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39 Gift Ideas Under $30 That Look Way More Expensive Than They Actually Are (Shh!)

Prepare to take your stocking stuffer game to the next level

By Kim Duong and Hanna Flanagan
gifts under $30
Courtesy Image

Listen, I get it! This holiday season, you wanna spoil your best friend, partner, mom, sister, etc. with something reallyyyy nice, but you also don't wanna break the bank. Relatable! We work hard for our money, okay? And though we l-o-v-e our loved ones very much, we also know that we don't need to fork over tons of $$$ for a cool and thoughtful gift. Which is probs why you're here, looking at gift ideas under $30. (You're a smart cookie, has anyone ever told ya that?)

Let's just get right into it: Below, you'll find tons of cool gift ideas that your giftee will never guess cost less than an overpriced make-your-own salad bowl with extra avocado (moment of silence for sad desk lunches of yore). I'm talking chic finds like trendy baguette bags and retro sunglasses to whole-ass dresses and comfy bed sheets (c'mon, that's a lot of fabric for something so affordable). This is all to say that no matter what your loved one is into, I'm sure you'll find something within this list of 39 gift ideas, below!

1
this stylish ornament

Bloomingdale's Glass Butter Ornament

Glass Butter Ornament
1
this stylish ornament

Bloomingdale's Glass Butter Ornament

Now 25% Off
$16 at Bloomingdale's

A glitter-embellished stick of butter? Not! Your! Mother's! Ornament!

2
this bold keychain

Etsy Zodiac Keychain

Zodiac Keychain
2
this bold keychain

Etsy Zodiac Keychain

If you want to make your gift feel more personal without breaking the bank, opt for a cute little zodiac-themed one like this neon keychain.

3
this easy-to-wear palette

Rare Beauty Discovery Eyeshadow Palette

Discovery Eyeshadow Palette
3
this easy-to-wear palette

Rare Beauty Discovery Eyeshadow Palette

Even the neutral eyeshadow girlies love a little shimmer around the holidays, and this versatile palette absolutely delivers.

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4
these magical lil patches

The Good Patch Rise And Shine Set

Rise And Shine Set
4
these magical lil patches

The Good Patch Rise And Shine Set

This giftable pack will help you (and everyone on your list) power through the holiday chaos—it’s got four B12 patches for energy and alertness, plus four melatonin-infused patches for much-needed beauty sleep. Major life hack, am I right?!

5
this piece of functional decor

Abbode Square Luxury Matches

Square Luxury Matches
5
this piece of functional decor

Abbode Square Luxury Matches

Sure, candles and vases are great. But let’s be real—artsy lil knick-knacks are the decor pieces that really take bookshelves, coffee tables, and dresser tops to the next level. Our suggestion? This fab matchbox.

6
these cute kitchen towels

Zara Cotton Gingham Kitchen Towels

Cotton Gingham Kitchen Towels
6
these cute kitchen towels

Zara Cotton Gingham Kitchen Towels

The red backstitching takes these gingham kitchen towels to the next level (and it'll surely impress the home chef on your list).

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7
fany cocktail glasses

CB2 Eve Coupe Cocktail Glass

Eve Coupe Cocktail Glass
7
fany cocktail glasses

CB2 Eve Coupe Cocktail Glass

They look expensive AF, but these CB2 cocktail glasses are just $8 each. So yeah, add a few to your cart and gift them as a set!

8
these on-trend shoes

Forever21 Faux Suede Buckled Mules

Faux Suede Buckled Mules
8
these on-trend shoes

Forever21 Faux Suede Buckled Mules

In case you haven't noticed, classic Birkenstock Boston clogs have been nearly impossible to find since the internet collectively decided that they're back in style (and who knows when they’ll be back in stock). In the meantime, these affordable dupes are a super cute alternative.

9
these face mist favorites

Mario Badescu The Mini Mist Facial Spray Collection

The Mini Mist Facial Spray Collection
9
these face mist favorites

Mario Badescu The Mini Mist Facial Spray Collection

Refreshing and rejuvenating, this affordable skincare set features four of Mario Badescu’s cult-favorite facial sprays.

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10
this stationary

Poem Press Ettore Notecard Set

Ettore Notecard Set
10
this stationary

Poem Press Ettore Notecard Set

Simple and sweet, these are perfect for thank you cards, love letters, and everything in between.

11
this set of coasters

West Elm Marble Octagonal Coasters (Set of 4)

Marble Octagonal Coasters (Set of 4)
11
this set of coasters

West Elm Marble Octagonal Coasters (Set of 4)

Now 20% Off

If you're shopping for a new homeowner or someone who recently moved apartments, pretty coasters are a great gift they'll actually use.

12
these viral books

Colleen Hoover 3 Books Collection Set

3 Books Collection Set
12
these viral books

Colleen Hoover 3 Books Collection Set

Now 36% Off

Okay, I admittedly have not yet read November 9 (dw, it’s on my list!) but I can confirm with absolute certainty that It Ends With Us and Ugly Love are 100 percent worth the $30 price tag—and TikTok's favorite author, Colleen Hoover, is definitely worth the hype.

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13
these pearl hair pins

SHASHI Riviera Bobby Pin Set

Riviera Bobby Pin Set
13
these pearl hair pins

SHASHI Riviera Bobby Pin Set

Pearls are trending! So add a set of these gorge bobby pins to your cart before they sell out.

14
this succulent set

Shop Succulents Can't Touch This Collection Indoor Cacti Plants

Can't Touch This Collection Indoor Cacti Plants
14
this succulent set

Shop Succulents Can't Touch This Collection Indoor Cacti Plants

I mean, c'mon—how cute are these bb succulents? Plus, they're beyond easy to care for.

15
this perfume sampler

Chris Collins Eau de Parfum Discovery Set

Eau de Parfum Discovery Set
15
this perfume sampler

Chris Collins Eau de Parfum Discovery Set

Five different fragrances for under $30? It's a yes from me!

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16
this aesthetic sweet treat

Milk Bar Assorted Cookie Tin

Assorted Cookie Tin
16
this aesthetic sweet treat

Milk Bar Assorted Cookie Tin

Every Milk Bar signature flavor—including cornflake chocolate chip marshmallow, chocolate confetti, and blueberry and cream—packed into an adorable tin that can (and should!) be repurposed as kitchen decor when the cookies are gone.

17
these whimsical earrings

Joey Baby Pink Chili Earrings - Limited Edition

Pink Chili Earrings - Limited Edition
17
these whimsical earrings

Joey Baby Pink Chili Earrings - Limited Edition

These little earrings strike the perfect balance between elevated and fun.

18
these crisp bed sheets

Danjor Linens Queen Size Bed Sheets Set

Queen Size Bed Sheets Set
18
these crisp bed sheets

Danjor Linens Queen Size Bed Sheets Set

TBH, they most likely could use a new set of bed sheets. And these babies cost less than $20 for a complete set.

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19
this croc-embossed card holder

JW PEI The Card Holder - Ice Croc

The Card Holder - Ice Croc
19
this croc-embossed card holder

JW PEI The Card Holder - Ice Croc

A chic, new way to hold all their $$$.

20
this set of 10 sunnies

Frienda 10 Pairs Small Rectangle Sunglasses

10 Pairs Small Rectangle Sunglasses
20
this set of 10 sunnies

Frienda 10 Pairs Small Rectangle Sunglasses

Now 14% Off

Yup, that's 10 whole pairs of sunglasses there. Maybe you wanna gift them all in hopes that they'll become obsessed with multiple pairs, or maybe you wanna keep some for yourself. Whatever your M.O. is, this set only costs $25.99!

Headshot of Kim Duong
Kim Duong
Senior Shopping Editor

Kim Duong is the senior shopping editor at Cosmopolitan, overseeing shopping coverage online for all things fashion, lifestyle, beauty, and sex. When she's not musing about which products are actually worth your hard-earned cash, she's also writing (sometimes slightly unhinged) fashion content in print. You can find her previous writing in Refinery29, InStyle, Travel + Leisure, and StyleCaster. Follow her on Instagram for bottomless cute dog content and did-that-really-happen-to-me story times in her highlights. 

Lettermark

Hanna Flanagan is an associate shopping editor at Cosmopolitan, sharing her recommendations for everything from denim and eye creams to coffee mugs and silk sheets. Before joining Cosmopolitan, she wrote fashion, beauty, and lifestyle content at People (so, yes, she’s basically a professional product tester at this point). Follow her on Instagram for photos of Timothée Chalamet and #OOTD mirror pics. 

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