MoneyMagpie Editor and financial expert Vicky Parry shares a roundup of the best gifts you can give this Christmas that help the recipient save money in the long run
While it’s great to get gifts that are pretty, it’s the practical ones that are always most appreciated.
They might not come with such a ‘wow’ factor upon opening, but if they help a struggling loved one save money through 2026 and beyond, it’s one of the best things you can do for them.
Whether it’s an energy-saving appliance or a pram that adapts from newborn to toddler, there are lots of ways you can help them save money not just by buying the gift for them, but also reducing their future bills with it, too.
How do gifts save money?
When you’re looking for a gift that will save money in the long term, there are a few key qualities to consider.
First, it might be more expensive than other options available, but if the build quality of an item is good, it will last a lot longer. This means they won’t need to keep buying cheaper versions as replacements.
Second, items that reduce energy use, time, or overall financial burdens are always going to save the recipient money. For example, gifts for parents that grow with their child mean they don’t need to keep buying new items as the years go on.
Finally, look for products that come with a long-term warranty for repair or replacement as standard. These gifts will come with peace of mind that if there are manufacturing defects it will be repaired. It’s also a sign of the retailer’s confidence in the product, because they believe it will outlast that warranty as standard.
Kitchen and homewares that last ages
Kitchen and homewares that last a long time can be tricky to choose for people as you might not know their tastes or how much space they have.
That’s why it’s important to look for gadgets like the Morphy Richards Tazza Pour and Go Machine, which provides bean-to-cup coffee in a slimline tall appliance, or Tefal’s Ingenio pans which are stackable thanks to the interchangeable handle. Slimline or space-saving products like these will fit in even the smallest of kitchens so they can take them as they move homes over the years.
You could also look to long-term homewares that can be repaired or replenished, like the Adjustable Honey Foam Pillow which you can adjust and top up as you like over time.
Or high-ticket items that include a long warranty, like Weber gas BBQs, which give you and the recipient peace of mind for many years of use. Sometimes, it’s simply about buying a high-quality item that won’t need replacing, like a Harris Tweed dog bed from House of Bruar.
Saving money with your gift could also be on an immediate benefit, too. For example, a UREVO CyberPad Treadmill keeps people healthy at home by encouraging movement even if they work at their desk all day.
This can save a lot in long-term health costs of poor posture from long days of sitting as well as on gym memberships as they can work out at home.
Items like a Meaco dehumidifier can save a lot of cash by drying clothes faster without the need for high-cost tumble drying. They’re very cheap to run. A dehumidifier also prevents mould building up in damp rooms, saving potentially huge bills from solving a damp and mould problem.
Long lasting gifts for parents
Parents are often under a lot of financial pressure because children simply grow so fast: out of their clothes, their uniforms, their shoes, and their favourite hobbies. This constant growth means parents need to keep up and that can get expensive.
Products like the Thule Urban Glide 3 which is ideal for newborn to toddler ages and stages of child growth save parents a lot of money as it changes and adapts for several years. Similarly, the SmarTrike Xtend Ride-On Plus is a tricycle that adapts from the age of one to twelve years as they grow.
When it comes to entertainment, classic games like Rubik’s Cube can be adapted for the fast-paced demands of kids today with the Rubik’s Pulse. Or, the Harry Potter GoChess Wizard Mini by Particula which offers a classic game with a modern twist, teaching kids (and adults!) how to play chess thanks to the board lights and connected app.
And as many parents will attest, going out and about can become very expensive once you start buying meals and drinks for the family on the go. A gift of thermal tumblers like the Thermos Icon Glide and a thermal backpack or picnic bag with high-quality containers to take lunches on-the-go.
Gifts that reduce travel costs
Travel costs are one of the biggest expenses of most households aside from mortgage and rent payments. Consider gifting a railcard if they are eligible for one, to help save hundreds of pounds a year on rail travel.
If they’re a car owner, offer to cover some car insurance payments or buy their annual breakdown cover (which could save hundreds of pounds in an emergency compared to buying on-the-road breakdown when an incident has already occurred).
For those who want to get out and about under pedal power, look for gifts like an electric tricycle. They will save a lot of energy getting around and can also travel further – which for many people could mean they’re finally able to find a better-paid job slightly further afield than walking or manual cycling allows them. Jorvik Tricycles has a wide range, and their payment plan means they’re affordable with monthly payments, too.
With many people working from home and away these days, reliable internet is a must-have especially if their work includes handling sensitive data. Public WiFi is unstable and unsafe to use, so for people who rely on a strong internet connection wherever they are, a Nighthawk M7 Pro by Netgear is the answer. It will save them a considerable amount of money on paid internet connections and roaming charges.
Similarly, losing files is the biggest headache – and can cost a lot of money, too. A high-quality reliable portable SSD like those by Terramaster are an ideal pocket-sized gift that mean they can back up their important documents wherever they go.
Save on their hobbies
Hobbies often feel like a luxury because they cost money many of us don’t have spare. But a gift that helps save money on hobbies will help reduce their stress as well as give them something to enjoy without worrying about the cost.
Try to think about either physical items that will help them participate in their hobby or subscriptions that give digital access to learn more about it. For example, bookish gifts are always welcomed by avid readers, whether it’s the Boox Go Color 7 Gen II or a subscription to Kindle, Kobo Plus, or Readly.
If they’re more of an audiobook reader, an Audible or Bookbeat subscription can save them over a hundred pounds in a year (although do note that a Kobo Plus subscription includes both ebooks and audiobooks).
Invest in their future
Finally, one of the best ways you can help someone save money in the long term is either with knowledge. Yes, it sounds cheesy, but it’s true. For example, an investing course could help teach them about how to make their money grow with ease over time.
Or, a BBC Maestro subscription could teach them new skills to start a new business or advance in their career. The same goes for a local in-person course that develops skills they’re interested in which will be useful to either saving or making money in the future.
A unique way to invest with knowledge is to pass on your own. Whether you want to record a series of videos or a journal with your wise words, passing on your own knowledge when it comes to life lessons and money can be really valuable. Make sure you save files on a drive like the Kingston Dual Portable SSD so they can always refer back to your advice when they need.
If you’re giving to children, you could gift money to their Junior ISA. They won’t be able to touch it until they’re 18, but that means it will have had time to grow. So your investment will be worth more and they learn an immediate life lesson on receiving the money about the importance of patience and compound interest.
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