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The best Christmas stocking stuffers under $30 for kids and adults
Finding a gift under $30 (that is not total junk) seems like an impossible challenge, but here are our picks for adults and kids.
If you need to buy a small gift for a co-worker, the family secret Santa or to fill the kids’ stockings, let these budget-friendly gifts guide your shopping.
Adults
The Jones and Co. pup tile ($22) is a little piece of art that perfectly expresses puppy love. Made from lustrous capiz shell, the tiles are available in a range of dog breeds, including Jack Russell terrier (pictured), greyhound, Dalmatian and even a few cats.
Al.ive Body hand cream cracker
If you know your gift receiver doesn’t go anywhere without a few travel-sized hand creams, get them what they love: the Al.ive Body hand cream ($27) in a festive scent of sweet plum and berries, packed in a Christmas cracker.
Who said kids should have all the fun? While these super-cute marshmallow pops ($12) are great for kids too, they make a fun gift for anyone with a sweet tooth. The daisy-shaped pops from the Marshmallow Club come in vanilla and strawberry, but ice-cream-inspired flavours are also available.
The Adairs beach pillow ($30) is perfect for lazy days spent lying on the beach or for travel. The cylindrical pillow is filled with polystyrene microbeads for neck support. It comes in four prints, including Byron Bay (pictured).
Acide deli-style mustard ($15) is for the condiment lover in your life. Crafted from whole mustard seeds, malt vinegar, olive oil and spices, this will be a welcome gift for any sandwich. If mustard isn’t their thing, Acide stocks all sorts of fermented and pickled foods in jars.
DS and Durga Big Sur After Rain auto fragrance
Who doesn’t want their car to smell like an expensive perfume? The DS and Durga Big Sur After Rain auto fragrance ($26) is inspired by driving down the California coastline and will have the interior smelling of rain, eucalyptus, magnolia and wet wood.
Loco Love peanut butter caramel
Chocolate is always a crowd-pleaser, but Byron Bay-based company Loco Love ($13 for a twin pack) does it a little differently. All its chocolates are free of gluten, dairy and refined sugars. With more than 10 flavours to choose from, there is something for everyone.
Bespoke Letterpress A Christmas Village reusable large shopping bag
If you need a gift for someone who starts their holiday shopping in August, look no further than the Bespoke Letterpress reusable large shopping bag ($19.95) in A Christmas Village, artwork by Maja Lindberg. The bag is waterproof, can carry up to 18 kilograms and has a matching pouch for storing away.
Saturday Night Pasta build your own sauce and pasta pack
This has the potential to be the perfect gift. Australian-made with 100 per cent Aussie tomatoes, it is vegetarian-friendly and customisable. Saturday Night Pasta’s build your own pack ($20) lets you pick a pasta shape (pipette, trottoloni or tulipano) and pre-made sauce (Home Base, Dirty Martini, Red, Red Wine or Some Like It Hot).
Mountain Culture Beer Co. Juice Trip fruit-enhanced hazy four-pack
Mountain Culture Beer Co.’s Juicy Trip fruit-enhanced hazy IPA ($26 for a four pack) is a great gift for the beer connoisseur looking to branch out. The brew, from the award-winning Blue Mountains brewers, packs a tropical fruit punch for a refreshing summer afternoon beverage.
iKou Peace eco-luxury candle small
We could all do with a little peace at Christmas. At $25, it’s great value. Australian-made skincare and wellness brand iKou creates scents that transport you to a relaxing day spa. The Peace eco-luxury candle is a blend of rose, rose geranium and ylang ylang and is made with 100 per cent natural wax.
If they are carrying around an emotional support-sized water bottle, help them out this Christmas and make carrying their lip gloss more convenient. Large water bottle brand favourite Frank Green has created a lip gloss holder ($15) to ensure that reapplying your lippie after a big drink is even easier.
Kids
Bbcino Troppo 240ml travel cup,
If you need a gift for a little babycino lover, the Bbcino 240ml travel cup ($22) is a great option. Not only is it adorable in a range of colours and designs, but it’s also an eco-friendly takeaway cup for kids who love going to brunch.
Taco Cat Burrito card game ($23) is a quick-paced and simple-to-understand game that’s fun for the whole family. Similar to snap, it involves a lot of hand slapping and silliness. It is best suited for ages eight and over with two or more people.
Looking for a stocking stuffer for a teen who loves all things beauty? OPI Xpress/On are press-on nails ($28) that can last up to two weeks with minimal damage done to the natural nail. The pack comes with plastic nails, glue and all the necessary tools to achieve a perfect at-home manicure.
Give the kids a chance to see a movie on the big screen with a Hoyts e-voucher ($21). The voucher is redeemable for one general admission child ticket for any session. It’s a great boredom-busting back-up for the summer holidays.
Faber-Castell large jar of connector pens - 50 pack
Inspire a little artist to get creative. The Faber Castell large jar of 50 connector pens ($20) has almost every colour a kid’s heart could desire. The 1.5-millimetre bullet-shaped durable felt-nibs create precise lines of water-based ink that wash out of most fabrics, in case colouring in the lines is still tricky.
The Sam Kerr football mini ball ($25) will be a wonderful addition for a Matildas superfan or football fanatic. The ball designed by Kerr is lightweight and great for a mini-game of soccer on Christmas Day.
Laser portable bluetooth karaoke speaker
You might regret this one, but a portable Bluetooth karaoke speaker ($15) will get the party started. It includes two wireless microphones, so you can join the duet. It also features fun voice effects, two hours of battery life and smartphone connectivity to sing your favourite tunes.
Sundays under the Lemon Tree by Julia Busuttil Nishimura
Sundays under the Lemon Tree ($25) is the latest from cookbook author Julia Busutill Nishimura, and it’s all about celebrating family, tradition and culinary adventures. The book follows a young child’s Sunday, with the joys of family cooking and the triumph of learning to bake a special family apple cake, a recipe that features in the book to bake at home.
Stickers never go out of style with kids. These Cute ’n’ Cozy sticker therapy books ($30) are like playing a low-stimulation decorating video game. Create eight cosy room scenes with 500 reusable stickers as a way to relax or as an alternative to colouring books.
Space Joy’s Miffy keychain ($13) lets you carry around the cutest bunny on your keys or bag, as an adorable statement. Made from PVC resin, they are available in yellow, blue, red and sand. The Miffy lover in your life doesn’t have to go anywhere without her.
Embroidered and iron-on patches are the coolest (and most underrated) way to express yourself. These fun bug patches ($14) are by Melbourne artist Alice Oehr and are a great gift for any little or big kids. Available in butterfly, bee, caterpillar and snail.
Sundry Side Chook silicon night light
This funny little Side Chook nightlight from Sundry ($23) is a portable, USB-charged light made from soft BPA-free silicon. It turns on with a touch and has three light strengths. Great for the bedside, a cubby house or just to carry around.
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Continue this series
Looking for inspiration for Christmas this year? Find all our gift guides in one placePreviously
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Abby Seaman is a digital producer and lifestyle writer at The Sydney Morning HeraldConnect via email.