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Great Canadian Gift Ideas: Problem Solving Presents Under $50

Tired of giving gifts that end up collecting dust on the shelf? These thoroughly practical presents are guaranteed to please everyone on your shopping list.

Canadian Gift Guide - Wireless HeadphonesPhoto: Best Buy

Wireless headphones

Designed to hook around the ears, these sport headphones won’t fall off during intense sweat sessions. An added bonus: There’s absolutely zero chance of tangles.
JLab Go Air sport in-ear truly wireless headphones, $50, Best Buy

Canadian Gift Guide - Black And Decker DustbusterPhoto: Black + Decker

Wet/dry hand vacuum

When the canister vac is too bulky to lug out to the garage, nothing beats a Dustbuster. It’s just the thing for quick detailing of your car’s interior—even if the mats are still a little slushy.
Black + Decker Dustbuster wet/dry hand vacuum, $45, The Home Depot

Already counting down the days until Christmas? Check out the most unique advent calendars on the market this season.

Unique Gifts Canada - Proraso Beard Grooming KitPhoto: Proraso

Beard grooming set

If his new beard is more “Canada’s most wanted” than “Chris Hemsworth,” this grooming set will work wonders. The two-step taming process involves a cleansing beard shampoo, followed by a conditioning beard oil, both in soothing scents of wood and spice.
Proraso Special Beard Care Set, $26, Classic Edge

Canadian Gift Guide - Marble CoastersPhoto: Hudson's Bay

Coasters

For the host who’s still haunted by the water-marked tabletops of parties past.
Maison Concepts marble coasters, $35, Hudson’s Bay

Canadian Gift Guide - Tweezerman Manicure SetPhoto: Hudson's Bay

Manicure set

First aid for a cuticle crisis.
Tweezerman Nail Rescue Kit, $30, Hudson’s Bay

Rd Gg Tile 1000x750Photo: The Source

Luggage tracker

Help make traveling a breeze with a tile tracker! Keep track of luggage and other valuables by syncing your tracker to your phone. Monitor location as you travel and be alerted when your belongings are out of reach.

Tile slim tracker, $49.99, The Source

Unique Gifts Canada - Yogasleep White Noise MachinePhoto: Hudson's Bay

White noise machine

This dreamy sleeping aid will drown out the distractions of noisy neighbours and traffic.

Yogasleep sound machine and night light, $50, Hudson’s Bay

Canadian Gift Guide - Wool Dryer BallsPhoto: Envello

Dryer balls

Strike dryer sheets off their shopping list for good—these eco-friendly alternatives reduce both static electricity *and* drying time.
Wool dryer balls, $17, Envello

Check out more tips to slash your hydro bill this season.

Rd Gg Napa V2Photo: NAPA

Gift card

A NAPA gift card is this season’s best gift for a DIYer, giving them the opportunity to choose among 500,000 parts and tools. Available in participating stores.

Gift card, minimum $25, maximum $250, NAPA

Canadian Gift Guide - Rosen's Cinnamon Bun SpreadPhoto: Rosen's

Cinnamon spread

Baking fresh cinnamon buns takes time. Cut to the main event with Rosen’s cinnamon bun spread, from Canadian writer and cookbook author Amy Rosen. It elevates everything from toast and pancakes to oatmeal and ice cream.
Cinnamon bun spread, $10, Rosen’s

Canadian Gift Guide - Compression SocksPhoto: Masdel Inc.

Compression socks

Ideal for athletes and gym buffs who deal with sore muscles on the regular, these compression socks help improve circulation, reduce muscle pain and speed up recovery.
Supporo unisex compression socks, $30, Masdel Inc.

Canadian Gift Guide - Conair Makeup MirrorPhoto: Conair

Makeup mirror

Your budding beauty influencer will know how to make the most of this tilting trifold mirror. The 3x magnification is perfect for drawing a flawless cat eye or tracing a defined red lip, while the LED lights will help with proper blending.
Conair True Glow trifold LED lighted makeup mirror, $42, Walmart

Canadian Gift Guide - Weleda Skin Food Hand MaskPhoto: Weleda

Hand mask

Ragged cuticles and rough knuckles go hand in hand (pun intended) with Canadian winters. But there’s a fix: cult favourite Weleda Skin Food hand cream, the ultimate moisturizer for dry skin. The cotton gloves included with the kit are designed to enhance absorption for smooth, soft hands—even in January.
Weleda Skin Food hand mask experience, $23, Well.ca 

Find out the best ways to avoid dry skin in winter.

Unique Gifts Canada - Medicines To Help Us bookPhoto: Province Apothecary

Natural remedies book

Foster a budding interest in natural medicine with this fascinating introduction to Metis healing traditions. All profits from the sale of this book are being donated to The Native Women’s Resource Centre of Toronto.
Medicines to Help Us: Traditional Metis Plant Use, $25, Province Apothecary

Unique Gifts Canada - Personal Safety AlarmPhoto: Nordstrom

Personal safety alarm

Designed for women, by women, this personal safety device emits a piercing alarm and flashing strobe when activated.
She’s Birdie personal safety alarm, $36, Nordstrom

Canadian Gift Guide - Saje Tree Scents Essential OilsPhoto: Saje

Evergreen essential oils

Even if your condo-dwelling friends are stuck with an artificial tree, they can at least enjoy the scent of the real deal courtesy of this essential oil set. Once they pop the flaming yule log on the flatscreen TV, their urban winter wonderland will be complete!
Tree Scents Trio Essential Oil Collection, $36, Saje Natural Wellness

Unique Gifts Canada - Ticket To Ride San FranciscoPhoto: Asmodee

Board game

If you’ve ever had a Game Night derailed by complicated rules, Ticket to Ride is just the, er… Ticket. The refreshingly simple game-play takes only three minutes to master and turns into hours of fun as players race to visit San Francisco landmarks and collect the most souvenirs.
Ticket to Ride Express San Francisco, $35, Asmodee

Check out the best two-player board games to add to your Game Night rotation.

Unique Gifts Canada - Extended Usb Charging CordPhoto: The Source

Extended USB charge cord

The person whose iPhone is always running on fumes will wonder how they got by before this super-long charging cord. Extending a full 10-feet, they’ll finally be free to wander all around the room while juicing up their phone battery.
Vital 3-metre Lightning-to-USB Type-C PVC Charge & Sync cable (compatible with Apple), $30, The Source

Canadian Gift Guide Eco Mess Kit

Easy-pack dinnerware

Lightweight, compact gear is essential for camping—not to mention packed lunches at the office. Including a bowl, lid-turned-plate and spork (that also acts as a knife), this kit fits everything you could possibly need to eat a meal in one small, leakproof container.
UCO eco mess kit, $40, MEC

Unique Gifts Canada Online Workout ClassesPhoto: Movement by NM 

Online fitness classes

Getting to the gym or yoga can be a struggle for anyone with a busy schedule. These online classes can help. Created by a Canadian mother-daughter duo, the monthly subscriptions give access to instruction in combat, dance, yoga and more. Have only 10 minutes to spare? Select a class by duration.
Online fitness memberships, $15/month, Movement by NM 

Canadian Gift Guide - Make Every Dish DeliciousPhoto: Simon & Schuster

Beginner’s cookbook

A gift for the hesitant chef, this Canadian cookbook teaches the fundamentals of meal prep—from making an omelet to seasoning with salt. It’s filled with easy, flavourful essentials to build your loved one’s confidence in the kitchen.
Make Every Dish Delicious, $40, Simon & Schuster

Unique Gifts Canada - Ski Wax KitPhoto: Swix

Ski wax kit

Whether they’re an avid cross-country skier or looking to take up the sport, this wax kit makes a fantastic gift. The three different waxes are suited for various temperature ranges to ensure smooth skiing well into shoulder season.
Swix tour pack wax kit, $47, MEC

Unique Gifts Canada - Cuisipro RackPhoto: Cuisipro

Silicone rack

Give their New Year’s resolution to eat healthier a little lift. This non-stick silicone rack allows grease to drain away from food in a slow cooker, pressure cooker or oven, and converts from circular to rectangular with a flick of the wrist. If that wasn’t nifty enough, it even doubles as a trivet to protect tabletops from heat damage.
Cuisipro Dual Rack, $15, Cuisipro  

Check out our all-time best slow cooker recipes.

Canadian Gift Guide - Lip Sleeping Mask SetPhoto: Laneige

Lip therapy

Laneige’s lip sleeping masks are, hands-down, the best remedy for dry, chapped lips. This value kit with five minis (Berry, Gummy Bear, Mango, Vanilla and Mint Choco) means there’s a lip mask for the bathroom, gym bag, handbag, car and bedside table.
Laneige Midnight Minis lip sleeping mask set, $25, Sephora

Canadian Gift Guide - PC Non-Stick Donut PanPhoto: President's Choice

Donut pan

This non-stick pan adds oven-baked donuts to your favourite chef’s repertoire. It’s less fussy than frying, and slashes the fat content considerably.
Non-stick carbon steel donut pan, $14, President’s Choice

Unique Gifts Canada - Everly Waste Free Candle

Sustainable candle

Everyone loves candles, but constantly burning them down and then tossing out their containers isn’t very eco-friendly. Canadian brand Everly has a solution: Wax-and-wick kits that turn any old jar into a refillable candle. (Here’s how it works!)
Magia grapefruit and labdanum candle refill, $35, Everly

Canadian Gift Guide - Automatic CorkscrewPhoto: Bed Bath and Beyond

Power corkscrew

Manual corkscrews can be a real pain—especially if you’re suffering from arthritis. This sleek battery-powered wine opener makes getting to the good stuff a cinch. (There’s also a foil cutter built into the base!)
Our Table auto wine opener, $30, Bed Bath and Beyond

Unique Gifts Canada - Away Luggage TagsPhoto: Away 

Luggage tags

Even if you’ve got the same black suitcase as every other flyer, these distinctive tags make it a cinch to spot your luggage on the carousel.
Luggage tag charms, $30, Away

Canadian Gift Guide - Guided JournalPhoto: Chapters Indigo

Guided journal

We all know someone who can’t seem to get a good night’s sleep. This guided journal offers a place for overactive minds to offload their worries and prioritize their to-do lists. It can also be used for analyzing dreams and brainstorming creative projects.
Intelligent Change Night Notes guided journal, $30, Chapters Indigo

Canadian Gift Guide - Seedling KitPhoto: Just Vertical

Seedling kit

The most satisfying way to fight soaring produce prices is to grow your own. With the help of this foolproof seed starting kit, a green thumb is surplus to requirements.
Seedling kit (includes basil, arugula, lettuce and kale), $40, Just Vertical 

Unique Gifts Canada - Amika Hair CarePhoto: Amika

Dry shampoo set

Dry shampoo’s oil-absorbing, volumizing abilities are a godsend for anyone who wants to extend the amount of time between washes (read: people with fine hair or colour-treated hair, plus campers and gym goers). This kit comes with two sizes: one regular and one mini.
Peace, Love, Perk Up dry shampoo set, $34, Amika

Unique Gifts Canada - Benchmark Screwdriver SetPhoto: Home Hardware

Multi-bit screwdriver

Even if they don’t need a full tool chest, it’s always handy to have a couple of screwdrivers around—and the basics are covered off in this ultra-affordable 10-in-1 kit.
Benchmark 10-in-1 multi-driver, $23, Home Hardware

Canadian Gift Guide - Cat Litter PailPhoto: LitterLocker

Litter container

Used cat litter stinks but, thanks to this sleek container, your favourite cat parent can still enjoy an odour-free home. All they need to do is scoop the used litter into the bin and close the lid. It will seal in odours and bacteria until it’s time to take out the trash.
Cat litter pail design plus, $26, LitterLocker

Canadian Gift Guide - Bluetooth SpeakerPhoto: Chapters Indigo

Wireless speaker

This pocket-sized speaker is the best friend of travellers, campers and picnickers alike. It can play music from a smartphone or tablet for up to three hours unplugged, and can be paired with another Mino S for double the sound.

Lexon Mino S Bluetooth speaker, $30, Chapters Indigo

Unique Gifts Canada - Packing CubesPhoto: Staples Canada

Packing cubes

Any seasoned traveller will tell you: Packing cubes are the secret to efficient travel. Use them to bundle individual outfits ahead of time, separate tops from bottoms, or even clean laundry from dirty—whichever system makes sense for you and your suitcase. Be sure to roll each garment before popping it in the cube: You’ll max out the available space and avoid wrinkles.

Gry Mattr packing cubes (3 pack), $30, Staples Canada

Canadian Gift Guide - Pet Puzzle FeederPhoto: Petsmart

Dog bowl

Ideal for dogs that scarf their food, are overweight or just easily bored, this rubber “puzzle feeder” bowl turns chow-time into a challenge.
Top Paw grey puzzle feeder, $13, Petsmart

Canadian Gift Guide - A Year Of Connections Letter Writing KitPhoto: Chapters Indigo

Correspondence kit

Know someone who’s feeling out of the loop since the lockdowns lifted? Help them reconnect with friends and family the old-fashioned way: hand-written letters. This charming kit includes a card to mail for each week of the year, plus a guided journal and tips on note-writing.
A Year of Connection letter kit, $39, Chapters Indigo

Canadian Gift Guide - Cuisipro Egg PoachersPhoto: Cuisipro

Egg poacher

Getting in that morning protein just got easier with this silicone egg poacher. The hands-free design onto the rim of your pan, and ensures the boiling water circulates evenly around the egg for results that are just *chef’s kiss*.
Egg poacher, $20, Cuisipro

Make sure you’re not making these mistakes with eggs.

Canadian Gift Guide - Coffee Storage CanisterPhoto: Planetary Design

Coffee container

An airtight storage container is the perfect present for the coffee connoisseur. Not only will it keep up to 2.5 pounds of their favourite beans fresh, it can also be used to store pantry essentials like flour, sugar, oats and popcorn.
Airscape Kilo, $41, Planetary Design

Supplement your gift with beans from the best coffee roasters across Canada.

Canadian Gift Guide - Hamilton Beach MixerPhoto: Hamilton Beach

Hand mixer

A compact hand mixer makes a great gift for burgeoning bakers—or anyone with limited cupboard space. This affordable option features easy-clean beaters, which make quick work of thick cake batters and sticky icings.
Hamilton Beach six-speed hand mixer, $40, Walmart

Looking for inspiration? Check out 30 delicious desserts that start with cake mix.

Canadian Gift Guide - Staples USB Charging BackpackPhoto: Staples

Backpack

Students, commuters and frequent flyers alike will appreciate this backpack’s padded straps, multiple interior pockets (including a laptop compartment) and external USB port with charging cable.
General Supply Goods & Co. daypack with USB port, $35, Staples Canada

Find out the surprising ways you’re shortening the life of your phone.

Canadian Gift Guide - Cooling Wine GlassesPhoto: Amazon

Insulated tumblers

White wine, champagne, rosé—it’s all better cold, and your giftee will never have to wait for their bottle to chill again with these stemless wine glasses that are made for stashing in the freezer.
Host Freeze cooling wine glasses (set of two), $43, Amazon

Canadian Gift Guide - Philips Battery ToothbrushPhoto: Philips

Electric toothbrush

A great addition to any traveller’s arsenal, this battery-powered electric toothbrush comes in a slim case for easy packing. It boasts micro-vibrations that gently clean the teeth and a timer that guides through two-minute brushings.
Philips One by Sonicare electric toothbrush, $35, Philips

Find out how often you should be replacing your toothbrush.

Canadian Gift Guide 2021 - Starfrit Personal BlenderPhoto: Walmart

Mini-blender

Smart-sizing shouldn’t just apply to real estate. Complete with travel cups, this mini-blender is great for whipping up single-serving smoothies to go. (Psst—it even doubles as a coffee mill!)
Starfrit electric personal blender, $40, Walmart

For a finishing touch, print off and share these healthy smoothie recipes!

Canadian Gift Guide - Marvis MouthwashPhoto: Hudson's Bay

Mouthwash

Dry-mouth sufferers will appreciate this refreshing alcohol-free rinse.
Marvis mouthwash (120 mL), $23, Hudson’s Bay

Canadian Gift Guide - Davids Tea Cold SurvivalPhoto: Shutterstock

Tea kit

These tasty tea blends are specifically designed to soothe common cold symptoms.
Cold Survival tea kit, $30, DavidsTea

Check out the health benefits of drinking tea every day.

Canadian Gift Guide - Pet CamPhoto: The Home Depot

Pet cam

Keep tabs on a furry friend with a streaming pet cam.
Wyze V3 indoor/outdoor camera, $47, The Home Depot

These YouTube cat videos are purr-fectly hilarious!

Canadian Gift Guide - Laser Level RyobiPhoto: The Home Depot

Laser level

This laser level is all they’ll need to install the gallery wall of their dreams.
Ryobi Air Grip compact laser level, $50, The Home Depot

Canadian Gift Guide - Seedlip BottlePhoto: Cocktail Emporium

An alcohol-free alternative

Elevate their mocktail game with a distilled non-alcoholic spirit.
Seedlip Garden 108, $47, Cocktail Emporium

Don’t miss this roundup of refreshing frozen drink recipes.

Canadian Gift Guide - Ancestry.ca SubscriptionPhoto: Ancestry.ca

Ancestry subscription

The historical records on Ancestry.ca could help fill the gaps in a family tree.
Ancestry.ca gift subscription, from $15/month

Find out what happened when these Canadians discovered their Ancestry DNA results!

Canadian Gift Guide - LED Dog NecklacePhoto: Amazon

Illuminated dog necklace

This LED-illuminated necklace makes nighttime walks a little safer—especially if your loved one’s pooch is prone to bolting.
Nite Ize NiteHowl LED Safety Necklace, $12, Amazon

Canadian Gift Guide - Anna Olson Baking MatPhoto: Anna Olson Kitchen

Silicone baking Mat

If they go through three rolls of parchment paper prepping for the annual cookie exchange, a silicone baking mat pays for itself.
Anna Olson Kitchen silicone baking mat, $25, Hudson’s Bay

Looking for more great Canadian gift ideas? Check out 10 Dragons’ Den products that are actually worth buying.

Canadian Gift Guide - Roku Express 4kPhoto: Roku

Streaming stick

A streaming content player makes virtually any TV Netflix-ready—in stunning 4K clarity.
Roku Express 4K, $50, Best Buy

Check out the best movies on Netflix Canada right now.