The best Christmas gifts under $50

Melb museum gem stone tote, $29.95 

You know what really rocks? Ditching the old Woolies bag and upgrading with this minerals and gems tote from the Melbourne Museum shop. Designed and printed locally, this essential carryall has a sturdy reinforced strap so you know it’ll do the job for every big market shop.  

Iconic Melbourne calendar, $30  

New year, new calendar! Celebrate Melbourne all year round with the 2027 Iconic Melbourne Calendar. Available at the Visitor Hub, Visitor Booth and Fitzroy Gardens Visitor Centre, this must-have gift features some of the city’s most beloved landmarks. Think Flinders Street Station, the city circle tram, State Library Victoria and more.  

Veggie candles, $39 

Got a friend or family member who loves to host? Let them add a little whimsy to the table and gift them these veggie candles from Incu. They come in a set of four and are shaped like celery, asparagus, garlic and cherry tomatoes. With a burn time of around 9 hours, they’ll last for many a summer soiree.  

Pastry gift box, $39

Don’t come empty handed at the Christmas get together. Head to patisserie Le Yeahllow and pick up a sweet treat to share. We’ve got our eyes on this 6-piece pastry gift box. Curate your own selection of goodies and choose a mix of teddy bear-shaped cookies and financiers. And they’re presented in a beautiful box so no need to wrap them yourself.  

Sewing repair kit, $39

Our favourite Melbourne sustainable label Kuwaii has put together the ultimate sewing kit to help with at-home repairs and to make clothes last. Inside you’ll find all the essentials for simple mending. Whether that be replacing a button, stitching a tear or adding a patch. Each kit includes fabric remnants and other bits and bobs collected from the Kuwaii studio making this a lovely waste-free gift.

Morning mist, $40

Start the day the right way with a spritz of morning mist from Essensorie. This invigorating aroma contains hints of peppermint and verbena to kick start the day. Use it in the bedroom or why not add a few pumps to the bathroom for a pre-shower, spa-like experience.

Matcha whisk, $45  

The matcha trend is here to stay in Melbourne and at-home kits are all the rage. Gift the matcha-lover in your life a premium whisk (Chasen) from the tea experts at T2. It’s made from high quality bamboo that is split up to 120 times to create a perfectly smooth and frothy drink.

Air fryer cookbook, $45

Just about every kitchen has an air fryer these days. Go beyond reheating potato gems and frozen veg and seek out inspo with this air fryer cookbook from Readings. It features a whopping 200-plus recipes – from breakfast and lunch ideas to sweet treats and snacks. Easy to follow and full of healthy options, it really is a no-brainer gift idea.