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18 holiday gifts under $25: Stuff your stockings without going broke

There are a lot of great gifts out there that you can buy without spending a lot of money.

Robin Mosley Former CNET writer
Robin Mosley (she/her) formerly wrote commerce deals for CNET about beauty, fashion and other essential gear. Before that, she freelanced for Healthline, Simply Recipes and Nerd Street. She is a Chicago native living on the East Coast who is a fan of all things beauty, food, gaming and tech. When she isn't writing, she's at a restaurant, shopping online or making YouTube gaming videos.
Robin Mosley
4 min read
$13 at Lush
lush.jpg
Lush Bubble Bars for the bath
The Comforter
$26 at Amazon
hhut.jpg
Happy Hut playhouse for kids
$14 at Amazon
blue-q-socks
Blue Q women's novelty crew socks
Not your ordinary sock
$13 at Anker
anker-powerpoint-wireless
Anker Wireless Charger
Ditch the wires
$8 at Amazon
juicer
Niuta citrus juicer
Squeezes out juice until the very last drop
$9 at Amazon
Magnetic wristband
Magnetic wristband: $9
Save $1
$7 at Amazon
crayola-glitter-markers
Crayola glitter markers
Add a little sparkle to your art
$13 at Amazon
24k-gold-eye-mask
Swissokolab 24k gold eye mask
Moisturize and reduce wrinkles
See at Dbrand
dbrand-iphone-skin
Dbrand Phone Skins
Make it your own
$7 at Amazon
nail-stickers
TailaiMei nail decal stickers
Decorate your fingers in a fun way
$25 at Amazon
fire tv stick 4k
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K
Streaming all your favorite programs
$15 at Target
fox-in-the-forest
Renegade Game Studios The Fox and the Forest card game
A cooperative trick-taking game
$25 at Amazon
group
Tamagotchi electronic game
Relive the joy of having an electronic pet
$25 at Amazon
starbucks-card
Starbucks gift card
For fans of coffee, tea and more
$17 at Amazon
croissant-light-cnet-gift-guide-2021
Dameing croissant lamp
A fun bit of decor
$9 at Amazon
melissa-and-doug
Melissa & Doug On the Go secret decoder activity book
Uncover mysteries and riddles with detective skills
$23 at Walmart
mpow-x3-1
Mpow X3 wireless headphones
Solid under-$25 earbuds
$5 at Amazon
lash-princess-mascara
Lash Princess mascara
Elongated lashes for less
$28 at Bombas
bombas-socks
Bombas socks: Deal expired
Soft and comfy
$33 at Amazon
lego-truck
Lego Technic Getaway Truck: Deal expired
Build-it-yourself racing truck

You don't have to spend a lot of money on holiday gifts to show someone you care about them. Affordable gifts can make a big impact on people while saving you money, too. If you're looking for unique holiday gifts under $25, we've got plenty of ideas, ranging from toys to headphones, for everyone on your list, from kids to adults.

Lush

The Comforter is the largest bubble bar Lush offers, but it's large enough to be broken in half and used 2-3 times, which makes it a rather luxurious gift. You crumple the bar under warm running water as you fill your bath, and soon scented bubble will appear. If you're not particularly fond of bubble baths, you can still stuff your stockings with other popular products, like bath bombs for a few dollars less. 

USA Toyz

The Happy Hut playhouse is a basic tent that can easily fit inside a bedroom or play area as a reading nook or other place for your toddler to sit and play. The material is durable and can be cleaned with a cloth, so if you wanted to take it outside for a little shelter from the sun, it would work well -- just don't keep it outside in the weather. It folds up and comes with a drawstring bag to carry it. The colors are vibrant and no tools are needed to assemble. Just insert the poles and it will be ready to play. It also comes in a variety of colors. (Okay, so it might not fit in your average stocking, but it is sure to be a hit for your little ones). Be sure to clip the coupon to get this deal for $24.

Amazon

Socks are sometimes simply socks, and that's boring. These socks, on the other hand, are decorated with amusing and often relatable words to match your personality.

Anker

Most newer phones support wireless charging, so why not start using the new tech with a cheap wireless charger. Anker makes some of the best phone accessories out there right now, and this is definitely worth grabbing for yourself or as a gift, especially at just $13.

Amazon

Have you ever wanted to drink freshly squeezed juice or brighten up your meal with it but didn't have a juicer? With this juicer, you can squeeze your lemons and limes to the last drop.

Horusdy

Have you ever reached in your pocket while on a ladder only to drop the screw you need all the way down because it slipped out of your hand? If not, you're lucky, and if so you need this accessory. It holds drill bits, screws, tools and more using its strong magnets and is adjustable to fit wrists of all sizes.

Amazon

Crayons and color pencils are nice, but who doesn't enjoy a nice glitter marker to add a little sparkle to their artwork? You get six glitter markers in this pack that you can use to design just about anything, from homemade cards to posters.

Amazon

These eye pads are designed to help relieve dryness and tighten your skin through collagen, so they're great for puffy eyes no matter your age.

Not everyone likes cases, and that's ok but some phones are really slippery these days. By adding a dbrand skin to the back of your device you not only make it a bit more unique, but you can also add some grip and make it easier to hold. You can get skins for all types of popular devices, including iPhone, Android, headphones, gaming consoles, laptops and much more.

Amazon

What makes these stickers so appealing is that they're low-maintenance. If you like them, leave them on; if you want to mix and match them, it's simple to do; and if you want them gone, you just pull them off.

Amazon/Screenshot by CNET

Amazon's Fire TV Stick 4K streaming device is Alexa-controlled and has Dolby Vision for immersive sound. You can stream from Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus, Peacock and other services. And best of all, it's easy to set up and stays hidden right in the back of your TV.

Amazon

This two-player game takes about 30 minutes to complete and is all about using special abilities to score more points than your opponent by winning tricks or basically having the higher card that round.

Bandai America

Tamagotchis have been around for close to a quarter of a century, and they've never really gone out of style. These electronic pets -- which you wash, feed and "train" -- are equally good for younger Pokemon fans and nostalgic older folks. 

Looking for more toy ideas? Read our list of hot holiday toys for 2021.

Starbucks

This gift card has everything a coffee connoisseur, or at the very least a Starbucks lover, could want. You can obviously put more money on this card, but adding at least $25 is a good compromise between showing you care and not breaking the bank to give someone a great drink or two. Check out this gift card list for more ideas.

Amazon/Screenshot by CNET

This charming lamp is a fully working night light for kids and a great way for adults to navigate a dark room. To appreciate a lamp like this, you need a specific personality or a fondness for pastries. Not only is it appealing to the eye, it's simple to use. Just buy some AAA batteries, insert them and the lamp is ready to use.

Amazon

This is a fantastic stocking-stuffer for younger children age 6 and older. With a magnifying glass and a magic pen to help decipher 24 pages of pure mystery, kids can learn critical thinking in a fun way.

David Carnoy/CNET

True wireless headphones like the AirPods can run you anywhere from $129 to $250, if not more. These Mpow models don't sound as good as those pricey Apple or Beats models, but for under $25, they're not half bad. (Trust me, CNET reviewers have tried them.)

Amazon

Everyone, young and old, can use this mascara. The price makes it a good choice for makeup newbies, and beauty pros will enjoy its quality.

Bombas

Merino wool is undoubtedly the softest type of wool, and these socks are made from it. Every stride should feel like you're wearing a soft blanket on your feet, and they're perfect for lounging around the house.

Amazon

Some Lego sets cost upward of $100, but this truck brings the fun for just $20. It even has a pull-back motor for racing (and crashing) action. Recommended for kids age 7 and up.