‘Tis the season to celebrate the coworkers who get you through the workday. You don’t have to spend much to share the seasonal cheer with your crew of work buddies or thank your team.
These low-cost picks will make you the best gifter in the office:
Insulated Travel Mug
Is your coworker always showing up to work with coffee or tea? Treat them to an insulated travel mug that keeps their favorite drink hot for hours. Many brands and styles are available to accommodate any gifting budget.
Desk Calendar
Old-fashioned desk calendars offer a nice break from the digital world. While planning your workdays on your phone or computer might be faster, a physical calendar can be a meaningful addition to your colleague’s workspace.
For under $30, you can find many beautiful options at stores like Anthropologie and Rifle Paper Co. Take things to the next level by designing a fully custom calendar with pictures of your coworker’s loved ones and favorite memories.
Succulent
A potted succulent is the perfect addition to your coworker’s desk setup. These low-effort plants require minimal water and usually stay pretty small. They’re a unique desk accessory and are easy to keep alive, even without a natural green thumb.
Mason Jar Cooking Mix
Mason jar cooking mixes are crowd-pleasing classics your coworker is sure to love. You can find many mason jar recipes, from soups to cookies and hot chocolate.
Fill your jar with the dried ingredients, print the cooking instructions, and decorate it with festive embellishments. A premade mix takes most of the thought and prep time out of cooking—just what you need after a long day at work.
Ergonomic Mouse Pad
An ergonomic mouse pad is a budget-friendly but thoughtful gift for a work colleague. If you work a desk job, you know clicking and scrolling on the computer for hours can lead to hand fatigue and cramping. Ergonomic mouse pads, which usually feature a wrist pad, are more comfortable and better at preventing strains and injuries than traditional flat designs.
Gourmet Coffee Syrup Sampler
Help your coffee-loving coworker elevate their beverage game with a sampler set of gourmet syrups. Coffee syrup is an excellent present for someone who considers themselves a burgeoning at-home barista. Popular brands like Torani and Monin sell mini multi-flavor samplers for under $15.
Personalized Stationery
You can never go wrong with gifting personalized stationery. A set of custom note cards is more affordable than you think—you can usually find a pack for $30 or less. Personalizing high-quality stationery with your coworker’s name or initials makes a significant impact without blowing your budget.
Mini Oil Diffuser
Consider a mini oil diffuser for the colleague who tries to make their workspace as relaxing as possible. Portable diffusers range from around $15 to $40 and come in various styles to fit any aesthetic. Gifting your coworker a mini diffuser will brighten their day and make them look forward to coming into the office.
Goofy Socks
Custom socks are a funny and wallet-friendly gift idea for coworkers. They’ll crack up when they realize the pair has a silly pattern plastered all over. Alternatively, customize the socks with their partner’s or pet’s faces for a unique personal touch.
Affirmation Cards
Everyone needs a little pick-me-up sometimes. Encourage your coworker with a pack of affirmation cards.
There are many work-appropriate options on the market, from serious to lighthearted. Your work pal will smile and think of you whenever they pull a positivity-boosting card from the deck.
Hand Lotion
Indulge your work colleague in a bit of self-care with a hand lotion gift set. If you work with your hands a lot, you know how easy it is for them to become dry and cracked.
A luxurious hand cream feels fancy but is surprisingly affordable. Burt’s Bees, L’Occitane, and similar beauty brands offer trial multi-packs, so you can gift your coworker multiple scents to try.
Stress Ball
Having something at your desk to fidget with and vent your frustration is helpful when work gets stressful. Stress balls have come a long way from the boring, cheap options you remember from childhood. Now, you can find stress balls in all shapes and sizes, helping your coworker channel their frustrations in a fun and constructive way.
Phone Stand
Work colleagues who love organizing their desk space will appreciate receiving a phone stand accessory. Depending on the style, you can expect to spend anywhere from $10 to $30 on a quality phone stand. These sleek phone holders help tidy things up and keep your coworker’s phone easily accessible as they work.
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Elise Armitage is an entrepreneur and founder of What The Fab, a travel + lifestyle blog based in California. At the beginning of 2019, Elise left her corporate job at Google to chase her dreams: being an entrepreneur and helping women find fabulous in the everyday. Since then, she’s launched her SEO course Six-Figure SEO, where she teaches bloggers how to create a passive revenue stream from their website using SEO. Featured in publications like Forbes, Elle, HerMoney, and Real Simple, Elise is a firm believer that you can be of both substance and style.