Let’s be honest, money is tight for a lot of Torontonians right now, which can make the holidays tough. Here are some great gift ideas coming in at $30 or less.
While gift-giving is only a small part of the holiday season, it can add up quickly when you have a lot of people to shop for. That’s why we put together a guide with gifts under $30 that are great for everyone, from your favourite teacher to your partner’s parents.
For the TTC rider
As Torontonians, many of us have a love-hate relationship with our local transit system. As such, there is no shortage of TTC-themed gifts at local retailers.
Spacing Store carries a cute streetcar tote bag and a unique poster featuring a map of the subway routes, parks and waterways in the city, and they’re each priced at $25.
Meanwhile, the transit commissioner itself also has a range of merchandise priced under $25. We’re talking everything from toy trains to cookie cutters and winter hats.
Read More
For the host with the most
Hosting and/or cooking is a love language for many, so why not lean into that with the gift of some Toronto-specific ingredients?
If you know someone who loves to cook, a unique spice blend, oil or vinegar from The Spice Trader or The Silk Road makes the perfect treat.
Or, a jar of kimchi, hot sauce, or local aioli from Kensington Market orSt. Lawrence Market. Toronto brands like Lost in the Sauce, Kimchi Korea House, or Smoke & Tears have great options.
For the indie media lover
Have you ever read a zine? Zines, short for magazines or fanzines, are small, often self-published works made by individuals or small groups. They’re usually focused on personal, niche, or alternative ideas, and range from digital PDFs to photocopied pamphlets, and occasionally, glossy colour-printed booklets.
They make the perfect gifts for the creatives or indie media lovers in your life, but with tons of different genres and themes, there really is a zine for everyone. Plus, they are often cheap, between $4-15, and are sometimes even free.
Several Toronto bookshops carry them, including TYPE Books, Glad Day Bookshop, Another Story Bookstore, and Art Metropole.
For the tea/coffee connoisseur
Who doesn’t love a good cup of joe? And Toronto is filled with cafes offering their own blends of beans! Some of Toronto’s most popular local cafes offer various blends to go, including Pilot, De Mello, Hale, and Sam James. P.S. They all offer bags of beans for under $30.
Meanwhile, if you’re more of a tea drinker, Genuine Tea has various tea bags and blends for under $10, while Fleur Palace is the perfect spot to grab loose-leaf and organic teas, as well as brewing accessories, with various options priced between $13-25.
For those who love a sweet treat
A sweet treat, like a box of assorted cookies or pastries, can make the perfect gift for a party host, your child’s favourite teacher, or anyone else who loves to indulge in a decadent dessert.
Luckily, Toronto has no shortage of bakeries and confectioners to choose from. That includes Craig’s Cookies, which has a half dozen of their Christmas cookies for $19/box, featuring their Truffle, Toblerone, White Christmas, Peppermint Patty, Holiday M&M and White Chocolate Ginger Cake flavours. They also offer their delicious chocolate chip cookie dough to go, for $16/bag.
Carla’s Cookie Box is another local favourite — offering both cookies and buttertarts in a selection of unique flavours, including cherry pie, Dubai chocolate, and Nutella butter tarts, and Turtle chocolate, red velvet, and Biscoff cookies.
Or Butter Baker offers a gingerbread house kit, made in-house and including the icing and candies you need to put it together and decorate! The kits are priced at $29.99.
For the Toronto lover
Some people are big fans of the city we live in, and we can’t blame them! An art print featuring local landmarks like the CN Tower or Honest Ed’s (RIP!), specific neighbourhoods, or even the city skyline is a perfect gift for anyone who loves Toronto (or needs a little apartment decor).
The Paperhood has a collection of neighbourhood-specific prints, with the 8×10 version priced at $25. The watercolour prints show off beautiful architecture and scenes from some of the most popular spots in the city, like The Beaches, Roncesvalles, or St. Lawrence Market.
Spacing Store also has some cute 6ix-centred prints, including one of the old Glad Day Bookshop storefront, Jimmy’s Coffee, and the Harbourfront for $25 each.
Society 6 carries photography prints of Toronto streets as well as some map prints, starting at $21 a piece.
For a self-care queen or king
As we wind down the year, there’s no better time to rest, relax, and practice some self-care. Why not help your loved one unwind with a bath bomb or soap set from local makers?
Soaps by Nadia has a ton of different funky shapes for their soap, including french fries, breasts, and even a computer mouse. Their bars start at $10, while they also offer liquid soaps for the same price.
Buck Naked has a selection of different soaps and other cosmetics, boasting all-natural, vegan and sustainably made soaps formulated to moisturize and cleanse all skin types. Their bars start at $12.38.Meanwhile, The Bomb Bar has tons of different bathbombs, featuring everything from cartoon characters to your favourite scents – with some priced as low as $3.95 each.
