Gift ideas under 500 Tk budget

Although gift-giving is a nice gesture that strengthens our bonding, it can also be very difficult to come up with unique ideas every time. On top of that, the recent price hike has made it quite a sport to be able to buy gifts without costing a fortune. 

However, when it comes to gifts, it is always the thought that counts, not the price tag. Moreover, in a country like ours, there are always places where you can find cheaper but useful things for your loved ones. 

Before we dive into the gift ideas, it is also important to note that gifts can be and sometimes should be customised to the occasion and personality of the taker. From birthdays to graduations, teenagers to young professionals, whether a gift is appropriate or not becomes subjective, too. 

Plants 

You can buy indoor or outdoor plants with different benefits and in different price ranges. There are plenty of plants under Tk 500, but they might be a little on the generic side. Exotic and useful plants charge a bit higher. Some plants that are usually on the lower price side are spider plants, ball cacti, monstera swiss, aloe vera, asparagus, snake plants, and money plants. 

Dhanmondi Road 9, Eskaton Garden Rd, Curzone Hall - these are some of the known places that sell plants. Along with good old nurseries, you can also find online pages on Facebook with a variety of plants, pots, and all the essentials needed for gardening. You can find plants that suit their daily schedule or personality. For example, if the gift receiver is someone who is very busy, buying them a cactus might be a good idea. 

Subscriptions

If the person loves music, films, or even YouTube videos, subscription plans are an interesting gift. For music lovers, Spotify comes with plans from Tk 99 to Tk 319. There are also subscription cards available in the market. Bangladeshi OTT platforms like Chorki, Bongo, etc., have plans under Tk 500, too. 

You can also buy a bundle of subscriptions for them to enjoy a premium experience on different platforms at once. Buying subscription plans on media platforms for someone else lets you send them a greeting message as well. 

Customised art on goodies

A picture or a customised illustration that's meaningful to both of you on a goodie will make a heartwarming gift. You can get your picture printed on a poster or a tee shirt for under Tk 500, depending on the quality and size. Many online pages on Facebook sell customised shirts and deliver them within a couple of days as well. 

Quality might differ depending on price, but the price range starts below Tk 500. It is important to ask the page owners what quality print they make and do your research on the lastness of the print, too. 

You can also find artists with small businesses who sell their art painted on jewellery, shirts, canvas, bags, etc. But the art won't be customised if your budget is under 500, and in some cases, charges may increase too. 

Tea

You can find various flavours of tea nicely packaged for gifts. Some renowned local tea producers have gift packages with cups and greeting cards that are very budget-friendly and can be found at grocery chain shops. Other than that, you can also opt for online pages for a lower price and a customised mixture of tea flavours, from flowers to fruits. They also come with different benefits, like stress relieving, minimising cramps, improving the digestive system, etc. 

The price mainly depends on the quantity. Less quantity will charge less as well. Around 100-gram tea leaves usually cost about Tk 200, depending on the per-gram charge.

Self-care items 

With the constant stress and the hustle and bustle of life, it is important to remind people we love to take care of ourselves. Although skincare items tend to be quite expensive, there are a few things you can buy as a bundle that are on a budget. 

You can find facemasks at your local grocery chain shops for around Tk 200. There are also hair and face packs at boutique shops that will cost around Tk 150. If you still have some budget left, consider buying small scented candles as a cherry on top. 

Books and stationery

Books are never an old idea for gifts. Although hardcovers and original prints are known for being expensive, there are still some genres that you can get for under Tk 500. Bengali classics or short stories are usually relatively cheaper. English classic stories, plays, and short stories with embossed printed covers for around Tk 300-400. It's best to avoid novels if you want to stick to a budget. 

On top of that, there are unique stationary items like postcards, mini calendars, posters, notebooks, bookmarks, and stickers with vibrant pop art illustrations. Some art pages are bringing back '90s Bengali nostalgic illustrations on stationeries that can be quite sentimental gifts within a low budget.   

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