The holiday shopping season is here, and we’ve found some budget-friendly gifts. Even a little something that lets the recipient know you care can brighten their day. That’s why we dug into useful and thoughtful gifts under $5.
We found a good number of cheap gift ideas and learned some tips along the way. You can also check out the Dollar Store to find pretty notebooks or activity books for kids. Michaels and Joann are always running sales or offering coupons, so you can check either of those places for cheaper projects, sweet candles, and home decor gifts.
By the way, if you order anything with Amazon Prime, you can get free same-day delivery on orders over $25. Just make sure to order by 5 p.m. local time for your order to arrive by 10 p.m.
For more inspo, check out our favorite gifts under $5 below. And for more savings, text SAVE to 57299 and be the first to know about the hottest deals each day, or download the KCL app.
Gift Subscriptions Under $5
It sounds crazy to think you can give a subscription box as a gift, especially for this price point. However many boxes offer free trials or significantly discounted trial boxes. You can easily get a $75 value box for as little as $3 and the cost of shipping. And luckily, there are even subscription boxes for kids so there’s something for everyone.
Related: We also have gifts under $25 if you want some more inspo.
Best Toy Gifts Under $5
We’re pretty sure Santa will be shopping these Amazon and Walmart toy deals. If you’re looking for gifts for kids, we’ve got you covered.
Related: 11 Best Toys Under $10 That Your Kids Will Actually Play With
Beauty Gifts Under $5
It’s always nice to have a self-care day to combat the winter blues. Gifting some affordable makeup or beauty products is a great way to encourage an at-home spa day. And luckily, looking like a million bucks doesn’t have to cost a million bucks. I found best-selling lip balms, practical hair accessories, and quality skincare all for less than a fiver.
1. Where can I find the best gifts under $5?
Target Dollar Spot
My personal favorite is the Target Dollar spot. aka Bullseye’s Playground. You can find small seasonal gifts for $3 – $5. This section usually has stuff like decor, toys, and inexpensive tech. And despite being cheap, the quality is pretty good. In the past, I found drinkware that I’ve had for years now. The only catch is that you can only shop the dollar spot in-store.
Five Below
I also really enjoy shopping at Five Below because the selection is trendy and affordable. For example, you can often find popular name-brand toys and collectibles like Squishmallows, Funko Pops, and Sanrio merch for $5. Plus, if you’re shopping for a pop culture fanatic, there are tons of merch goodies for big animes, films, and TV shows.
And, as the store name implies, most items are around $5 or less. Some more expensive categories like tech and clothing can reach up to $10, but that’s still pretty affordable given how pricey those goods can be at other retailers.
Dollar Tree
Okay, maybe I’m biased but Dollar Tree has always been my favorite dollar store. Since Dollar Tree raised prices, the chain started stocking more stylish and trendy options, particularly in the home decor department. If you want something similar to Five Below, but a bit cheaper, consider shopping at Dollar Tree.
Amazon
You can find lots of items under $5 on Amazon, but it’s only worth shopping at if you have Amazon Prime. Prime members get one-day and two-day free shipping. Otherwise, standard shipping costs $6.99, more or less, depending on your location.
2. When should I shop for the best deals?
Of course, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are historically the best times to shop. That’s sort of a no-brainer.
But did you know lots of stores have amazing fall clearance deals? We’re talking up to 90% off. Plus, many of these sales are less well known so you can shop without all the Black Friday crowds. Check out our guide to major retailers’ clearance schedules to figure out when your favorite stores’ sales are.
3. Is Amazon Subscribe & Save worth it for holiday shopping?
The Subscribe & Save deals can really make a difference when it comes to your holiday budget. Plus, you can easily order more than one of each gift to use as stocking stuffers. (Just make sure you order well in advance since Subscribe & Save orders take a little longer to ship.)
And if you don’t actually want to receive multiple orders, you can cancel your subscription after the first order. Overall, it’s a really easy way to save up to 15% on presents in addition to occasional promos that offer up to 40% off your first Subscribe & Save order. And, shipping on any of your subscriptions is free!
4. How do I avoid high shipping costs during the holidays?
Over the past few years, USPS has been increasing holiday shipping prices, and 2023 is no different. So how do you avoid getting gouged? Here are my tips:
- Don’t wait til the last minute. Order your gifts well ahead of retailers’ holiday shipping deadlines.
- Start an Amazon Prime free trial membership to take advantage of free two-day shipping without paying $139 a year.
- Many retailers offer free store pickup when you order online.
- Opt for stores with free shipping regardless of order minimum.
- If shipping costs are inevitable at your preferred retailer, get multiple people in on your order and split the cost with them. (My roommate and I used to do this back when Shein still took forever to ship to America and it was a lifesaver!)
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