T.S. Eliot may have written, “April is the cruelest month,” but he didn’t know anyone who struggles with the winter blues. For many people, the cold, gray days can take a toll on mental well-being, which means the holiday season doesn’t always feel merry and bright. If you know someone who tends to feel down during the darker months, you also know that finding a thoughtful holiday gift to get them through the season can be tricky.
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While you want to show you care, you also don’t want to go over budget. Fortunately, there are plenty of affordable gifts that can help lift someone’s spirits without giving your wallet something to cry about. GOBankingRates found some affordable presents for under $25 — but priceless in their ability to offer comfort, warmth, and small moments of joy.
1. SUXIO Light Therapy Lamp
- Price: $16.99 on Amazon
No list of winter mood-boosting gifts would be complete without a light therapy option. This light therapy lamp from SUXIO offers a gradually increasing spectrum of light designed to mimic natural daylight, which many people use during darker months to feel more alert and focused. With three timer settings, you can determine whether you want a 30-, 60- or 90-minute session. The compact size makes it convenient for a work desk or bedside table.
2. Felicigeely Blanket Hoodie
- Price: $17.99 on Amazon
Unfortunately, you have to leave the couch sometimes — even when it’s cold and you just don’t want to. With this oversized blanket hoodie, you can sort of bring the couch — or at least your favorite blanket — along with you. This wearable blanket uses flannel and fleece double-layer fabric to keep you warm at all times, whether you’re relaxing on the couch, braving the outdoors to get the mail or take the dog out, or even rushing to the car after hitting the gym.
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3. Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times
- Price: $13.32 on Amazon
When it first came out in 2020, this New York Times bestseller by Katherine May offered readers insights into how the “winters” of life — like illness, loss or other difficulties — can become periods of reflection and renewal. Your friends and family experiencing the winter blues may find comfort in the author’s personal story and her emphasis on rest, resilience and self-compassion.
4. I Am Here Now: A Creative Mindfulness Guide and Journal
- Price: $17.71 on Bookshop
During the colder months, it’s easy to get stuck in repetitive, gloomy thoughts — even if those thoughts are simply about how dang cold it is outside. This mindfulness journal helps you get out of the gloom and live in the moment through a series of guided exercises, meditations, coloring pages and habit-breaking prompts. The book is beautifully illustrated, making it a gentle, creative escape during long winter days.
5. Stovetop Potpourri Holiday Simmer Pot Kit – Winter Wonderland
- Price: $10.99 on Etsy
Sometimes, even the simplest gesture — like filling a room with the healing, grounding scent of winter botanicals — can be truly magical. This holiday simmer pot blends dried orange and apple slices, cloves, star anise, cranberries, pine, bay leaves, nutmeg & dried juniper berries to create a cozy, grounding aroma. For only $10.99, it’s a perfect — and perfectly affordable — stocking stuffer.
6. Stained Glass Snowflake Mug
- Price: $17.24 on Etsy
One way to combat the winter blues is to embrace the beauty of the season. This sculptural stained-glass snowflake mug does just that. Durable enough to hold the tea, coffee, hot cocoa or other beverages that help get you through the season, this mug also has the elegant look of a stained-glass window. It’s such a lovely and unique piece, the recipient might use it well into the sunnier seasons.
7. CTMBotanical Muscle and Joint Gift Set
- Price: $14.44 on Etsy
For anyone whose winter blues are made worse by sore muscles or stiff joints, this gift set offers some welcome relief. It includes an arnica salve, a comfrey salve and an organic muscle rub, all made with herb-infused oils. While not a medical treatment, the set adds a small sense of luxury and comfort to cold-weather self-care routines.
Editor’s note: Pricing and availability may vary. Prices are accurate as of Dec. 16, 2025.
Need a little extra holiday magic in your budget? MoneyLion, a sister company of GOBankingRates, is giving away $2,000 a day through Jan. 24, 2026. Sign up and see if this festive windfall lands under your tree.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 7 Affordable Gifts Under $25 for People Who Get Winter Blues
