Budget-friendly Gift Ideas

Looking for the perfect gift idea for holiday gift exchanges like White Elephant or Secret Santa? Or perhaps a unique stocking stuffer to knock their socks off (pun intended)? Look no further: 

Gifts Under 50
Is your person looking to switch up their simple iPhone or Samsung phone case to something with a unique design, or wanting to upgrade to a MagSafe case? Check out Redbubble’s collection of phone cases available in over a thousand designs, with case options in soft, snap, or Tough MagSafe (available on iPhone 16 only). Are tote bags more their vibe? Find cotton tote bags with one-of-a-kind art, available in 3 different sizes for groceries, the gym, or daily errands.

Gifts Under 20
This budget is usually the sweet spot for gift exchanges like White Elephant (where each participant brings one gift to contribute to a common pool), or Secret Santa (where each person is assigned a specific member to gift). A great starting point is posters, with an extra small or small poster perfect for the occasion. Seeking gifts that are more holiday-forward? Choose mugs that spark joy to their mornings. Pair that with custom coasters, or cozy socks with art that speaks to them. 

Gifts Under 10
Your go-to stocking stuffer ideas are all right here. Stickers are the perfect inexpensive gift idea that also make for a great holiday group activity. Create your own sticker pack to deck out laptops, water bottles, notebooks, and more! Holographic stickers are especially great for matching the holiday theme. Looking for a greeting card to go along with your gift? Find holiday greeting cards that you’ve never seen before off the shelf. 

Gifts for Her
Whether it’s Christmas gifts for the women in your family, or anniversary gifts for your wife or bestie, Redbubble’s got the perfect curation of gift ideas for women. You can’t really go wrong with sweaters in the holiday season. Choose from over ten colorways of cozy hoodies and sweatshirts that fit their personality, and pair it with art to create a custom graphic hoodie, ugly Christmas sweater, or sweater with their favorite artist. If you’re looking for something more niche, try true crime tees or astrology gifts to give your favorite sign. 

Gifts for Him
Your search for cool gifts for men starts and stops here. To start off, you really can’t go wrong with funny T-shirts, and Redbubble has over thousands of meme, humor, and pop culture reference tees for men to add to their collection. Curated by dudes equally passionate about holiday gifting, you can also find gift ideas for dads including dad hats, gifts for cat dads, sports fans, techies, and more.

Gifts for Pop Culture Fans
If your person can recognize any movie title or internet event, they’re probably a pop culture historian. The artists on Redbubble are also chronically online, so you can find unique printed tees and mugs with their favorite cult TV show, music artist, or internet meme. 

Gifts for Pet Lovers
Does your friend or coworker put their pet on a pedestal (sometimes figuratively, sometimes literally)? Then you’ve come to the right place. With a passionate community of equally pet-worshiping artists on Redbubble, you can find gift ideas for dog lovers, cat owners, and everything in between. Maybe they’ve got an exotic animal or aquatic fish obsession instead? Either way, you’ll find unique gift ideas for animal lovers with designs that mix style with pet piety.   

Gifts for Anime/Gaming Lovers
If your special someone is guaranteed to go crazy at an anime or gaming gift, you’ve come to the right place. Pick any anime or game under the sun, and you’re sure to find it here. Just take your pick on the gift of choice, such as anime posters, gaming mouse pads, or just Japanese anime aesthetic illustrations.

Gifts for Kids
Redbubble’s mission is all about supporting independent artists and creators- which is why it’s the perfect place to spark your kid’s imagination. Let your kid think of any random idea, like a unicorn riding a triceratops heading to the disco, and take your pick on a kids t-shirt, kids hoodie, and make it come to life! Explore with baby onesies, kid-size masks, and other gifts for kids that embrace their creativity. 

Gifts for Retro/Vintage Lovers
Does your person often feel like they’re born in the wrong era? Then this is their safe space. Find gifts for all types of retro and vintage lovers, ranging from Y2K aesthetic all the way down to medieval humor. Are they more inclined to go back to the future? Then check out posters, socks and more featuring Retro Futurism that juxtaposes time. If your person’s got a slightly dark sense of humor, grab any of these 80’s vintage style tees and they won’t be disappointed.

Gifts for Outdoor/Travel Types
Every friend group has a nature lover or wanderluster. Make them feel seen with high quality tees and functional art to follow them on their next adventure. For the outdoorsy person that’s likely to have climbed every mountain out there, opt for gifts that pay homage to their love for the wilderness. Are they more of a thrill seeker that is the first to say yes to mountain biking, ziplining, or a water sport? Or are they more of a travel enthusiast that has more stamps on their passport than you can count? Find the very gift with duffel bags, makeup pouches, or backpacks that they’ll appreciate. 

Haven’t found a category that describes your person? Don’t sweat- here’s a few more: 

Gifts for Fantasy Lovers
Gifts for Home Decor
Gifts for Kids 

Unsure of what exact gift to get your person? Opt for a digital gift card instead to give them the freedom to take their pick. 

Still looking for more unique gift ideas? Check out 30 more gift ideas below:

1. Fun In a Box – Board and card games aren’t just for kids. Everyone loves some sweet competition. The nectar of victory is intoxicating for pretty much anyone. In this theme, a group can exchange their favorite board games. Then they get the group back together for a super fun game night. It’s the gift exchange that keeps giving.
2. Something Blue – Something old or something new, who cares, as long as it’s blue? From blue cotton candy to a denim cowboy hat to a lovely set of mixing bowls, if it’s blue, it’s the perfect gift for this exchange.
3. Inside Jokes – “And then she said, ‘Well, I don’t know about you, but I’ve never been to Kansas!'” Pay tribute to your most beloved/nonsensical inside jokes with a symbolic gift, whether it’s a rubber chicken or a “Maine is for Lovers” shirt, because, well, you know.
4. Sweet Dreams – Sleep is the ultimate gift, but it’s impossible to gift someone actual zzzs. Your gift exchange can be the next best thing: pajamas, eye masks, sleepytime tea, white noise machines and aromatherapy-infused teddy bears are all fair game, as long as it helps you get your 40 winks.
5. Home Sweet Home – Exchange a relic that’s representative of the town you grew up in. For an added twist, make everyone guess who their undercover gifter is based on obscure biographical trivia alone.
6. Pizza! –  This doesn’t need an explanation. Any pizzaphernalia your heart desires, go for it.
7. Gift Cards: Ahh, bless gift cards, the present that always fits and without fail knows just what you wanted.
8. Superheroes: Cue up the theme music, because everyone’s a hero now. Make up a moniker for your giftee and assemble their starter pack. Captain Dishsoap, don your rubber gloves and fight scum, both of the soap and criminal varieties!
9. Ugly Sweaters: A classic theme for a reason, give the gift of thrift in this year’s exchange. Find the gnarliest, tackiest sweater in the secondhand shop to wrap up for your lucky gift recipient.
10. The Best Book I’ve Ever Read: Give the gift of sitting down and reading an actual book, you internet addict. Swap a copy of your favorite book, whether it’s “Pride and Prejudice” or “1984.”
11. Booze Patrol: Throw back some ho-ho-holiday cheer that’s sure to give you the warm and fuzzies, courtesy of an over-21 indulgence. Bonus points if you can pair your liquid gift with a kitschy cup and the perfect mixer.
12. Cheap Thrills: Impose a price limit, for example $17, and make the most of every penny to assemble a bundle for your giftee. How far can you stretch a budget? It’s time to find out.
13. One-Season Wonders: Pour one out for the shows that were canceled too soon by giving one another box sets of TV series that only had one season. It’s a perfectly bingeable, nostalgic present — assuming you can still find a DVD player somewhere, that is.
14. I Love the ’80s: Break out the Slinkies and don’t hold back on the neon for this rad Christmas gift exchange idea. Embrace your most colorful instincts and shower your recipient with relics from a bygone decade.
15. Feets of Strength: The game is afoot, and so is your gift exchange. Socks, toenail polish, those crazy exfoliating booties, or anything else that has to do with those lil piggies is fair game.
16. A Few of My Favorite Things: A talk show host may have made them famous for gift guide, but we all have our favorite things. This year, make it the theme of your gift exchange, and explain to your giftee why this is the greatest three-wick candle or that’s the most essential bath caddy known to man.
17. Snack Attack: Give everyone a box of the same size and have them fill it with their favorite snacks for their giftee, the more idiosyncratic the better. Personally, we wouldn’t mind if it was all Reese’s mini cups. Just saying.
18. My Mom Loves This Stuff: You heard her in that Sunday afternoon phone call, your mama just can’t get over whatever her obsession of the week is. Make your mother proud and gift your recipient something your mom endorses.

19. Spot the Great Gift: The name of the game is polka dots. Don’t be afraid to get a little dotty in the name of a great gift for this exchange.
20. Bring Back the Mixtape: Create your recipient a soundtrack for the movie about their lives. Bonus points if you compose and record an original tune.
21. Sheet (Mask) Happens: In the name of pores, give and receive gifts that defend your moisture barrier this holiday season. Sheet masks, lotions and serums are all fantastic choices for a skincare-themed gift exchange.
22. Denim: Cotton may be the fabric of our lives, but denim is the fabric of our best lives. Whether it’s a hardcover notebook bound in denim or a pair of perfect jeans, this gift exchange is bound to leave you feeling blue — in a good way.
23. Deskorations: You spend eight hours a day there, so why shouldn’t your desk get to get in on the holiday fun? Give your recipient the greatest tchotchkes in the game so they have something to stare at all day while they procrastinate.
24. A Salute to 1997: Show some respect for the greatest year cinema has ever seen (“Titanic”! “Good Will Hunting”! “Men in Black”!) by gifting your recipient a movie from the year.
25. Premium Brew: The most important meal of the day is represented in this theme. We’re talking about coffee, obviously. Grab mugs, beans, sassy coffee-related shirts, measure out your life in coffee spoons, we don’t care as long as it has to do with that sweet, sweet java.
26. Three Wicks or Bust: When there’s nothing left to burn, you must set your gift exchange candle on fire. (That’s how the quote goes, right?)
27. Get Out of Town: Whether it’s a mini Eiffel Tower or a cool gadget that will (somehow?) make plane travel more comfortable, a travel-themed gift exchange is sure to go far.
28. Something Fishy: Get creative with a fish-themed gift exchange. You could give spices with which to cook fish, ocean-themed apparel (embrace the shark puns) or, if you’re not a fan of your selected giftee, one of those fish plaques that never stops talking.
29. Make Your Mother Blush: Perfect for groups with an NSFW sense of humor. Do not give these gifts to your mother, and definitely do not open them in front of her either.
30. Sweet for Swedes: This holiday season, it’s all Sweden, all the time. Get your giftee a Flardfull candle for their Malm, some lingonberry jam, or a copy of “Mamma Mia!” If it’s related to Sweden, it’s fair game.
31. Piece it Together: Everyone and their mother is doing puzzles right now, so why not swap them! Make sure everyone gets a puzzle they’ll enjoy by suggesting a piece count. When they’re finished, they can frame their puzzles to showcase their skills.
32. Something Old: On a budget this year? That doesn’t mean that you can’t do a gift exchange. Have everyone bring something they have lying around their house to exchange.
33. Candy Crush: Exchange your favorite sweets! Bonus points if you can find vintage treats or locally made confections.
34. Made with Love: Challenge everyone to DIY their gift. While everyone might not be crafty, everyone will get an A for effort.

Now that you’ve seen the very best gift exchange themes the world has to offer, it’s time to go forth and be festive as heck. If you need more inspiration or gift exchange ideas, check out some Redbubble Gift Guides like our guide for pup parents or your gamer pals. We’ve even got unique gift wrap ideas and holiday-themed jokes to make your gift exchanges move fun.

Go get your merry on, gift givers.