A present does not have to cost much to feel considered. Some of the best we have ever been given were small: a good pair of socks, a tin of proper tea, a glass that made an evening drink feel like an occasion. What they had in common was that someone had thought about how we live, rather than what was on offer that week.
Everything in this guide costs £30 or less, and everything is in stock at the time of writing. We have grouped the ideas by where they will be used, which we find is the quickest way to match a present to a person. For the full list in one place, see the under £30 collection.
Stocking fillers, under £15
The stocking is where most people run out of ideas, and where cheap plastic tends to creep in. A few small things that will actually be used are better than a dozen that will not.
The wool pot scarf, at £7.99, is the most surprising present in the shop and one of the most useful. It wraps around a plant pot and deters slugs and snails from climbing up to the leaves. Any gardener who has lost a pot of hostas overnight will understand at once. Our autumn garden jobs checklist has more on getting pots through the winter.
The Foxbury plaid tweed collar, at £12.99, is the stocking filler for the dog. And the linen and room mist, at £13.99, freshens a bedroom, a sofa or a set of spare sheets between washes. It is a small luxury that most people would not buy for themselves.
For the evening drink, under £30
A good glass changes the experience of a drink more than people expect. The gold rimmed whisky tumbler, at £15.99, is weighty in the hand and catches the light from the fire. Buy one for the whisky drinker, or two for a couple who like a drink together at the end of the day.
The set of six dimple base tumblers, at £23.99, is the more practical choice. They are everyday glasses with a bit of character, good for water at supper and a gin and tonic in summer. A set of six is a generous present for a new house or a couple who entertain.
For the walker who likes a nip at the top of the hill, the steel hip flask with leather sleeve, at £29.50, is a classic for good reason. Fill it before you wrap it.
For warmth, under £30
Winter presents should keep people warm, and these do. The Thomson camel tartan wool blanket, at £24.99, is the best value in the shop. A wool blanket is useful everywhere: on the sofa, at the end of a bed, in the boot of the car for picnics or breakdowns. Our guide to choosing a wool throw explains why wool is worth it.
The burgundy and racing green bamboo boot socks, at £17.95, are for anyone who spends the winter in wellingtons. The men's suede moccasin slippers, from £17.99, are for the end of the walk, when boots come off at the back door. Check his shoe size first.
For the fireside, under £30
If they have a wood burner or an open fire, the reclaimed steel log holder, at £24.99, keeps a night's worth of logs tidy beside the hearth. It is the sort of present that gets used every evening from October to March. The By the Fire collection has more for the same corner of the room, and our piece on decorating a mantelpiece for Christmas might give you ideas for the rest of it.
For the kitchen, under £30
The linen striped beeswax bag, at £22.99, keeps a loaf fresh without plastic. It is a practical present for someone who bakes or buys bread from a proper baker. Our guide to keeping bread fresh explains why it works better than a plastic bag.
The rooibos cotton tea towel, at £28.50, is the kind of thing people do not buy for themselves. It makes a good present for a host, folded around a jar of something homemade.
For the tea drinker, under £30
The loose leaf tea gift box, at £29.95, lets someone try several blends before settling on a favourite. Tuck a copy of our guide to making a proper pot of tea inside the lid.
For winding down, under £30
The Roman chamomile pillow spray starts at £25. A light mist over the pillow before bed becomes a small ritual that marks the end of the day. It is a thoughtful present for a friend going through a busy patch, or for anyone who reads in bed.
Something personal, under £30
A signet ring is a present that lasts for decades. The square signet ring in aged silver is £28, and the signet ring with a semi-precious stone starts at £29. Find out the ring size before you order, by borrowing a ring they wear on the same finger.
For the dog lover, the handmade dog pampering gift set, at £25, arrives ready to give. Our Christmas gifts for dog lovers guide has more ideas at every price.
How to make a small present feel generous
The wrapping does a lot of the work. Brown paper, a length of twine and a sprig of something from the garden, such as rosemary, holly or a bit of eucalyptus, will make a £15 present look like it came from somewhere special. A handwritten card matters more than the price.
Pairing helps too. Two small things that go together feel more considered than one larger thing chosen at random. A whisky tumbler and a hip flask. A tea towel and a beeswax bag. A pillow spray and a room mist. Choose a theme and buy two pieces that fit it.
Finally, order in good time. Many of our pieces are sent straight from the maker, so an order with several items may arrive in more than one parcel, and each product page gives a dispatch time where the maker states one. If something needs to arrive by a particular day, check before you order.
For bigger presents, our guides to gifts for him and gifts for her cover the rest.