Housewarming gifts under A$50 that get used

You do not need to spend a lot to give a housewarming gift people love. The key is to choose something useful, pretty and easy to wrap. Here are the options we make that sit under A$50.

Why small gifts work

Moving house is expensive. Many guests bring wine or flowers, which is lovely but short-lived. A mug or a tote lasts for years and lives in the home long after the party. See all of our gifts under A$50 for the full set.

Option 1: a mug

A glossy 11oz ceramic mug is the simplest present. The Tea Time mug has a botanical wreath of banksia and eucalyptus around the words Tea Time. The Gum Blossom mug has a single sprig of gum blossom and eucalyptus in dusty sage and coral pink. Pick from white, blush pink, sage green, powder blue or butter yellow.

Choose a colour that matches what you know of their taste, or buy two in different colours.

Option 2: a tote

A cotton tote is useful on the day of the move and long after. The Wildflower Meadow tote is a loose meadow of poppies, daisies and lavender, and the Steep Slowly tote has a hand-lettered teacup. They come in natural, black or white.

Option 3: the mug and tote bundle

Tuck a mug inside a tote and tie the handles with string. Add a small pot of tea or a packet of biscuits from a local shop. The bundle is more than the sum of its parts, and the tote becomes the wrapping.

Keep in mind that shipping is a flat A$12.95 per order, and free over A$150. If you are ordering for a group, put everything in one order.

A note on prints

A framed print is lovely but starts from A$69 for A4, so it is above this budget. If you want a print, see the main housewarming gift ideas guide. Friends can also pool together for one, as suggested in first home gift ideas.

How to personalise on a budget

• Write a handwritten card with a short memory or a wish.
• Choose the mug colour to suit their kitchen.
• Add a sprig of rosemary or eucalyptus from your garden to the string.

We do not offer printed cards yet, so a handwritten one is best. For the tea side of things, read our gifts for tea lovers guide.

Care tips to pass on

Mugs are dishwasher and microwave safe, and totes wash cold and inside out. You can share the link to our care guide with the gift.

When to order

Everything is printed to order in Australia. Production takes 3 to 7 business days and delivery 2 to 5 business days. Allow about two weeks before the housewarming. Browse the mugs and totes to get started.

Gift ideas to pair with a mug or tote

Keep the extras small and consumable, so the gift does not add clutter:

• A small pot of loose leaf tea or a packet of biscuits.
• A pot plant or a cutting from your garden.
• A box of matches and a candle if you know they enjoy them.

Giving as a group

If several friends want to give something, buy a few mugs in different colours and add a handwritten card signed by everyone. The group still stays under a modest budget per person, and the new owners receive a matching set for visitors.

Choosing colours

If you have not seen the new kitchen, white and sage green mugs fit almost anywhere. If you know the owners love colour, try blush pink or butter yellow. For totes, natural is the most versatile, black hides marks and white is the freshest.