Following our Extravagant and Standard Gift Guides, we’re continuing our festive gift-buying companions with the Thrifty Gifty guide. Here are 10 high-quality gifts $70 or under for those on a budget or not looking to blow a bag on their giftee.
UES Denim Key Case
If you’re buying for a denim head but buying a whole pair of jeans isn’t appropriate, this UES Denim Key Case is an awesome gift at a super low price point. It’s made with waste denim from garment production as part of UES’ waste-reducing ethos and comes with a natural vegetable tan leather and brass fob that to attach keys to, stopping them from carving up the pockets of precious selvedge denim jeans.
The denim used is UES’ flagship 14.9 oz. raw denim with a brown weft, sure to age beautifully. Whether it’s keys, coins, or cards that get stashed in this, the aged brass ring makes it easy to attach wherever needed.
Available for $23 from Redcast Heritage.
Meermin Shell Cordovan Cardholder
Delving further into the patina realm is this Meermin Shell Cordovan Cardholder. It may be hitting the price threshold on this thrifty guide, but we still can’t believe this piece of shell Cordovan from Japan’s Shinki Hikaku tannery. There are a wealth of brands that would relish in charging $170 and up for this, but Meermin’s direct-to-consumer model is seemingly doing its job here.
Available for $70 from Meermin.
Randy’s Garments 3M Thinsulate Beanie
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Yes, this is your standard 3M Thinsulate beanie, but it’s not the mass-produced kind you find in a basket at the gas station — it’s made in the USA by Randy’s Garments. I can’t lie, Randy’s seems to be the hip workwear brand at the moment, but it has the MiUSA credentials to back up the hype, making this a solid gift at just $33.
Available for $33 from Lost & Found.
Division Road Shoe Tree – Aromatic Cedar
I would hazard a guess that at least around 60% of folk who have spent over $400 on footwear don’t have some proper shoe trees to keep them in good shape. After all, the last thing you want to do after shelling out half a month’s rent on some welted boots is spend another lump on shoe care accessories. That’s why these Divison Road Shoe Trees are a shoo-in for thrifty gifting.
Made in the USA from aromatic red cedar, these have all the trappings of a top-shelf shoe tree, including brass pull-knob and hardware, automatic split toe, and a high-grade self-adjusting spring. Each pair is hand-sanded to achieve the perfect finish and release some of those aromatic cedar oils.
Available for $45 at Division Road.
Redcast Heritage Iron Jeans Hanger
Continuing the theme of quality goods storage is the Redcast Heritage Iron Jeans hanger. I, for one, am so fed up with standard trouser hangers and their fiddly clips, so the idea of simply threading the belt loops of my jeans through the open end of this forged hanger is dreamy. Cop a couple and make a denim head happy.
Available for $27 from Redcast Heritage.
Super 7 Peanuts ReAction Figure Wave 6 Holiday Box Set
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Most Peanuts narratives have a hidden meaning, and the ‘Sad Tree’ in A Charlie Brown Christmas’ could be interpreted as propping up the underdog, giving them the care and love they deserve. In the 1965 Christmas special, Charlie Brown takes a spindly tree and decorates it. It wilts under the weight of a singular bauble, leaving Charlie defeated. Linus comes along and reinforces the tree base with a blanket — “It’s not bad at all, really. It just needs a little love” — and the tree stands proud once again.
Draw what you want from that micro tale, but this cute little figure set from Super7 that depicts the scene would be very welcome at my desk.
Available for $44 from Lost & Found.
Graza Olive Oil
My partner and I watch fair few YouTube food vlogging types and I’ve been seeing this Graza Olive Oil a lot. I’m discerning enough to look past cartoon character branding in 2024, but food-snob acquaintances have assured me that this stuff slaps. It comes in Drizzle and Sizzle variants for frying and dressing respectively, both in handy squirt bottles.
If you’re buying for a foodie, look no further.
Available from $22 at Manready Mercantile.
Gustin Waffle Crewneck
With every year that passes, I become wiser, slightly wrinklier, wider in the hips, but most jarringly — I become colder. I’m layering up like an opera cake through winter these days, with a thermal long sleeve as my trusty base layer.
Quality thermals can be pretty expensive, but GUSTIN is coming correct with a made-in-USA option for just $64. Coming in two charmingly drab colorways perfect for fall/winter, these are made from a waffle-weave blend of cotton, polyester, and rayon that offers softness and breathability. Each Thermal comes complete with a reinforced neckline and GUSTIN branded neck label.
Available in Charcoal & Oxblood for $64.
Anonymous Ism 5 color Mix Crew Socks
What would a Thrifty Gifty Guide be without socks? Instead of David’s prerequisite Kapital socks, I’m choosing Anonymous Ism‘s 5 Color Mix Crew Socks.
I’ve got about 10 pairs of these and want 10 more (hint, hint). They’re thick but not sweaty and offer a highly textured pop of color between my shoes and trouser cuffs. The great thing about socks like these is that you can repair them, too, using our handy guide to hand-darning socks.
Available for $35 from STAG.
Happy Patina Round Trivet
Get that skillet on a trivet! If you’re gifting to someone who already has all the leather EDC, wallets, and trinkets they could ask for, I guarantee they don’t have a Natural Vegetable-Tanned Leather Round Trivet.
This kitchen accessory by Happy Patina will earn a very unique patina over time as it comes into contact with hot pans to sauce-soaked spoons. It could also double as a covert nudge of your loved one toward the kitchen in 2025.
Available for $60 from Happy Patina.
