MoneyMagpie Editor and financial expert Vicky Parry shares the best secret Santa gifts and presents under £30 for almost any personality type
Secret Santa has increased in popularity over the years, and for good reason: it helps everyone save money at Christmas time! Rather than buying gifts for every single person, you only need to buy one or two.
While it’s previously been an office tradition with a spending limit around £15, in recent years more families are using it to save money and refocus on the point of the festive season in being spending time together rather than lots of gifts.
This guide has Secret Santa presents up to £30 for almost anyone, whether it’s your office colleague or your cousin, there’s something on this list that will make an ideal gift for them.
It’s also an ideal guide to peruse if you have to buy a gift for someone you don’t know very well yet, such as a new potential-in-law you’ve only met a few times.
Gifts under £5
Whether you have a price limit or you want a small stocking filler type gift, you can still get some great presents for £5 or less.
The Decorate Your Own Grinch Mug is only £2.99 from Robert Dyas, and is a fun activity for anyone – particularly if they’re not known for loving the Christmas spirit!
Beauty gifts always go down well for the under £5 bracket, too. The HASK Keratin Conditioner Mask is only £3 and can also be easily sent in the post for a letterbox-sized little something to go with a Christmas card.
For a gift that does good, and is very tongue-in-cheek, why not go for Access Storage’s Boring 2026 Calendar? It’s only £5 and all proceeds go to their Cancer Research fundraiser.
Gifts under £10
Foodie gifts are perfect for this price bracket, as you can gift a festive snack that you know will be appreciated – and used! The Cottage Delight Chutney Set at Robert Dyas (£5.99), a pickle or sauce from Tracklements (from £3.35), or a Divine Chocolate bundle for the sweet of tooth (£9.99) will all make great Secret Santa gifts under £10. If you’re stuck for choice, there’s always a great range of cheese truckles available at this time of year, like those by Clawson Farms.
For those who prefer a hot drink, tea is a great option. Bird and Blend have a huge range of festive-flavoured teas, like the Snowball Tea (£7.80 for 15 teabags). Or, Yawn coffee starts from £8.50 for delicious coffee beans (or ground or filter). For the sweeter tooth, Whittard’s Hot Chocolate Spoons with marshmallows are only £3.95 so you can also find a fun mug to put together a £10 Secret Santa gift.
Practical gifts are also ideal, especially if you know it is something a person needs or wants. The Pillar Pill Organiser (from £9.99) is a sleek medication holder that’s also made from sustainable materials and in great colour options. It’s perfect for anyone who frequently forgets to take medication or needs to carry it with them during the day.
Gifts £20 and under
Choose some relaxing beauty gifts for a real treat, like the Holland and Barrett De-Stress Kit (£12), HelloSKIN Signature Hydrogel Eye Masks (£12) or Eye Mask Trio (£20). The Spa Ceylon Cinnamon Spice Body Lotion (£20) is smells just like Christmas. For the real beauty lover, give them something useful: the ISOClean Scented Makeup Brush Soaps (£14) will keep their brushes germ- and makeup-free with ease and a delicious scent.
Or for the fun-hearted, choose a game for their Secret Santa gift under £20. The Pulse Rubik’s Cube (£17.99) puts a time-pressure strain on the original game, while the Traitors Card Game (£11.99 at Robert Dyas) is a portable and easy-to-play group game. The Very Merry Christmas Game (£14.40) is a bit of seasonal fun, too!
Clothes and accessories can also make ideal sub-£20 gifts. The Pour Moi Cosy Cable Knit socks (£18) are comfortable and cute, while on the other end of the spectrum a Stranger Things Hellfire Club t-shirt from George at Asda (£18) is perfect for TV lovers and graphic t-shirt wearers. For the cosy lover who wants a bit more foot support than fluffy socks, Heavenly Feet has a wide range of slippers for just £19.95 a pair.
You can’t go wrong with a box of luxury chocolates, and Lily O’Brien’s has a wide range to choose from. Either opt for a larger single box like the Petit Indulgence Collection (£17), or choose a combination of their smaller selection boxes and chocolate truffles (from £4) to make a chocolate-lover’s dream hamper. For an alternative to chocolate but ideal for those who love something sweet, try a Honey Heaven gift set (from £14) for delicious organic honey.
If you want to give a practical gift, the Aubergine Casserole Dish with Lid (£14) from George at Asda will be well-received by any chef, while the Thor’s Hammer Meat Tenderiser (£15) will make any home chef feel invincible. For the art-inspired, the Artists Sketchbooks (12.99) from Prestel are a beautiful AND practical Secret Santa gift.
Gifts under £30
When your spend limit is £30, the world is your (budget conscious) oyster. Cosy gifts are always a hit at this time of year, such as a Woodwick Candle (£24.99) or the very cute Gromit Warmies (£29.99) to keep warm on cold nights. The Portmeirion Woodland Mug and Tray Set (£22.50) in a cute woodland animal design is a perfect finishing touch to any cosy night in.
You could send flowers that will last all year round like the Red Rose Plant from thortful (£22) which includes a sustainable Elho pot.
For the more techy-minded home lovers, the Creative Pebble USB-C PC Speakers (£24.99) include RGB lighting for ambient lighting while they listen to music while they work from their home office. Or for those who love to read newspapers and magazines on the go with their phone or tablet, a three-month Readly gift card (£29) will be a very welcome present.
For a man who likes to be organised and well-presented, choose a Thermos Icon Glide Tumbler (£25) for coffee on-the-go that stays hot all day, or the Mayfair Saville Row Body Wash (£28) which smells like luxury. For one that doesn’t take himself that seriously? The Fray Bentos Christmas Jumper (£25) will make them smile!
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