Holiday gifts under $25: mugs, candles, skincare sets and more, with prices checked

What this is

A good gift doesn't have to cost much. We picked gifts under $25 from four stores on Promo Magpie and checked every price on the store's own website on November 1, 2026. Prices can change, and shipping and sales tax come on top unless the store says otherwise, so check the total at checkout. We didn't see an end date for any of the reductions below.

It's a good moment to plan small gifts. Deloitte's 2026 holiday survey, published October 15, found the average household expects to spend $1,654 this season, and 28% expect their budget to be used up by the end of October. Gifts at a set price help that money go further.

At a glance

• Under $10: Pixi Eye Patch Library, $10 (was $15). The Unemployed Philosophers Guild's Magnetic Personality finger puppets, $8.95.
• Under $20: mugs, candles and dish towels from The Unemployed Philosophers Guild, a Peacesake travel candle and a Logitech wireless mouse.
• Under $25: Pixi gift sets at $22, down from $28 and $30.
• Check shipping. On a small order, delivery can add a lot to the price.

For readers and history fans: The Unemployed Philosophers Guild

The Unemployed Philosophers Guild makes gifts around books, science, history and pop culture.

• Mugs, $19.95. Designs include a Mohs' Scale of Minerals Hardness mug, listing 19 minerals with their hardness numbers. It's 14oz and microwave and dishwasher safe.
• Scented candles, $16.95. Book-inspired scents include Gatsby and Pemberley, in a 7oz glass jar with a lid and up to 30 hours of burn time.
• Dish towels, $14.95. Designs include Shakespearean Insults and a Jane Austen tea towel.
• Magnetic Personalities, $8.95. A finger puppet that's also a fridge magnet, with a mini bio tag. Albert Einstein is one of them.
• Little Thinkers, $24.95. Plush dolls of historical figures, such as Alexander Hamilton.

For skincare fans: Pixi Beauty

Pixi Beauty had several gift sets reduced when we checked.

• Glow Starter Routine, petite sizes, $22. Four Pixi products in small sizes. Pixi says the kit is worth $28.
• PixiRose HandHero + PixiPerfume, $22, down from $30. A limited-edition hand lotion and small perfume set. There's also a PixiFig version at the same price.
• Pixi Eye Patch Library, $10, down from $15. A set of five eye patches.
• HandHero hand lotion, $12. Comes in PixiRose, PixiFig and PixiMimosa scents.

For the home: Peacesake Candles & Co

Peacesake sells soy wax candles and home fragrance.

• Travel-size candle, $17. The 4oz White Tea & Oak candle has an 18-hour burn time.
• Room and linen spray, $17. 4 fl oz, in scents including Juniper Moss and Midnight Amber.
• White Tea & Oak hand soap, $17.

For the desk: Logitech

Logitech had two wireless mice under $25 on its US site.

• M325S Wireless Mouse, $18.99, down from $22.99.
• Pebble Mouse 2 M350s, $24.99.

A worked example

Sam has $100 for five small gifts. Using prices from November 1:

• A Gatsby candle for a book-loving friend: $16.95.
• A Mohs' Scale mug for a nephew who collects rocks: $19.95.
• The PixiRose HandHero + PixiPerfume set for her sister: $22.
• An M325S mouse for a dad who works from home: $18.99.
• A Peacesake travel candle for a neighbor: $17.

That's $94.89 before shipping and tax. If two of the orders each cost $6 to ship, she'd go over $100. Ordering two gifts from the same store, or checking for a free shipping threshold, could keep her under budget.

What to do now

1. Make a list of who needs a small gift: teachers, coworkers, neighbors, secret Santa.
2. Set a fixed amount for each, such as $20 or $25.
3. Group orders by store to cut shipping costs.
4. Check the store's shipping deadlines for delivery before Christmas.
5. Check the return policy and ask for a gift receipt where the store offers one.

Questions

Will these prices still be the same on Black Friday?

We can't say. Prices change, and the stores may cut them further or end sales. These are the prices we saw on November 1.

Do these prices include shipping?

No. Shipping and sales tax are added at checkout unless the store offers free delivery on your order.

Is a gift card better than a small gift?

A gift card lets the person choose, and it's easy to set an exact amount. A small, thoughtful gift can mean more. Either works if it fits your budget.

Ways to save

Before you order, check The Unemployed Philosophers Guild, Pixi Beauty, Peacesake and Logitech on Promo Magpie for current codes. For a set-value gift, Giftcards.com is on our list too.

Sources: The Unemployed Philosophers Guild, Pixi Beauty, Peacesake Candles & Co, Logitech: mice, Deloitte, October 15, 2026: holiday retail survey

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