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10 Secret Santa gifts under $30 that won't get thrown away

Is your Secret Santa situation seriously stumping you this year? Let us help.

Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar / Amazon

Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission.

So you decided to participate in Secret Santa this year, but now time's running out and the only ideas you've got are a six pack of beer and a Chipotle gift card. Woof.

I mean, sure, most of us would be happy with free beer, but it would be in the spirit of the season to make it a little more personal—even if you don't quite know the person to which you've been assigned.

Fear not: We spend all year testing products and separating the good stuff from the bad. Let us help you make this the best Secret Santa to date. (Or, at the very least, let's make it slightly less awkward.)

1. For the person who loves cute stuff: Manatea silicone tea infuser

Best Secret Santa Gifts Under $30 of 2019: Manatea Tea Infuser
Credit: Fred & Friends

Don't let its adorable looks fool you: The Manatea tea infuser from Fred & Friends is more than just a novelty gift. When we set out to test and rank the best tea infusers on the market, the Manatea topped our list thanks to its easy-to-clean silicone body, its secure grip, and of course, its undeniable charm.

If your Secret Santa recipient is a tea-loving soul who appreciates the cuter things in life, the Manatea tea infuser is sure to please.

Get the Manatea silicone tea infuser from Amazon for $10

2. For that on-the-go someone: Zojirushi stainless steel travel mug

Best Secret Santa Gifts Under $30 of 2019: Zojirushi Travel Mug
Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar

When we tested a whole slew of travel mugs for our round-up of the best travel mugs you can buy, this little number from Zojirushi came out on top. We love its incredible heat retention, its easy-to-secure lid, and its sleek form.

Plus, there's a ton of color options at your disposal, so you can pick the one that best suits your recipient's style.

Get the Zojirushi stainless steel travel mug from Amazon for $25.49

3. For the person who enjoys the simple things: InnoGear essential oil diffuser

Best Secret Santa Gifts Under $30 of 2019: InnoGear Essential Oil Diffuser
Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar

Essential oil diffusers are an easy way to elevate the mood of any room, and our search for the best essential oil diffuser was an exhaustive one. After thorough evaluation, this 150ml diffuser from InnoGear came out on top—and quickly became a favorite among our staff and our readers.

It's got seven different LED settings, a locking lid to prevent leaks, and it couldn't be easier to use. Gift it to the friend who likes to set a mood.

Get the InnoGear essential oil diffuser from Amazon for $13.99

4. For your eco-conscious friend: Hummingbird glass straws

Best Secret Santa Gifts Under $30 of 2019: Hummingbird Glass Reusable Straws
Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar

The rise of eco-friendly plastic straw alternatives is upon us, and this year, we took it upon ourselves to figure out which is the best. When the cups were cleared, this set of four glass straws from Hummingbird wound up claiming the top spot in our final round-up of the best reusable straws.

These suckers come with a cleaning brush and their glass build makes them safe for dishwashers, too. And while they're technically not indestructible, we found them to be remarkably durable—and therefore quite portable.

Get Hummingbird glass straws (set of 4) from Amazon for $19.99

5. For the person who can't stop listening to podcasts: Anker SoundCore portable Bluetooth speaker

Best Secret Santa Gifts Under $30 of 2019: Anker SoundCore Portable Bluetooth Speaker
Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser

When it comes to testing and reviewing tech products, one of our most competitive categories is portable Bluetooth speakers. In our latest round-up of the best portable Bluetooth speakers you can buy, the ultra-affordable Anker SoundCore earned our spot for the speaker with the best value.

If your Secret Santa gift recipient loves listening to podcasts while doing dishes or freshening up in the bathroom, they'll love the SoundCore's IPX7 waterproof rating, which protects the speaker from splashes partial submersions.

Plus, we found the Anker SoundCore's audio output to be much more bass-friendly than other speakers in its price bracket.

Get the Anker SoundCore portable Bluetooth speaker from Amazon for $27.99

6. For the foul-mouthed friend: Bards Dispense Profanity card game

Best Secret Santa Gifts Under $30 of 2019: Bards Dispense Profanity
Credit: Why So Ever

Bards Dispense Profanity is exactly what you think it is: a Cards Against Humanity-style game where every card features a reference to the works of William Shakespeare. There's not much more to say about them, really, and that's fine—brevity is the soul of wit, after all.

Get the Bards Dispense Profanity card game from Amazon for $24.95

7. For the whimsical friend: Bottle stopper garden kit

Best Secret Santa Gifts Under $30 of 2019: Wine Bottle Stopper Garden Kit
Credit: Uncommon Goods

Why should the fun stop after the bottle of wine is empty?

This delightful little kit will turn your Secret Santa recipient's favorite empty wine bottle into a miniature garden. The process is as simple as drinking all of the wine (duh), then adding a soil capsule and some seeds. In a matter of weeks, there'll be a new plant friend jutting triumphantly out of a wine bottle. Cute!

Get this bottle stopper garden kit from Uncommon Goods for $22

8. For the person who deserves a good night's sleep: Nidra Deep Rest eye mask

Best Secret Santa Gifts Under $30 of 2019: Nidra Deep Rest Eye Mask
Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar

When we were getting to the bottom of the best sleep masks you can buy, our editor described the Nidra Deep Rest eye mask as "like having personal blackout curtains for your eyes." Yes, please!

If your Secret Santa recipient is in perpetual need of some rest after a long day's work, treat them to the best eye mask we've ever laid eyes on.

Get the Nidra Deep Rest eye mask from Amazon for $10.95

9. For the person with a competitive streak: Codenames

Best Secret Santa Gifts Under $30 of 2019: Codenames
Credit: Czech Games

With close to 3,000 total Amazon reviews and an average rating of 4.8 stars, Codenames is both a slam-dunk party game and a slam-dunk Secret Santa gift.

The premise is fairly simple: Two rival spymasters square off in a competition to deliver the secret codenames of 25 spies. It's sort of like the game show Password, but with more players involved. We love it, our readers love it, and you'll probably love it, too.

Get Codenames from Amazon for $14.88

10. For the person who loves spicy food: Yellowbird hot sauce combo pack

Best Secret Santa Gifts Under $30 of 2019: Yellowbird Hot Sauce Combo Pack
Credit: Yellowbird

As a lover of hot sauce, I cannot recommend this combo pack from Yellowbird enough. These tasty sauces feature a hefty dose of heat, but none of them are gnarly enough to leave you winded.

Made in Austin, Texas, Yellowbird hot sauces are vegan, gluten-free, and made with 100% natural ingredients. If your Secret Santa recipient is a hot sauce aficionado, they'll find something to appreciate with this Yellowbird combo pack that features the company's habanero, jalapeño, and serrano pepper hot sauce varietals.

Get the Yellowbird hot sauce combo pack from Amazon for $19.97

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