35 Cheap Christmas Gifts for Friends and Coworkers (Under $10)

Soft socks are one of the few gifts almost everyone uses in winter. Multipacks of five or six pairs often run about $12 to $20, which works out to roughly $2 to $4 a pair. Roll each pair, tuck it into a small kraft bag and add a tag.

Dry winter hands and a cold walk to the car make this pairing feel thoughtful. Travel size hand creams often cost about $2 to $6, and air-activated hand warmers are often under $1 each in bulk packs. Tie them together with baker's twine.

Nice pens are the kind of small upgrade people rarely buy for themselves. A multipack of gel pens split three ways, plus a pad of sticky notes, usually lands around $4 to $7 per bundle.

Small succulents at garden centers and grocery stores often cost about $3 to $6 in December. They need little water, which suits a busy desk. Wrap the pot base in kraft paper and tie it with twine.

Small planners and desk calendars go on sale as the year closes, and many basic ones sit in the $5 to $10 range. It's useful from the first week of January, which makes it feel well timed.

Thrift stores often sell mugs for $1 to $3. Fill one with a few cocoa or tea packets and a candy cane, then wrap it in cellophane. We cover this classic in our Christmas on a budget guide, and it still works every year.

A bag of popcorn kernels or a few microwave bags, plus a small seasoning shaker, makes an easy $4 to $8 gift. Add a note with a holiday movie suggestion they can borrow free from the library.

Multipacks of lip balm often break down to about $1 to $2 a tube. Pair one with a travel hand sanitizer for a practical $3 to $5 gift that fits in a coat pocket.

A wooden or metal letter ornament feels personal without being too personal, which makes it a safe coworker pick. Plain wooden letters from craft stores often cost $1 to $4, and a red ribbon loop finishes them.

A small gift card with a handwritten note is easy for a large team. Under federal gift card rules explained by the CFPB, most store gift cards can't expire within five years of purchase, though some rules differ by card type, so read the back before buying.

Library sales and thrift stores often price paperbacks at $1 to $3. Pick a book you loved and write why on the inside cover. The note is what makes it a gift rather than a hand-me-down.

Face sheet masks often cost $1 to $3 each in multipacks, and small tin candles often run $4 to $8. Two masks and a candle make a cozy $6 to $10 bundle that says "take a night off."

Prints from a drugstore or online photo service often cost well under $1 each, and thrift stores sell frames for a few dollars. Pick a photo from a trip or a silly night you shared.

A deck of cards and a thrifted puzzle make a cheap night in. Thrift store puzzles often cost $2 to $5, and many dollar stores carry basic card games. Add a note listing two easy card games to try.

Buy two or three boxes of different teas and divide the bags into small jars, five or six per jar. Each jar can come in around $3 to $5 when you make several.

Basic knit gloves and beanies are often sold in multipacks, which can bring each one to about $3 to $6. They're especially welcome for friends who walk, bike or wait for the bus.

A pocket notebook for lists, prayers, recipes or doodles plus one smooth pen usually costs $4 to $8. It's a quiet gift for the friend who's always jotting things down.

Multipacks of bath fizzers often break down to $1 to $2 each. Two fizzers in a cellophane bag with a ribbon make a sweet add-on, or the main gift for a friend who loves a long bath.

Offer to host your friend for soup, a movie and dessert in January, when everyone's budget is tired. Write it on a nice card and set a real date. It costs only what you'd spend on dinner anyway.

Thrifted teacups often cost $1 to $3. Pair one with a tea light set or a small tin candle for a pretty $5 to $8 gift. It doubles as decor after the candle is gone.

Layered cocoa mix with mini marshmallows looks pretty through the glass. Small jars bought by the case often cost about $1 each, and the mix itself is cheap in bulk. Each jar can come in around $2 to $4.

If you grew herbs this summer, or can buy fresh bunches on sale, drying them at home turns into a lovely cooking gift. Herb and Hollow has a simple guide on how to dry herbs at home with air, oven and dehydrator methods. Small spice jars often cost about $1 each in packs.

Thrift stores fill up with old cookie tins in November. Line one with parchment and fill it with a batch of your usual holiday cookies. Baking staples often go on sale before the holidays, so stock up then.

Flavored sugar for toast, oatmeal or coffee is one of the cheapest homemade gifts there is. A big bag of sugar and a jar of cinnamon can fill many small jars at well under $2 each.

Sugar and a plain oil in a small jar make a gentle hand scrub. Keep it simple and unscented for sensitive skin, and add a tag that says to patch test first. Each jar often costs under $2 to make.

Babysitting, a car wash, a ride to the airport or help with a project can mean more than any store gift. Staple a few cards together and let your friend redeem them in the new year.

Make a playlist for a friend, then write the song list on a card with one line about why each song made the cut. It's free, and it often gets played long after December.

Bag up dried orange slices, cinnamon sticks and a few cloves with a tag that says "simmer in a pot of water." It makes a house smell like Christmas, and each bag can cost $1 to $3.

Bags of clementines are cheap in winter and fit the season. Split a bag into small cellophane bags of three or four, tie with ribbon and add a tag. Each one often comes in around $1 to $2.

One big bowl of pretzels, cereal and popcorn fills a dozen treat bags. Each bag can cost under $1. For a group, leave out nuts or label clearly, because nut allergies are common.

A box of candy canes and a stack of cards cost a few dollars total. A short, specific thank you on each card is what people remember, not the candy.

A bulk pack of hand warmers covers a big group at under $1 each. Tie two together with a tag that says "to keep you warm this winter."

Plain shatterproof ornaments come in big packs for well under $1 each. Write each person's name with a white or gold paint pen. It's personal, quick and easy to mail.

Mini felt stockings often come in packs of 12 or more. Drop in a lip balm and a candy for a cute gift that lands around $1 to $3 each.

Mini bottles of hot sauce and small seasoning jars are often under $5. They're a fun pick for the coworker who adds spice to everything in the break room.