Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year, and can be one of the most expensive too.
If you’re on a budget for gifts this year, then look no further - within our under $50 gift guide, there’s bound to be a present your friend or family member will love.
We asked the Herald‘s expert lifestyle team to spill what gifts they’re looking at buying their loved ones for Christmas. Luckily for you, they’ve pulled together a selection of goodies that aren’t going to break the bank.
1. Fernweh Coffee Subscription Box
It’s hard to go wrong with coffee, making the subscription boxes from Fernweh the perfect gift for that hard-to-buy person. You can purchase a one, three or six-month subscription of 250g, 500g or 1kg of coffee and each month they’ll get a bag of specialty, single-origin coffee delivered to their door. — Sarah Pollok
From $25 from Fernweh
2. Bottle of 27seconds Wine
27seconds is a Social Impact winery that uses wine to fund work against human trafficking, which happens every 27 seconds, on average. All profits go to Hagar; an organisation that provides intensive recovery care to survivors of slavery, trafficking and severe abuse in Cambodia and Vietnam and humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan. — SP
From $18.99 at 27seconds
3. Zassenhaus Kitchen Timer
It’s one of those simple, decades-old devices that no one thinks they need anymore, but the trusty kitchen timer is still a cook’s best friend. Channelling all the flare of the 1950s, the Zassenhaus Kitchen Timer is eye-catchingly retro and comes in a range of colours to suit anyone’s kitchen. The biggest perk? No more smearing your phone in batter while setting the digital timer. — Anna Sarjeant
$45 from The Studio
4. Ecoya Fresh Pine Mini Goldie Candle
Nothing says Christmas like the smell of pine trees - so why not gift it to a loved one this year with this classic candle from Ecoya? Plus the brushed gold vessel will add a touch of luxe to their home decor year-round. — Bethany Haverland
$29.95 from Ecoya
5. Verve Design Edie Portable LED Table Lamp
This cordless, rechargeable lamp from Bunnings can live anywhere in your home, from bedside to coffee table. It comes in a range of shades to suit your colour scheme, from green to amber to cream. — BH
$35 from Bunnings
6. Acme Bobby Mug
Acme knows how to make a good mug and the Bobby mug is no exception. Friendly and fun with an easy handle, the ceramic mug is perfect for any beverage and comes in five trendy colours but we love the bright orange ‘clay’ the best. — SP
$20.50 from Acme
7. Soap Rainbow Gift Box
These palm oil-free soaps are handcrafted by a small family operation in Kakanui, just south of Ōamaru. Using natural ingredients such as essential oils extracted from plants and flowers, natural clays, and spices, each bar has a luxuriously creamy lather that will make a person feel like they’re getting a special treat after every wash. — Varsha Anjali
$46 at Honey & Spice
8. NZ-made Velvet Toiletry Bag
Is it really Christmas if you don’t receive at least one cosmetics bag? Rather than a generic add-on for a multi-pack of make-up, the velvet collection from 100percentnz plush to the touch. The perfect size for both travel and home, they’re fully lined and finished with a cute tassel. — AS
$39 from 100percentnz
9. Recycle Boutique Gift Card
For the style maverick, a pre-loved gem could be a perfect gift this Christmas. Recycle Boutique has thousands of fairly priced second-hand goodies and a wide range of labels, from international fashion houses to boutique New Zealand brands. — Lana Andelane
Any amount from Recycle Boutique
10. Glossier Balm Dotcom Duo
From the ideal stocking stuffer to a gift for your son’s new girlfriend who you don’t really know but doesn’t leave his side, this Glossier duo is sure to please and ease the awkwardness. It’s a great price point, comes in cute packaging and delivers the perfect pout. — Jenni Mortimer
$50 from Mecca
11. Grillman BBQ Tool Set
A sturdy, three-piece set of high-quality tools for your barbecue is perfect for the dedicated at-home pitmaster. Aptly suited for the summer season, the spatula, tongs and grill rake are made from heavy-duty stainless steel and will last a lifetime. — Tom Rose
$29.99 from Mitre 10
12. Recycled Sari Pot Holder by Fair Trade Bangladesh
Buy a beautiful piece of homeware with character and a meaningful story when you purchase these vibrant placemats or heat mats. Made from colourful recycled cotton saris, the mats are woven by women at an enterprise in Bangladesh, which provides safety, stability and fair employment for former sex workers. — SP
$29 from Everyday Needs
13. Ecostore Products
Combining practicality with sustainability, gifting a refillable eco product for an essential item like laundry liquid or hand soap is a thoughtful way to reduce waste for anyone looking to make greener choices. — VA
From $14.99 at Ecostore
14. Sucker Cocktails Reusable Glass Straw Set For Cocktails
It’s 2024 now; plastic straws have been banished into the past with a single-use plastic ban in Aotearoa. But still, a lot of people love straws for the ease and convenience they bring to enjoying a cold one. Enter New Zealand brand Sucker, which has rolled out a collection of quirky yet sturdy reusable straws for every occasion. — TR
$27-30 from Sucker
15. Monthly book subscription
Everyone has a hobby, interest or pastime, which you can easily tap into with a monthly book subscription. Simply detail the receiver’s preferences and the good people at Book Box will hand-pick a monthly book especially for them. You can even add a block of chocolate or bag of tea to complement the order. — AS
Starting from $35 per month at Book Box
16. Everyday Conversations Cards
This is one for the person who loves a deep and meaningful chat (or perhaps someone who needs some help starting those conversations). Everyday Conversations is a card game designed to foster communication and advance mental health through conversations. — SP
$34 via Everyday Solitude
17. Sunnylife Portable Travel Speaker The Vacay
Know someone who loves listening to music wherever they go? Cute and compact, this portable wireless travel speaker means they can hit the beach, the bach or a roadie and share their tunes every moment. Plus, the cream and olive pattern means it’ll fit right into the beachy aesthetic in those Instagram photos. — SP
$47 from Father Rabbit
18. Mindfulness Journal
We could all use a little more mindfulness in 2025 and we love Crushes self-guided journal, which has more than 65 pages of prompts and guides to help you find a little more peace and self-understanding. — SP
$20.00 from Crushes
19. Lee and Andrew Child’s In Too Deep (2024)
Nothing will make your favourite Kiwi bloke more happy than gifting him the latest Jack Reacher novel, In Too Deep, amid long beach days, beers and barbecues. Having topped the New York Times Bestseller list since its October release, the ex-army major-turned-vigilante returns in a thrilling new read from Lee Child and his brother Andrew. — TR
$29.99 from Whitcoulls
20. Vania x Karen Walker Everyday Hook Earrings
The Vania x Karen Walker Everyday Hook Earrings are lovingly made with freshwater pearls and black agate by Auckland jeweller Vania Truchsess. The timeless design makes them a gift that will have your loved one looking super chic for years to come. — JM
$50 from Karen Walker
1. Vtech Build a Burger
Your little one can learn all about matching and sorting colours and shapes while they build this toy burger - and fine-tune their motor skills at the same time.
$30 from The Warehouse
2. Paw Patrol Holotoyz 4-in-1 puzzle
If your toddler is obsessed with Paw Patrol, chances are they’ll love this puzzle themed around the popular kids’ TV show. Once they’ve assembled their puzzle, you can get the Holotoyz app and scan the puzzle to bring Chase, Skye, Marshall and Rubble to life.
$16 from The Warehouse
3. Kmart Koha Bear
For every one of these cute and cuddly bears purchased, $2 will go to the Salvation Army as part of Kmart’s Wishing Tree Appeal to help out Kiwi families in need.
$15 from Kmart
4. LEGO DUPLO Peppa Pig Garden and Tree House
This Peppa Pig playset is the perfect introduction to DUPLO - featuring characters Peppa, her little brother George, a treehouse and garden tools that will keep them occupied for hours.
$34.99 from LEGO
1. Play-Doh Swirlin Smoothies Blender Playset
You can’t go wrong with Play-Doh – and since the colours tend to end up mixed together anyway, why not encourage it? With this set, your child can form their own fruits and vegetables and transform them into a colourful smoothie.
$15 from The Warehouse
2. F.A.O. Schwarz Glow Brights Plush LED with Sound French Fries
This plush toy isn’t just cuddly – it lights up with built-in LEDs when squeezed and plays music. Pro tip – the battery back comes with a switch-off feature that’s perfect for quiet time or bedtime.
$39.99 from Farmers
3. Marvel License All Over Print T-shirt
With this vibrant tee, your little superhero won’t have to choose their favourite Marvel character – they’re all represented, from Captain America to the Incredible Hulk and Spider-Man.
$12 from Kmart
4. Bluey Friends Plush Toy
The perfect gift for the Bluey fanatic in your household, these plush toys are just the right size to take wherever they want to go. Choose from Bluey herself, little sister Bingo, dad Bandit, mum Chilli and more.
$19 from Kmart
5. Moki Mixi Kids Volume Limited Wireless Headphones
These wireless headphones are made to protect little ears and come in a range of colour combinations – from blue and red to purple, green and pink. They’re also foldable so perfect to take along on your next flight or family roadie.
$49 from JB Hi-Fi
6. Zuru Mini Brands Secret Garden Capsule
Each one of these Mini Brands Capsules comes with different-sized toy plants you can collect to create your own little garden. You might even collect the extra rare scented mini plants.
$15 from Kmart
7. Squishmallows Christmas ornaments
Squishmallows are as popular as ever this year, and these Christmas-themed ornaments are sure to be a hit. You may just start a new festive tradition.
$15.99 each from Farmers
1. Diary of A Wimpy Kid 10 Second Challenge Game
If your kid reads the popular books by Jeff Kinney, they’ll love this board game version offering 90 challenges to complete in 10 seconds or less, with illustrations by the author himself.
$29.99 from Whitcoulls
2. Pokemon Scarlet & Violet 7 Stellar Crown Blisters Assorted
The perfect gift for the Pokemon card collector in your home, each one of these blister packs comes with 10 cards to play alongside an existing deck.
$8 from The Warehouse
3. Subscription to Letters from Afar
A magical subscription for aspiring young globetrotters. Each month, fictional explorer “Isabelle” will send a hand-written and illustrated letter from a far-flung corner of the globe, detailing what she’s seen and experienced. It’s snail mail with a good dose of hidden education – the receiver learns all about different cultures, cuisines, wildlife and landmarks.
From $11 from Letters from Afar
4. Tamagotchi Original Gen 2
Did you know Tamagotchis are back? Like baggy jeans and Oasis, these digital pets were a hallmark of the 90s and the 00s. Turns out they still exist and are as popular as ever.
$39 from JB Hi-Fi
5. Marvel Spider-Man RC Drone
This mini drone features a Spider-Man figure with propellers and a remote control. With your supervision, your child can learn the basics of controlling a toy drone.
$22 from Kmart
6. OXX Cosmetics Nails for Days Advent Calendar
Let your tween be their own glam squad with this advent calendar. It comes with cute shades, as well as a nail file and glitter, for the perfect at home mini mani.
$10 from Kmart
1. Girls Cross Strap Slide Slippers
These fluffy slippers in pastel blue and pink will be a welcome addition to any tween or teen fashionista wardrobe – perfect for wearing around the house or packing for a sleepover.
$39.99 from Peter Alexander
2. Disney+ subscription
There’s something for everyone on Disney+, from all the newest TV shows to teens' favourite movies as well as all the classics from Disney, Pixar, Star Wars and Marvel, to name just a few.
$14.99 a month from Disney+
3. Mecca Max Fairy Gloss Mini Lip Gloss Trio
They’ll be the envy of all their friends with this lip gloss trio from Mecca, with three different shades – clear, candy pink and tawny rose. The holiday packaging is just a bonus and makes it perfect for displaying under the Christmas tree.
$33 from Mecca
4. TimeZone gift card
Load up a gift voucher for your teen to spend how they wish at TimeZone. The best part is you can pay for games in minutes rather than money – such as an hour’s worth of play for $28 – meaning you won’t spend all your credit in the first 10 minutes.
Prices vary from TimeZone
5. OXX Cosmetics Summer Solstice 12 Days of Christmas Advent Calendar
An advent calendar is the perfect early Christmas present to help count down the days until the 25th – or for simply opening all at once to enjoy. This set from Kmart’s beauty range comes with body wash, body butter, body mist, hand cream and lip gloss in different tropical scents.
$30 from Kmart
It’s been an Onslow signature menu item since day one. Now, Josh Emett’s famous crayfish eclair has clawed its way into the Iconic Auckland Eats Top 100 list. Video / Alyse Wright