15 Cheap but Thoughtful Gifts (Most Under $25)
Our top picks
- Most meaningfulChatbooks mini photo book$10–$20Check price
- Best DIY'Open when' letter set$5–$12Check price
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A thoughtful gift says "I pay attention to you", and that message has nothing to do with price. Some of the most-kept gifts cost less than $15: a framed photo, a handwritten recipe, a book with notes in the margins.
This list is for anyone you're close to, like parents, partners, siblings or old friends. It focuses on sentimental and personal gifts, and each pick includes a tip for making it unmistakably theirs. If you're buying specifically for a friend on a tight budget, our gifts for best friends under $20 guide leans more fun than sentimental.
Under $25
Chatbooks mini photo book
$10–$20Chatbooks turns photos from your phone into a small, soft-cover book in a few minutes. Twenty or thirty pictures from a trip, a year of friendship or a child's first months become something to hold instead of scroll past. Make it theirs: add a one-line caption under each photo with the date and a joke only they'll understand.
- Best for
- Best friends, partners and parents.
- Skip if
- You need it tomorrow. Printing and shipping take several days.
'Open when' letter set
$5–$12A bundle of sealed envelopes labelled "open when you're sad", "open when you need a laugh", "open on your birthday" and so on. Each one holds a letter, a photo or a small treat like a tea bag. It costs almost nothing and gets kept for years. Make it theirs: write about specific memories, not general encouragement.
- Best for
- Long-distance friends and partners.
- Skip if
- You're not comfortable writing. A playlist with notes might suit you better.
A treat from a place they miss
$10–$25Candy from their home country, a hot sauce from their hometown diner, coffee beans from the café near their old apartment: nostalgia is a powerful gift. Many small shops will ship if you call or email. Make it theirs: include a note about why you remembered, such as "you still talk about this place".
- Best for
- People who've moved away from home.
- Skip if
- The place holds painful memories for them. Nostalgia isn't always happy.
Family recipe on a printed tea towel
$18–$25Scan a family recipe in the original handwriting (Grandma's pie, Dad's chilli) and have it printed onto a cotton tea towel. Many small makers on Etsy do this. It's a tearjerker for parents and grandparents, and it keeps a loved one's handwriting in the kitchen. Make it theirs: use the stained, dog-eared card.
- Best for
- Family members who cook, especially after a loss.
- Skip if
- The recipe's author has recently died and the family isn't ready. Check with someone close first.
A favourite book with your notes in the margins
$10–$20Give a paperback of a book you love after underlining your favourite lines and writing notes: where you were when you read it, what made you laugh, what made you think of them. It's like reading it together. Make it theirs: write a short letter on the inside cover about why you chose it for them.
- Best for
- Readers and close friends.
- Skip if
- They see books as pristine objects. Some readers hate writing in books.
Framed handwriting or lyrics
$12–$20A line from an old letter, a grandparent's signature, or the lyric from your wedding song, framed in a simple oak frame. It's cheap to make but deeply personal. Make it theirs: use real handwriting where you can. Scan an old birthday card and print it at a local shop.
- Best for
- Sentimental people and couples.
- Skip if
- The handwriting is from someone they had a complicated relationship with. Be sure it'll land well.
Hot cocoa kit in a mason jar
$8–$15Layer cocoa powder, chocolate chips and mini marshmallows in a Ball mason jar, add a tag with the recipe and tie it with ribbon. It's cosy, cute and costs a few dollars. Make a batch for neighbours, teachers and coworkers. Make it theirs: add a crushed candy cane or chilli flakes if you know their taste.
- Best for
- Neighbours, teachers and coworkers.
- Skip if
- The recipient is dairy-free. Use dairy-free chocolate and skip the marshmallows (most contain gelatin).
A cutting from your own plant
$5–$15Pothos, spider plants and tradescantia root easily in a glass of water. Pot a rooted cutting in a small terracotta pot, and you've given a living gift with a story. Make it theirs: write a tag saying which plant it came from ("from the pothos on my kitchen shelf, 2019") and simple care instructions.
- Best for
- Plant lovers and new homeowners.
- Skip if
- They have cats that chew plants. Pothos is toxic to pets, so choose a spider plant.
A coupon book of favours
$0–$10Coupons for a home-cooked dinner, a night of babysitting, a car wash, a movie of their choice or "one free apology". It's personal, useful and costs nothing but your time. Make it theirs: choose favours that solve a real problem, like a coupon for moving help if they're about to move.
- Best for
- Partners, parents and roommates.
- Skip if
- You're unlikely to follow through. An unredeemed coupon book becomes a small disappointment.
Engraved coordinates keychain
$12–$22The GPS coordinates of a meaningful place (where you met, their childhood home, the hospital where a child was born), engraved on a small metal keychain they'll carry every day. Make it theirs: don't explain the numbers on the card. Let them look them up.
- Best for
- Partners, best friends and new parents.
- Skip if
- They don't carry keys (keyless car, smart lock). Choose a bracelet version instead.
Moleskine journal with a first entry from you
$18–$25A good hardcover journal is nice. One where you've written the first page (a memory, a wish for their year, a letter) is unforgettable. Moleskine's classic notebook is a reliable choice. Make it theirs: date your entry and leave the rest for them to fill.
- Best for
- Writers, graduates and people starting a new chapter.
- Skip if
- They're not a journaller. The book will stay blank after your page.
Fujifilm Instax Mini film twin pack
$15–$20If they own an instant camera, film is the gift they always run out of and forget to buy. Twenty shots means twenty photos at the next party. Make it theirs: use one shot yourself to take a picture of the two of you and tuck it into the card.
- Best for
- Friends who already own an Instax Mini.
- Skip if
- You're not sure which camera they have. Instax Mini, Square and Wide film aren't interchangeable.
A donation in their name
Any amountFor the person who truly wants nothing, a donation to a cause they care about (their local animal shelter, a food bank, a disease charity linked to their family) is deeply thoughtful. Make it theirs: print a card explaining what your donation pays for, like "a week of food for two shelter dogs".
- Best for
- Minimalists and people who have everything.
- Skip if
- You don't know their causes. Donating to something they don't support can feel off.
$25 to $50
Custom pet portrait
$20–$45Pet owners adore illustrations of their pets. Many artists on Etsy work from a phone photo and send a digital file you can print at home or at a local shop. Make it theirs: choose a photo that captures the pet's personality, like the head tilt or the sleeping-on-the-sofa pose, rather than a posed shot.
- Best for
- Devoted pet owners, and anyone whose pet has recently died.
- Skip if
- You're short on time. Custom work can take two weeks or more.
Rifle Paper Co. recipe box
$30–$40A floral recipe box with printed cards is lovely on its own. Filled with handwritten copies of family recipes, it becomes an heirloom. It's a beautiful gift for a new couple, a child leaving home, or a parent who keeps recipes on loose scraps. Make it theirs: ask relatives to each write one card.
- Best for
- New homeowners, newlyweds and family cooks.
- Skip if
- They keep all their recipes digitally and never cook from cards.
The thoughtful-gift formula
A cheap gift feels thoughtful when it has at least one of these three things:
- A shared memory. Photos, a place, a song, a recipe or an inside joke.
- A solved problem. Something they’ve complained about, fixed. Think of the favour coupon for moving day, or film for the camera they never have film for.
- Your time. Something handmade, handwritten or home-cooked.
The best gifts have two. A photo book (memory) with handwritten captions (time) is far more than a $15 print order.
Make any gift personal in ten minutes
- Start the card with “I saw this and thought of you because…” and finish the sentence honestly.
- Add a date or place that matters to the two of you.
- Include one small extra: their favourite chocolate bar, or a sachet of the tea they always drink.
Which gift for which person
| For… | Try |
|---|---|
| Parents and grandparents | Recipe tea towel, framed handwriting, photo book |
| A partner | ‘Open when’ letters, coordinates keychain, coupon book |
| A friend who’s moved away | A treat from a place they miss, photo book |
| A neighbour or teacher | Hot cocoa mason jar, plant cutting |
| Someone going through a hard time | ‘Open when’ letters, a donation in a loved one’s name |
Don’t know the person well enough for something sentimental, like a new colleague or a friend’s partner? Our gender-neutral gift ideas are chosen by lifestyle instead. And if the person who needs a small, thoughtful treat this year is you, see gifts for yourself.
Three mistakes that make a cheap gift feel cheap
- Rushing the personal part. A photo book with no captions or a letter written in five minutes looks like an afterthought. The time is the gift, so give it properly.
- Being generic. “You’re a great friend” is kind. “Thank you for driving four hours when my dad was in hospital” is unforgettable.
- Apologising for the price. Don’t say “it’s only small”. Let the thought speak for itself.
Budget wrapping ideas
Brown kraft paper, twine and a sprig of rosemary cost under $5 and look beautiful. Tins, mason jars and thrifted baskets turn small items into a gift set. See our gift basket ideas on a budget for complete builds under $30.
Frequently asked questions
What is a cheap but thoughtful gift?
A gift that clearly shows you know the person: a mini photo book of shared memories, 'open when' letters, a treat from a place they miss, a book with your notes in it, or a framed handwritten recipe.
How can I make a cheap gift look more expensive?
Wrap it well (kraft paper, fabric ribbon, greenery), add a handwritten note, and pair two small items, like coffee with a mug or a journal with a good pen.
What can I give instead of a gift when money is tight?
Your time and skills: a home-cooked dinner, a coupon book of favours, a playlist with notes, help with a project, or a heartfelt letter.
Are handmade gifts better than bought ones?
Not automatically, but a handmade gift that took effort and shows you know the person usually means more than a bought gift of the same value.