The $50ish Gift Guide, 2025 Edition
Little luxuries that won't break the bank for everyone on your list!
Shitters! There are lot of gift guides out there, but this $50ish one has become a Shit I Bought and Liked staple over the years! I started putting them together because it was the price point that I found myself shopping at most frequently for friends and family, and it seems like most of us are in the same boat—last year’s quickly became the most popular newsletter I’ve ever written!
I still stand by my earlier picks, but we’re back with even more (and dare I say even better) gift ideas! What follows are FIFTY $50ish gifts for everyone on your list! As we get into sale season, even more things than usual are in this price range, so it’s a great time to take advantage! (Also, if you’ve been here a while and like what we do, I’d really appreciate if you could hit the heart-shaped Like button at the end of this letter! It helps more people find us (and give you better gifts!) and allows this newsletter to grow! Thank you!)
Dieux’s Heavenly Hydration Set (15% off with code PRIYANKA15): Two of my all-time favorite moisturizers now come in this travel-ready set! Air Angel, the blue one, is a lightweight gel cream that’s perfect for daytime, while Instant Angel, the white, is a lipid rich moisturizer that’s such a treat at night (and especially nice for stressed winter skin). The duo is TSA-friendly, so it’s a perfect way to treat a frequent flier, or to help a loved one who’s working their way into a skincare routine. If you have more flexibility on budget, the same duo comes in bigger sizes too!
A good old fashioned playlist: Bring back making playlists for people!!! A couple hours of “songs that remind me of you”?! Game over! What this doesn’t cost in money it asks for in thought and time, but that’s what makes for a memorable gift!
Silk Martini Sleep Mask: Move over, sugar plums—only visions of Vespers will do for this sleeping beauty!
Chonk Mug: What else would they want to be sipping cocoa out of!
Kate McLeod Amber & Vanilla Stone: My love of these solid moisturizing stones is well-documented at this point, but this amber + vanilla combo is the perfect warming scent for winter nights without being too on the nose.
Celisse Nail Polish: For the girl who can’t spare more than a minute and a half to do her nails—this polish dries in 90 seconds flat! The full set is worth a peek if you’re less constrained by $50ish.
Crown Affair Set (PRIYANKA15): I love when a gift feels complete, and this set gives them everything they need to refresh their style for under $50 (which is a wildly good deal considering that their dry shampoo is the same exact price on its own…). Grab one for them and one for you—I won’t tell!
Santa Maria Novella Wax Tablets: These scented wax tablets come straight from Florence’s oldest parfumerie and make for a unique, luxurious gift that won’t break the bank. Slip them into a dresser, closet, or vanity drawer to keep everything softly scented (I keep one in my sock drawer!).
Cowboy Christmas Candle (PRIYANKA15): I’m deeply skeptical about most holiday candle releases—the pine can smell artificial, the vanilla can be too cloying, and it can all veer into Y*nkee C*ndle territory FAST—but this is something special. Amber, juniper, frankincense, and whiskey make it equal parts woodsy and warming with a touch of sweetness, and it’s hands down my favorite new scent of the season (I lit it over the weekend to immediate compliments). If their vibe is a little less cowboy, Maison Louis Marie No. 3 is another cozy favorite with creamy notes of vanilla, anise, clove, and tobacco. Both are under $40 (Ranger Station’s gets down to $30ish with our code!).
m.ph Lip Ciggys: What could be more chic than a super slim lipstick/balm hybrid? Get it for the girl who’s always going out with the world’s tiniest bags!
A spell by an Etsy Witch: Magic does not exactly lend itself to a collage photo, but I would not say no!! (For those of you who are chronically online, yes this is Jaz’s Etsy witch—she’s said to be especially good when it comes to influencing wedding date weather...)
Book Embosser: This personalized book embosser has been a SIBAL gifting favorite for years (and for the record, it’s still on my list!!!).
Susanne Kaufmann Alpine Retreat Duo: Turn their bathroom into an alpine getaway with this dreamy duo. The Mallow Blossom bath combines rosemary, sage, and cedar for a cozy bath, while the rich honey and olive body butter will keep them from snapping back to reality too quickly afterwards.
Theraplush Hand Treatment: Keep their hands looking as fresh as their face with this retinol-infused, lightly scented night treatment (in bedside-ready packaging!). The pink version is my favorite color and scent!
Roz’s Serum + Hair Oil set: Another crazy deal under $50, featuring Roz’s hero hair products! Their Milk serum on its own is priced at two dollars more than this, so to get the full size PLUS a travel size styling oil for this price is a little insane?! If your budget can stretch a little further, throw in their sandalwood comb—it’s beautifully made and the only one I reach for.
Chanel gua sha: Heavy on the “50ish” but this gorgeous red Chanel sculpting tool is worth the stretch! It’s a great gift for someone who has already everything, or who dreams of having everything!
Lazy Jamie Cheese Knives: I love how much personality is packed into these little cheese knives! They’re a perfect gift for someone who loves to entertain (or wants to do more of it in the new year!).
Ghianduja (PRIYANKA25): I was deeply skeptical about better-for-you N*tella, but this stuff is GOOD. The crunchy version is divine, but I’d go for one and one so they can try both options (you can also split them up as stocking stuffers or keep one for yourself… you know you want to).
Emi Jay Clips: These fall into the category of annoying to buy for yourself, but AMAZING to get as a gift, and the Bordeaux in particular is always sold out, so I’d snag it while it’s still around!
Sweatshirt socks: I simply refuse to shut up about these perfect THICK chunky socks. The perfect gift for a partner who’s always attacking you with their freezing toes under the covers!
Saie Blush Trio: Three of Saie’s best-selling blush shades for $30 makes for easy gifting across a wide range of ages! Spicy is my personal favorite.
Flamingo Estate Dog Toys: I’m sorry, these are incredible?! And they come in Flamingo Estate’s epic gift packaging! Treat the pawrents (I hated that too) to the real thing for a coordinated family gift!
Material Kitchen Walnut salt cellar: Chic, luxurious, and useful—the ultimate combo! This display-ready salt cellar has space for two different salts or seasonings between the sphere and its fluted base. You can split them apart while you cook or serve food and stack them back together again when you’re done. This was sold out for awhile, but now that it’s back, one is on its way to me!
Dieux Forever Eye Masks (PRIYANKA15): For the skincare obsessed friend, these reusable eye patches can be used with any of your existing eye creams/serums to encourage them to absorb into the skin more quickly. They come at a very manageable price point on their own, and are also available in a gift-ready set with the brand’s eye serum!
Filthy Bleu Cheese Stuffed Olives + Olive Brine: When a dirty martini is more your host’s speed than yet another bottle of wine, there’s only one thing to bring when they have you over.
Saint Jane Deep Sleep Bath Salts: Encourage them to take a much-needed moment to themselves with this dreamy magnesium salt soak. It’s scented with a calming mix of Evening Primrose, Chamomile, Lavender, Jasmine, and Sacred Lotus and it makes your bathroom smell like heaven!
Fleecey Hot Water Bottle: Are there better ways to spend $15? Perhaps, but I can’t think of any!
Doen x Sakara Gift Set (PRIYANKA25): Two heavy-hitters came together with a great gift for the wellness girl on the go! This quilted Doen pouch is packed with so many Sakara goodies including their Daily Elixir, Stress Gummies, Sleep Support Capsules, plant-based protein bars, and more! Our code brings it under $75.
Wordle Mug: For the dads whose results are in the family group chat before the rest of you are even awake. (Don’t worry, there’s a Connections version too).
Personalized Leather Luggage Tag: Personalized gifts always seem extra thoughtful, and getting a good one for under $50 is a steal!
Espresso Martini Ornament: There are plenty of other options depending on their drink of choice, but this one is my favorite (which is rich considering that I can consume approximately half of a strategically timed espresso martini MAX before a night out—oh well).
Uno Tin: Who doesn’t love Uno?! This is an inexpensive stocking stuffer, and the tin is great for travel/bringing on-the-go!
Camp Snap Camera: These reusable cameras give you disposable-style photos that you can upload straight to your phone (did someone say muploads or am I just old?).
Polo Bear Boxer Shorts: If you’ve never seen him go to sleep in PJs before, I hate to break it to you, but he’s probably not gonna sleep in Christmas ones. These still keep him cute and cool, and the burgundy feels festive!
Chill Out Gummies: With 1mg of THC, this is the micro-est of microdoses in a yummy Sour Cherry that’s meant to help you mellow out and unwind. Will these find their way into my mother’s stocking?? Could be a good development for everyone involved…
Aimé Leon Dore Golf Tees: Listen, I have no idea what golf tees should normally cost, but I think that’s a good thing because it makes me willing to fork over the cash to treat a golfer/ALD-head in my life to these!
Wine Simple: Aka, the Shitter’s Wine Bible. Whether they’re dipping their toes into the wine world, want to get serious, or are somewhere in between, this is an essential read (or at least a fun thing to have on the bookshelf!). I read it cover to cover over the summer and have been annoying as hell ever since!
150 Hotels You Need To Visit Before You Die: I mean, who wouldn’t want to at least flip through this?! No longer in the $50ish range, but major bonus points if the book is accompanied by a trip to one of them!
Lazy Jamie Ice Cream Coupes: The perfect way to elevate their midnight snack! These come in a set of two, and I’ve seen them used for creative serving arrangements so often recently—they make a great gift for anyone who hosts often!
Via Carota Espresso Martini: The only bottled cocktails worth buying, and a taste of NYC’s best for friends who are near or far!
Dandelion Hot Cocoa: Save the Swiss Miss for Santa—you deserve the good stuff.
Wonder Valley EVOO: A welcome hostess gift instead of the usual bottle of red!
Personalized Cocktail Napkins: Once again, everyone loves a personalized gift! The initials are perfect for newly engaged or married friends, and the olives/ martinis are fun for everyone!
Flamingo Estate Peppermint Soap: Tis the season for a peppermint-scented soap brick (that will last them well into the spring!).
Face Vessels: If anyone wants to know what’s on my Christmas list, it’s these cutie pie face glasses! What a fun way to serve up a cocktail or any drink of choice!
Gold Chain Ring: $50ish fine jewelry…?! Don’t say I never gave you anything! This one makes for a very cool thumb ring IMO.
Chanel lip balm: Getting that iconic CC logo under the tree for under $50… it’s a Christmas miracle!!!
Mutha Pucker Lip Butter + Belly Masks: Moms-to-be deserve good gifts too! This is a fun little combo to keep her happy and hydrated!
What are your go-to gifts in the $50ish range? Is there anything you’ve given or received lately that you’ve loved? I want to know!
Plenty more gift ideas, Black Friday shopping guides, and more coming your way so soon!
xx
Priyanka
A portion of today’s letter was written in partnership with Dieux, a longtime favorite of mine for all things skincare! Thank you to their team for being as excited about what we do here as I am! If you’d like to work with Shit I Bought and Liked, drop me a note at priyanka.aribindi@gmail.com.
Best gift guide I’ve seen this year, and I’ve seen a LOT. Thanks for making gifting so easy!
okay i might have to get my dad the wordle mug, i didnt even know it existed!