Secret Santa gifts under $20
Twenty dollars is the limit you see most at office parties and among friends. It buys one good thing in a cheap category rather than a mediocre thing in an expensive one.
Quick party game
Look for games that take 15–20 minutes and rules you can explain in two sentences.
Big ceramic mug
A handmade stoneware mug has some weight, keeps things warm and doesn’t look like an obligation gift.
A new-release novel
If you don’t know what they read, ask whoever sits next to them. Always with a gift receipt.
Insulated water bottle
Stainless steel with a wide mouth: those are the ones you can actually clean.
Good olive oil or small-batch hot sauce
A 16.9 oz bottle of good extra virgin oil just fits the budget and gets used in any kitchen.
Spare wired earbuds
Nobody has a backup pair when theirs die. Check whether their phone takes USB-C or Lightning.
Gloves and a beanie
Gloves with touchscreen fingertips actually get worn. Go for stretchy one-size-fits-most.
500-piece puzzle
Five hundred pieces get done in a weekend; a thousand means a table taken over for a month.
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