30+ frugal gifts for women that cost $40 or less
30+ frugal gifts for women that cost $40 or less
Ready to explore a curated list of gifts for women that cost $40 or less? Ditch the Holiday gift guides showcasing the common. The ordinary. Off-the-shelf gifts that anyone could grab at the last minute.
What if this year was different? Imagine her face to open a package and find a present that is unique to her interests or goals or life circumstances.
Oh dear, that sounded a bit like an advertising promo! Can you tell gifts are my love language? 🙂
This list conflicts with my passion for quality time being the best gift. Non-materialistic gifts are hands-down winners. (check out 5 tips for a simple Christmas- keeping the hustle out of the holy)
However, sometimes that isn’t an option. Or, you need a gift for somebody you don’t know well. There are generalized ideas below too. This really is about the best gifts for women for any occasion.
I combed through FAVORITE past purchases, and gifts, to offer you a thoughtful & unique list of gift ideas you might not have seen before. This big list of gift ideas for her takes everyone on your list into account!
There are very inexpensive gifts, often under $10. I include a few more expensive items because sometimes we go in together on gifts as a group. Definitely still frugal when you share the cost! And a small disclaimer- affordable gifts is a term relative to the giver’s financial situation. This is a judgment-free zone.
Please don’t feel bad if you see something a little out of your price range. See if you can find something similar in web land! We are a single income family, so I REALLY get it that some years $5 a person is even a stretch! (If that is you, please check out the Homemade one of a kind gift ideas I’ve collected here)
Hopefully, you’ll find a spark that makes you think of someone you love, and you will both be excited when it is time to open the package! THese fun and unique ideas will make her feel special.
What makes the best gift?
That is easy. Make it practical, if she likes things she can use. Whimsical, if she is a child at heart. Thoughtful, if she is sentimental.
Whatever the gift, make it personal. There is something so special about receiving a unique gift that shows the giver really considered the recipient.
The fun is in the giving, after all. Take a chance on something NOT on her wish list!
Still not sure how to give a thoughtful gift? Spend some time thinking about all the things you know about her. How she spends her time. Her faith. Her friends. Her family. Her dreams. What makes her laugh?
Does she tell stories of her childhood or enjoy stories of spreadsheets? We are all wired differently, and it is great fun to sleuth around and get to know her even better. Once that part is done, now it is time to put it all together.
Using those “keyword” thoughts, you can do an internet search for examples like, “midlife ladies who love Hello Kitty”. Um, that last one was just a random suggestion. Or, is it? 🙂
Special gifts for women that cost $40 or less (with a few splurges)
- Mindflight journal for chronic illness– a thoughtful gift for your suffering loved ones. Also, Get Autoimmune Strong has classes you could gift they could do from home, at their own pace
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Chai Amore Tea Latte Tahitian Vanilla – my fave for over a decade. Pair with a cute teacup, they are super cheap at places like Home Goods
- Personalized pencils and notebooks (kids would love this too)
- For a dedicated writer, update those pencils to Blackwing 602. Dreamy to use, and it is said, a fave of John Steinbeck. Pair them with a lovely mug
- Artful Data has SUPER cool Soundwave art. I purchased this for a family member of their own music and it was a hit!
- Watercolor artwork by Birds And Berries– she did BOTH of my logos and does commissions as well as retail. So sweet and talented
- Raising up rubies homemaking stationary and paper goods (love purchasing their pretty homemaker things!)
- Have someone on your list who loves all things Western? Cowboy or sassy retro cowgirl cloth napkins ( My fave are from this shop. Hold up really well)
- Pair that with Comfort Food The Cowboy Way cookbook. The author has a fun YouTube cooking channel also if you want to add a note to the recipient
- Plant lovers will love a gift card for The Sill
- Quirky couple portraiture
- Shoes? Often a size risk, but these inexpensive &cute slides elicit comments almost every time they are worn!
- Happy Heart Dangles earrings from Empowered Goods (another favorite of mine, super lightweight and for a great purpose)
- Ephemera for your crafty peeps from Creative Girl Vintage (a great YouTube channel also you can find here)
- Ok, so this one is still just a huge dream item, but Red Land Cotton Sheets. Read their story here
- Day Designer Flagship for 2025 (they are much better quality than the chain store versions of this brand) I am brand loyal…I’ve tried SOOO many over the years, the paper alone is a delight and never see-through
- Custom coordinates necklace
- The Village Green has LOVELY items of all kinds…my dreaming eyes are on these Gatsby-esque earrings
- Bob Ross fans? Check out this mini Lego minifigure or a Happy Little Trees University tee
- A new Bible (this is the one I got this year)
- Pair that Bible with gorgeous tabs from SaltLightEssentials. Love the sturdiness of these!
- Shabby chic apron...I feel like this is my superhero uniform! It makes homemaking chores a bit cheerier
- Pair that apron with a fun book called
- Check out any of Lucy in the Sky creations, especially for your literary-minded loved ones
- Grown-up Hello Kitty fans? Love the bling license plate frame or personalized necklace? Should I be blushing at my age to admit I even own the plastic snapware?
- Custom-printed recipe tea towel with an exact copy of your family recipe cards! Super cool
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How about a gift basket with a Christmas book- and movie?
- My favorite holiday movies are The Bishop’s Wife, A Christmas Carol, and of course…It’s a Wonderful Life ( include an ornament too)
Gift ideas for her can support small business
Why put this post out so early in the year? That is when the great G-oog– le in the sky demands to possible make it searchable so you can find it 🙂
However, what a great bonus for people, like me, who love to be done with shopping.
Are you a plan-ahead purchaser, or someone, like my dad, who goes Christmas Eve?
There are a few affiliate links in here. Being upfront, I might make a few cents (seriously) BUT it won’t change your cost at all. I put them there for convenience if you are interested in helping support my blog.
The majority though? Supporting small businesses is a wonderful thing, and you’ll find plenty of gift ideas here that introduce you to new artisans.
I combed through favorite purchases of mine over the last few years that have held up well and proved to be good value. There is one that I wish for, one I plan to give, and the rest are proven winners.
Here’s to finding something you can be excited to give this year!
Need gift ideas for your family?
I’ve written a few other guides over the years if you’d like to check them out…
- 50+ experience gifts for kids Definitely my favorite!
- Practical gift ideas for teens by teens
- Unique gifts for women- a thoughtful holiday guide
- Best gifts for writers
- Men- such a hard post to write. What do the suggestions all say? Jerky, soap, beard oil, socks. Whoopty doo. There is one stocking stuffer that was a hit here though…
- American Flag Tire valve stem covers. Who knew?
- Also, a new US-made flag from Allegiance Flag.
- Think soap is weird for guys? Not when they come in a real military ammo case. Plus, the logos are awesome enough to save for art projects for her
- There are MORE 30 gift ideas for men to jumpstart your shopping from The Yellow Bird House you can check out too!
- Disclosure: I only recommend products I do/would use myself. This post may contain affiliate links that at NO additional cost to you, may earn me a small commission to help support this blog. Read full privacy policy here.
