, perfect for backyard entertainment.
Bestseller No. 1
Nex Playground - The Active Play System for Kids & Families Where Indoor Physical Activity Meets Interactive Family Fun and is Great for Gaming Nights, Parties and Playdates- 5 GAMES INCLUDED. UNLOCK MORE WITH PLAY PASS. Playground comes with Fruit Ninja, Starri, Whac-a-Mole, Go Keeper, and Party Fowl. A separate purchase of a 3-Month ($49) or 12-Month Play Pass ($89) is required to access the full catalog of games and get new games each month, including Barbie, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, How to Train Your Dragon, Peppa Pig, Care Bears, Elmo, Miraculous Ladybug, Gabby's Dollhouse, Kung Fu Panda and more.
- GET MOVING WITH ACTIVE FAMILY FUN. Nex Playground is a new kind of video game console that gets your family moving. It easily connects to your TV, transforming your living room into an active play space. Within minutes, your family will be playing Fruit Ninja, Whac-a-Mole and more. Using a built-in camera to track motion and natural body movements, anyone in the family can jump right in.
- JUST USE YOUR BODY TO PLAY. Play naturally just by moving your body. Playground uses the magic of AI to follow your movements using the built-in wide-angle camera. No controllers or clunky trackers! Up to 4 players can play at the same time, so everyone can get moving together.
Bestseller No. 2
ApudArmis 60 Pcs Tumble Tower, Pine Wooden Stacking Game Up to 3.2Ft | Non-toxic NZ Pine, Crack-resistant. Initial 1.7 Inch, Max Up to 3.2Ft. Indoor & Outdoor Stacking Game for Family Parties- 60 Pieces Timber Game: The Classic Tumble Tower Set comes with 60 pieces Tumble Blocks, 1 pcs Dice, 1 pcs White Scoreboard, and a Zipper bag. Each wooden block measures 4.75x1.6x1 In. The Stacking Games bring family challenge and fun, starting from a neat arrangement of 1.7 FT (18 rows) high, and gradually growing taller through extraction and stacking, reaching up to 3.2 FT at its maximum height
- Superior Pinewood And Safe For Family: ApudArmis Blocks are made from hand picked premium pine hardwood, which is NON-Toxic, No Splitting, No Cracking and provides long-lasting durability. The Block corner edges are meticulously rounded and extra smooth, which make it safe for your family. Ensure a fun leisure time among family activity, friends party
- Perfect Family And Group Party Game: Our Giant Timber Game is easily for Teenagers to play. Parents can get timber for Back Yard fun. It’s the best family activity spans the age gap. You can personalize the set and gather round your friends to play with it. And 1 Dice to add your game rules, make up your own rules by incorporating the Dice into the game.
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.