Shopping for the perfect Secret Santa gift can often be fun, but let’s be real here: Knowing what to get in this scenario is also quite stressful. These types of goodies usually have to be priced under a specific dollar amount — which can seriously curb any wow-factor potential — and they still need to be eye-catching enough to keep the person from re-gifting it for next year’s shindig. So instead of resorting to an item that is basic or tongue-in-cheek, why not choose a thoughtful gift that encompasses most people’s interests?
Deciding on the perfect present can be exacting, so we put together a group of ideas to kickstart the hunt. Every option on this list is priced at upward of $20 and appeal to an array of personality types. You’ll find something here for the coffee afficionado or the hostess with the mostest; there’s a gift for the homebody or the person focusing on self-care and New Year’s resolutions. Basically, it doesn’t matter who you have for your Secret Santa exchange. We’re sure they will love one of these selections below. A note on pricing: All of these were under $20 at the time of publication, but prices may fluctuate.
Help your giftee get even closer to their best friends this holiday season with this card game. Packed with 150 thoughtful questions, it will jumpstart deep conversations and make them reminisce over forgotten memories.
As the year is coming to a close, most of us are reflecting on what we’d like to do better in the new year. Help them stay on track with self-care and become more mindful with this card deck, which offers prompts for everything from gratitude to creativity and learning.
This is a great holiday gift for the home mixologist, or anyone who enjoys an adult beverage every now and then. This ice tray lets you create four perfectly molded, massive ice spheres that will elevate any crafted cocktail. The molds are easy to use, and unlike a lot of similar products we’ve tried, the ice doesn’t get stuck in the tray.
Does your giftee love to take Instax photos? They’re a fun way to capture memories, but people often struggle with how to display them. To keep them from ending up in a shoe box, get them this rotating Instax frame.
If your Secret Santa giftee can’t go a day without sipping on a seasonal latte or warming up with a cup of tea, help make their at-home brews more special with the help of this recipe book. It walks you through everything from Ube coffee floats to Earl Gray spritzes.
Not only are these wool dryer balls ridiculously cute, but they soften laundry naturally and will help your giftee cut back on drying time. They’re made with 100% premium New Zealand wool and come with a foldable felt box for storage.
Even if your loved one is a natural party-thrower, they can use some help thinking of creative cheese boards and food platters. This card deck offers 50 different arrangements, helping to elevate their future spreads.
Not everyone has the luxury of a bathtub, but everyone has a shower. Give your giftee a luxurious steam with the help of these essential oil shower steamers. Options include Stress Relief, to calm frazzled nerves with lemongrass, eucalyptus and orange; Wake Up for morning showers that use spearmint and citrus; Sleep Tight to help them unwind before bed with lavender; and Breathe Easy, with eucalyptus to soothe.
Does your giftee love spending an evening piecing together puzzles? This 1,000-piece jigsaw is perfect because not only is it wonderfully retro, but it also has plenty of different patterns, making it pleasurable rather than overly challenging.
If your giftee has a dog, elevate their dog-walking aesthetic with the help of this stylish poop bag carrier. It comes in eight different colors, has a handy strap that can attach to a leash, and you even get one free roll of eco-friendly doggy bags.
Whether your giftee loves history, travel or just really enjoys spreading Christmas cheer, The Atlas of Christmas is the perfect coffee table book to flip through. It details different holiday traditions around the world, from Ukraine’s celebratory spiderwebs to Guatemala’s burning pinatas. If they love creating holiday magic, they can then try some of the traditions themselves at home.
If your giftee is always solving puzzles on their phone, they’ll enjoy this collection of crosswords from New York magazine. They can spend cozy evenings under a blanket, sipping hot cocoa and cracking some of the magazine’s toughest crosswords.
Move over, Nutella. This chocolate hazelnut spread is so good, they’ll want to eat it straight out of the jar with a spoon. And unlike Nutella, there’s no palm oil in this spread. Drizzle it over ice cream or spread it on toast, waffles, matzo crackers and much more.
