19 Gift Ideas for Secret Santa, Kris Kringle – or That Person You Just Don’t Know Very Well

The best secret santa gifts to buy in 2025

L–R: Milligram, Azteca, Mustard Made, Kit, Hagen’s, Cadeau Studios, Tax, Kinto and Virk

Not sure what to get Susan from accounting? Or that cousin-in-law you only see once a year? From a local natty vinegar to a tasty Christmas collab between Hagen’s Organics and Rhubi, consider this your list of fail-safe bets.

Words by Simone Richardson · Updated on 09 Dec 2025 · Published on 02 Dec 2025

The beauty of Secret Santa is its simplicity: one gift, one recipient. But when you’re tasked with shopping for someone you don’t know that well, the stakes can feel surprisingly high.

From swirled-motif textiles to Aussie-made pantry items, we’ve curated 19 gift ideas guaranteed to strike the right chord (minus the overthinking).

The 19 best Secret Santa gifts under $50

Any Day Now 2026 diary

$39.99

Scribbling actual words on paper – is there anything quite like it? As someone who works in digital media, I still prefer to stay organised the old-fashioned way (honestly, anything to reduce screen time). The Freestyler diary comes in a playful, punchy design with mixed layouts: daily to-do lists, evening journals, shopping lists, calendar views and more.

Buy at Milligram

Hagen’s Rhubi ham glaze

$22

Melbourne butcher Hagen’s Organics has teamed up with local aperitif maker Rhubi on a limited-edition ham glaze that delivers bright, festive flavour. With rhubarb, citrus, spice and botanicals, it brings a sweet-tart lift to your Christmas ham. A delicious pick for any food lover on your list.

Buy at Hagen’s

Tax aged rosé vinegar

$35

Made from nebbiolo in the Yarra Valley, Tax is an elevated pantry staple worth keeping on the bench. It starts out blushing pink, then ages for three years into a blonde vinegar with serious depth – ideal over grilled peaches, fresh oysters or crispy potatoes. It’s currently sold out on the brand’s site, but still available via Saloon Store.

Buy at Saloon Store

Ere Perez Carrot colour pot

$47

Blush pots are the ultimate ageless beauty buy – swipe a wash of colour over cheeks, lips or eyes for instant glow. This one’s compact enough to live in any handbag and the mirrored lid is perfect for on-the-go touch-ups. The formula gets its name from carrot pigment and is made with castor oil and cocoa butter for a naturally derived, chemical-free blend.

Buy at Ere Perez

Kit For Skinkind Rituals set

$50

Gua sha massages can help release muscle tension – and in turn add a little facial definition. This skin-loving set pairs a limited-edition gua sha with Kit’s Skinkind face oil, made from macadamia, jojoba and sea buckthorn for a hydrated and well-balanced finish.

Buy at Mecca

Papier Most Likely card game

$39.99

Card games and Christmas go hand in hand. This one features playful design and offers a family-friendly spin on the classic Who’s Most Likely To format. Ideal for non-cooks killing time before festive lunch – or for the whole table once the feast is over.

Buy at Milligram

Kinto Unitea brewer and Love Tea French Earl Grey tea

$35 - $14.95

Shopping for a tea lover? This glass mug ($35) has a built-in brewer so you can skip the teapot entirely. The durable strainer comes in five colours – the blue gets our pick. Pair it with a box of organic loose-leaf French Earl Grey ($14.95) for a thoughtful under-$50 gift.

Buy the brewer Buy the tea

Good Day People Fancy Nancy hamper

$35

Buy at Good Day People

Salt Lab Magnesium bath salts

$20

A warm bath can help to lower the body’s core temperature and trigger circadian sleep signals. Adding magnesium bath salts to your soak is also thought to aid muscle relaxation and calm the nervous system. Salt Lab’s blend also includes bentonite clay, which helps cleanse while leaving skin soft and soothed.

Buy at Salt Lab

Azeteca Classic Lime Margarita mix

$39

Pitcher-perfect Margaritas all summer long. This thirst-quenching Aussie mix blends fresh lime juice, organic agave and citrus oils – all you need to add is tequila. One bottle makes 16 cocktails and comes with a pot of citrus-spiked sea salt for rimming glasses.

Buy at Sans Drinks

Cadeau Studios hand-embroidered coasters

$9.98

Save your tabletops with a set of plush linen coasters. Each set includes four designs, all made from 100 per cent linen and finished with a swirl of burnt coral or olive green. They’re currently on sale from $24.95 – and pair beautifully with the brand’s chic glassware.

Buy at Cadeau Studios

Virk Kim wine bag

$47

What’s cuter than a woven wine bag? Melbourne label Virk, founded by two sisters, draws on their Swedish roots in minimalist design. This style comes in six colourways; if your budget stretches, the brand also offers more intricate weaves and cross-body options with metal hardware.

Buy at Virk

House of Non Mildly Wild chilli oil

$16

Spice up their life with a hit of chilli. This pepper-infused oil is made for eggs, dumplings and whatever else needs a lift. It keeps things milder than most, so tastebuds remain intact – while the blend of chilli, garlic, onion and spices delivers an all-round flavour boost fit for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Buy at House of Nom

Mustard Made alphabet magnets

$49

Remember these? The local label gives a retro spin to the nostalgic characters of yesteryear. They’re perfect for leaving messages, reminders or pinning cards to the fridge (or one of the brand’s metal lockers). Choose from four colours to match their style.

Buy at Mustard Made

Par Olive handheld whisk

$40

For matcha, collagen powders or morning vitamins, a handheld whisk is one of those things you never get around to buying – but would use every day if it lived in your kitchen. This sleek design fits neatly into the chrome-leaning interiors trending right now and packs away easily for travel.

Buy at Par Olive

Thieves Coffee flowers and Huskee cup set

$46.75

Made from repurposed coffee-husk waste, Huskee is a go-to for eco-friendly cups. This set pairs the brand’s functional mug with a bouquet of dried natural flowers that lasts up to two years. Shopping on a smaller budget? Thieves also offers a bag of this month’s feature beans for $20.

Buy at Thieves Coffee

Non 3 Toasted Cinnamon and Yuzu drink

$30

Come summer, it’s handy having a few zero-alc bottles in the fridge for park hangs. Non – a Melbourne label poured at some of Australia’s best restaurants – makes booze-free drinks with depth. This one is bright and tart, with cinnamon, yuzu and a gentle savoury edge.

Buy at Non

The Broadsheet Melbourne Cookbook: The New Classics

$55

Flicking through a cookbook is peak slow-weekend energy. And while Broadsheet’s newest release sits just over $50, the 80-plus recipes across breakfast, sandwiches, snacks, sides, mains and desserts make it hard to pass up. They can recreate favourites at home – from Napier Quarter’s focaccia to Lee Ho Fook’s lamb pancakes and Julie’s octopus ragu.

Buy at Broadsheet Shop

We hope you like the products we recommend on Broadsheet. Our editors select each one independently. Broadsheet may receive an affiliate commission when you follow some links.

About the author

Simone is Broadsheet's shopping editor.