7 Best Group Gift Ideas for Super Tight Budgets

These are the best ideas for cheap group gifts!

The more the better! 🎁

It can be hard to stay on budget when buying gifts (especially for multiple people) at the same time.

Hip2Save reader, Michelle Last year, I faced this challenge:

When working within a tight budget, I like to combine small items into mini packages to increase the gift’s value while still keeping costs low. If you buy in bulk, you can take advantage quantity discounts and achieve your $1 per person target. Keep an eye out for some great once-a year deals.

You can find group gift suggestions that are easy to remember and cost less than $1 or even a couple dollars per person. The following are some examples of how to get started: Easy on the pocket!

Here are 7 budget-friendly group gift ideas –

1. It is only $0.58 for a set of notebooks and pens per person.

This unique set is great for keeping a diary, taking notes or drawing. Both notebook sets offer a wide variety of designs and colors so each recipient’s gift is unique! Write a note of encouragement on the first page to make it more personal. They will see this every time they open their journal.

2. Gift ideas for groups of hot beverages or faux Frappuccino can be enhanced with a gift certificate.

Find me someone who won’t say “OMG, how BRILLIANT!” about these chocolate-filled Starbucks cups… I’ll wait. 😉 This clever packaging is made up of clear cups, gold-foiled candy, white tissue paper and a green straw. You can either hide a surprise (like a card or gift) inside, or just give it to someone as is.

Amazon has affordable 50-packs of Starbucks clear cups, even though the price has risen. We like this idea even more since it’ll conceal whatever you decide to put in the cups making it a total surprise for your giftee!

3. Winter Survival Kit will be just what everyone didn’t know they needed.  

Cold weather means crisp, dry air—but it can leave your skin feeling dry and lips dehydrated. A pocket-sized pack of tissues, a mini hand lotion and buttery lip balm will soothe chapped lips and skin during winter.

4. At-home pedicure kit is a winter essential and we even have a “for your mistle toes” free printable. 

Give the gift of an at-home pedicure with an emery board, toe separators, and, of course, nail polish. 💅 You can even grab Lina’s FREE “For Your Mistle TOES” gift tag to complete the whole set.

5. Anyone who likes to be a little creative will love the idea of a custom ornament as a group gift. 

Make a Rae Dunn-inspired ornament with holiday buzzwords or personalize it with your recipient’s name! Lina’s DIY is easy, fun, and frugal, but if you don’t own a Cricut machine, you can purchase similar decals on Etsy! You can even print out a cute tag and leave them plain.

Make this DIY year-round by swapping out the ornaments and holiday words for a ring dish with their monogram or try fun words like “bling”, “love”, or “his” and “hers” if it’s for a couple.

6. Votive candles can help you spread joy and light during the most wonderful time of the year. 

I’ll be the first to admit that sometimes giving candles as a gift can seem a little generic, but pair them with a glass candle holder and ribbon for a dazzling gift! ✨ Go with a battery-operated tea light for a zero-mess candle and you’ve got a gift that appears much more expensive than under a dollar! You can even consider checking Facebook Marketplace for brides who are reselling “like-new” bulk tea lights from their wedding!

7. Self-care kits are a great way to relieve the holiday stress with a group gift. 

With a sheet mask and chamomile, you can help your recipient relax from the busy holiday schedule. Even go a step further with these ideas for group gifts and DIY a essential oil sprayer! This is great for spraying your pillow before you go to sleep.

How to make essential oil mister

1. Unscrew spray top from glass bottle.
2. Add 10 drops of essential oil to the bottle — I love eucalyptus around wintertime!
3. Add a few drops of vodka… strange, I know, but it helps blend the oil and makes the scent last longer!
4. Fill up the remaining space with water.
5. Screw on the spray top securely and shake gently to mix the oil.
6. Add kraft paper labels to the bottle for a more personal touch.

You can also include some ideas for how to use the product, such as an air freshener or fabric refresher. Feel free to switch up the scents with soothing lavender or invigorating peppermint. This is a creative idea for buying small gifts to give to groups.

Are you willing to spend a bit more? Here’s a bonus gift idea…

Give your team heavenly fragrances to enjoy! This group gift idea is not only practical, but it’s super easy to recreate. Buy a variety of handmade soaps and soap saver bags. Each person should receive a soap-saver with either two small soaps or a bar soap. Saavy soaps and Crate61 soaps are on sale right now! You’ll even have a few soaps left over that you can keep for yourself or add to another gift.

Shop around for lower-cost alternatives to further reduce your costs. Amazon offers a variety of affordable packs, including the Juvale Soap-Saver Bags.