Jasmine Birtles
Your money-making expert. Financial journalist, TV and radio personality.
We all love receiving gifts at Christmas, but many of us struggle when it comes to buying someone a gift. With all sorts of products from beauty, food, stationary and homewares to chose from, see the ones that we have picked out for under £50 so that you don’t have to break the bank.
Lottie Shaw’s Traditional Mince Pies £4.50 and Gingerbread Decorating Kit £5.95 www.lottieshaws.co.uk
Lottie’s Great Aunts baked their original recipes of regional specialities in Yorkshire over 100 years ago. Inspired by her history and family recipes Lottie has carried on the journey. Lottie Shaw’s Traditional Mince Pies are deep filled with plump rich fruit, finished with an elegant star and perfect served warm with a dollop of cream. The Gingerbread Decorating Kit incudes 3 gingerbread men, 3 gingerbread trees, 2 decorating pens and a sachet of smarties, a great gift for kids to make.
Lindt Festive Edition Chocolates £20.00 www.lindt.co.uk
Lindt & Sprüngli has been enchanting the world with chocolate for over 175 years. Their festive edition box is filled with Lindt’s finest milk, dark and white chocolates including Chocolate Fondant, Hazelnut Praline and Velvet Caramel Milk. A great gift for friends, family or better still a treat to yourself.
Fitzbillies Festive Brownie Box £22.00 (Box of 12) www.fitzbillies.com
Whether you’ve lived, been on holiday or just passed through Cambridge, you will have undoubtedly made a stop at Fitzbillies, renowned for their Chelsea buns (baked by hand 362 days a year). Our very own Head of Partnerships, Marc, who has a very soft spot for brownies, taste-tasted their Festive Brownie Box in flavour combinations of White Chocolate & Cranberry, Chocolate Orange and Seasonal Spiced Gingerbread. The verdict “Rich, gooey and delicious. You’ll need willpower to limit yourself to just one!”
Joe&Seph’s Festive Popcorn Gift Box – £25
Spread some festive cheer this Christmas with a box packed full of delicious popcorn treats. Featuring 1 x Gingerbread Popcorn, 1 x Mint Chocolate Popcorn, 1 x Festive Chocolate Popcorn Slab, 1 x Chocolate Popcorn Star and 1 x Chocolate Caramel Orange Sauce.
Macknade Kent Cheese Hamper £35.00 www.macknade.com
The Macknade brand has been synonymous with quality and community since 1847 and with good reason. For 2024 you can choose from 18 Christmas hamper offerings ranging from chocolate, coffee and Christmas Favourites. The Kent Cheese Hamper showcases some of Kent’s finest cheesemakers, including Kingcott Dairy Blue Cheese and Cheesemakers of Canterbury Chaucers Camembert. Paired with all Kentish accompaniments and packaged in the Signature Macknade Hamper Box, this makes a great gift for cheese lovers.
Wickedly Welsh Deluxe Christmas Family Sharing Hamper £35.99 www.wickedlywelsh.co.uk
If you’re thinking of a gift that both adults and children can enjoy, this hamper from Pembrokeshire based Wickedly Welsh caters for both. From Rudolph lollipops, a mint humbug bar to sachets of hot chocolate, the option to include a personalised message or video when ordering is a lovely added touch.
Fattoria La Vialla – The Non-Alcoholic Treat (Vegan) £40.80 www.lavialla.com
Fattoria La Vialla is a family-run, organic-biodynamic farm in Arezzo, Tuscany and you are really spoilt for choice if you’re a fan of Italian delights. Their non-alcoholic treat hamper is packed with 9 specialities including Sugo Bombolino and Caponata. Everything is sent directly from the farm to a central UK warehouse, so no need to worry about import duties. An added gift included with orders is the ‘Handbook’, which contains nutrition labels, tasting notes, ideas and recipes – they really have thought of everything. Having been lucky enough to sample this hamper, I can honestly say if you want to bring the true taste of Italy to your home, Fattoria La Vialla does just that. Buon appetito!
Made for the most discerning cheese lover, Tracklements have collated this gift pack to go with artisan cheeses. Afterall, the best cheeses deserve the best condiments.
Fun Fact: all Bramley apples originate from the same mother tree which still exists today in a garden in Nottinghamshire? So fear not, the taste and deliciousness of this chutney is unaltered.
This year, Costa Coffee is decking the halls with a brand-new Christmas merchandise collection. Sip in style with two new reusable 16oz cups; a stainless-steel reusable cup which features a gorgeous burgundy leaf design, or a plastic reusable cup with a gold to burgundy ombre leaf design and finished with a ribbed sleeve. And why not bring a little magic home with the new Santa-themed ceramic mug, complete with a lid and a spoon for that extra sprinkle of holiday fun.
For those looking to spread the Costa Coffee cheer, add a charm to your tree with the adorable new Costa Coffee tree decorations, available in two designs – the classic Gingerbread man who is wearing their very own Costa Coffee apron, and a Costa Coffee cup full of presents. What’s more, add festive cheer wherever you go with Costa Coffee’s new Christmas keyrings, featuring three designs, from a Costa Coffee cup with a Christmas tree, and one with the adorable Gingerbread Man, as well as an enticing Gingerbread House. These make the perfect stocking fillers for the Costa Coffee lover in your life.
John Lewis Double-Barrelled Craft Beer Tasting Pack £20.00
Craft Beer Tasting Box from Double-Barrelled Brewery. A carefully curated range of four craft beers brewed by Double-Barrelled Brewery in small batches at their brewery in Reading. The perfect gift for the discerning Craft Beer lover or those exploring the breadth of beer, the gift box includes the following selection of Double-Barrelled’s best-selling beers.
VonHaus Popcorn Maker £18.99
Popcorn is a fun snack to make with the kids – but it’s surprisingly healthy, too. This super kitchen gadget uses no additional oil producing virtually fat-free popcorn which is an excellent source of fibre. The secret is in the hot-air circulation system which eliminates the need to use butter, drastically reducing the calorie content.
It’s quick and simple to get started. Place a single scoop of kernels in the machine using the measuring cup supplied. Then listen for the first kernels to start popping! You can add flavour during cooking, if you wish, by drizzling salt, sugar or melted butter through the top. Whatever flavourings you choose, you’ll be able to create lots of popcorn from just a handful of kernels, making this a fun and affordable way to create a party treat. What about scheduling a cinema night, renting a film or two and making enough popcorn for everyone to have a box full of their favourite flavour?
CamelBak Thrive Mugs – from £35
CamelBak‘s new Thrive Mugs make an excellent Christmas gift for outdoor enthusiasts. Available in 1L (£40) and 0.5L (£35) sizes, these mugs are crafted from vacuum-insulated 18/8 steel, keeping drinks cold for up to 21 hours or hot for up to 10 hours.
They feature soft, comfortable handles and dual-thread construction for right or left-handed use. The non-slip silicone base prevents dents and ensures stability on any surface. BPA, BPS and BPF-free, the mugs are durable, dishwasher safe, and come with CamelBak’s Got Your Bak™ Lifetime Guarantee.
Haymans Sloe Gin £3.00 – £29.00
Voted the World’s Best English Sloe Gin, this gin contains wonderful fruity notes from the wild-foraged berries combined with award-winning London Dry Gin. Plus you can choose a hand giftwrapped Sloe Gin for the perfect gift.
PlayInChoc 12 Day Advent Calendar
Countdown to Christmas with this famous, eco-friendly 12-day advent calendar. Behind each of the dozen windows you’ll find a super-cute festive toy plus a dreamy, creamy chocolates and fun facts card. That’s three treats every time! Each planet-friendly collectable doubles up as a super-cute decoration. Not-so-secret news; adults love these ethical yuletide calendars as much as children. The outer sleeve of the advent can also be opened up into a landscape to play with all 12 toys.
KinKind PAMPER me Hair and Skincare Gift Set – £23.85 www.kinkind.co.uk
For those who are more concerned about ingredients, KinKind’ products are vegan friendly and paraben free. The PAMPER me set includes a rich and foaming shampoo bar, conditioner bar enriched with Cocoa Seed Butter and Coconut oil, Hand & BodyWash bar full of moisturising coconut oil and BUTTER me up! Moisturiser bar, with nourishing Cocoa Seed Butter, Shea Butter & coconut oil. A great beauty routine that makes a difference to not only your hair and skin, but also the planet.
REN Clean Skincare – Evercalm Cleanse and Nourish Duo £25.00 www.renskincare.co.uk
Unwrap calm and nourished skin with these bestsellers from REN. The Evercalm Cleanse and Nourish Duo includes Cleansing Gel which removes daily dirt, excess oil and impurities leaving your skin feeling fresh and Overnight Recovery Balm containing Olive, Almond, Linseed & Jojoba to intensively nourish skin. Included is a free gift of cleansing wristbands! A great gift for friends or family who care about their skincare routine.
We can also recommend the gift of digital gift cards and credit with these excellent companies, both of which allow you to choose from thousands of items:
Prezzee Smart eGift CardThe Prezzee Smart eGift Card is the ultimate swap card that turns into hundreds of brands like Uber, Airbnb, Netflix, Deliveroo, Marks & Spencer, Asda, John Lewis, Primark, and lets your recipient choose what they want.
Vistaprint offer credit for their entire range of print services, so if you can’t decide what to get your loved ones from this amazing ran ge, why not give them the gift of choosing their own frames and photo products.
If you want even more choice of gifts, try the Marks & Spencer and Prettygreen gift cards.
The Flora Lab Double-Wicked Christmas Candle
The ultimate scent of Christmas. Christmas Double Wicked Candle, £36. Hand-poured with a coconut & rapeseed wax. With an enveloping fragrance of spcy cinammon, rich warming clove and fresh zesty organe, this scent personifies the winter celebrations
Grill delicious deep-filled snacks for the whole family to enjoy using this 4 Slice Deep Fill Sandwich Maker from Tower.
With 8 pocket moulds it provides enough space to serve up to 4 toasties packed full of your favourite ingredients, with a powerful 1600W output for ultra-fast heat-up and crispy golden brown results, ideal for a speedy family lunch or afternoon snack.
The multi-layer Cerastone coating holds superior non-stick qualities, so you can enjoy healthier meals using little or no oil. The automatic temperature control allows you to pop your sandwich onto the plates and let the grill cook your food to perfect consistency and flavour. Its cool touch housing provides safe and comfortable handling when serving your golden brown toasties to avoid nasty burns. And, the non-slip feet keep your deep fill sandwich maker stable on your kitchen countertop for safe cooking when in use.
Strawberry Stripes Table Runner – from £26.00 (available in two sizes) www.terrysfabrics.co.uk
Terrys have been selling fabrics and home furnishings for over 50 years and have a great Christmas range to choose from. For a modern take on your dining space, this fun strawberry candy-striped runner will definitely bring festive cheer to the table.
Tower Handheld Steam Cleaner £29.99 www.towerhousewares.co.uk
Clothes Doctor Scented Drawer Liners £12.00
These beautifully scented drawer liners are thoughtfully crafted to keep your clothes fresh and protected.
Infused with real essential oils, these liners feature four signature scents, that we love but moths hate! Simply line your drawers to enjoy the benefits of a natural moth repellent while adding a long-lasting, pleasant aroma to your wardrobe. It’s our prescription for a little dose of luxury!
Arighi Bianchi Beetle Wall Mirror £44.10
An eclectic sculptural wall mirror that will be sure to add a touch of playful style to your home. The wall hanging comes in the shape of a beetle in a gold coloured purposefully aged metal finish. The surfaces of the beetle are made from reflective mirrored pieces which will reflect light back into your room. Designed to make an impact, this ornamental work of art is both practical and opulent. The wall mirror is perfect as a statement piece on any wall and will look equally wonderful displayed alongside other mirrors and works of art to create a home gallery.
This Gardening Tool Holster from Genus £49.99
Endorsed by the Royal Horticultural Society, the Gardening Tool Holster is one of the Genus Carry-On Collection which also includes the Gardening Caddy Bag, Gardening Kneeler, Twine Pouch, and a Gardening Apron. Designed for hands-free work around the garden, this holster can be slung around the hips or over the shoulder, or you can slot it on to your own belt.
Canyon Bluetooth Speaker £19.99 www.game.co.uk
Thinking of what to buy for a teenager? This stylish Canyon wireless speaker is compact, lightweight and packs a powerful sound. Compatible with Windows, iOS and Android, the wireless communication uses Bluetooth 5.0 technology and has a range of up to 10 meters. A great solution for music lovers to enjoy inside or out throughout the year.
Canal Toys Photo Creator Instant Pocket Printer £34.99 www.argos.co.uk
For children who love being creative, this instant pocket printer allows them to turn their photos into mini works of art and customise their prints with markers and stickers, making each one truly unique. The printer com with 1 sticky roll, 3 paper rolls, USB charger cable, stickers and 3 pens so there’s plenty to let their imaginations run wild.
Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel Board Game £27.99 at Amazon
A lot of fun for all the family and a great way to entertain kids in that weird time between Christmas and New Year, this board game follows the format of the popular quiz show The Wheel, presented by Michael McIntyre. With 540 questions, you’re bound to get hours of fun out of this game with children aged 10 years and up. Until 2nd December, it is on offer for £20, with an RRP of £27.99.