7 Popular Gifts That Are Overpriced This Holiday Season — And 7 Cheaper Alternatives
Written by
Hiba Boutary
Edited by
Zuri Anderson
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The 2024 holiday season is (almost) in full swing, and with festive cheer comes the eventual holiday worry of not knowing what to get for your loved ones.
While holiday shopping can be stressful and expensive, you don’t have to break the bank to find great deals and alternatives to popular gifts.
Here’s a list of some of this season’s most popular holiday gifts with alternatives that may just be better than the originals.
1. Stanley Cup / Owala FreeSip Water Bottle
- Stanley Cup Price: $45
- Owala FreeSip Water Bottle: $27.99 at Target
Although Stanley Cups have existed since 1913, they’ve enjoyed a relatively recent surge in popularity in 2019. Stanley Tumblers are versatile, durable, and stylish.
Still, their price may be a barrier this holiday season — especially if you’re considering multiple purchases.
The Owala FreeSip Water Bottle is an excellent alternative to the Stanley Cup Tumbler — and it’s just as gorgeous. This high-quality, color-customizable water bottle comes with triple insulation technology, is BPA and phthalate-free and insulates drinks for up to 24 hours.
2. Play-Doh Pizza Delivery Scooter / Radio Flyer Scoot, 2-Scooter
- Play-Doh Pizza Delivery Scooter: $95
- Radio Flyer Scoot 2 Scooter: $31.49 at Target
The Play-Doh Pizza Delivery Scooter is among the most in-demand children’s toys for 2024. It’s for all genders, has multiple accessories and doesn’t need batteries or charging.
At nearly $100 retail price, however, it may be a steep price for some buyers.
Enter the Radio Flyer Scoot 2-Scooter, a fantastic alternative that kids aged 1 to 4 can enjoy as they age.
The Radio Flyer Scoot comes with covered storage and two ride options. Toddlers can use it as a ride-on, which converts to a four-wheel scooter as they get older by simply flipping the deck.
3. Ninja Creami Ice Cream Maker / Cuisinart Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker
- Ninja Creami Ice Cream Maker: $200
- Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker: $69.95 on Amazon
We all scream for ice cream — but at over $200, the Ninja Creami Ice Cream Maker may not be on your sweet tooth budget for 2024.
A great alternative with a lower price point is the Cuisinart Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream and Sorbet Maker. It can make delicious frozen treats in as little as 20 minutes, won’t take up too much counter space and is super easy to clean and use.
4. Bluey 3-in-1 Transforming Plane Play Set / Yunir Airplane Toy 3-in-1 Driving Simulation Airplane
- Bluey Transforming Plane Play Set: $69.99
- Yunir Airplane Toy: $38.44 on Amazon
If you are taking care of a tiny pilot-in-the-making, the Bluey 3-in-1 transforming playset is an excellent choice for kids who love the friendly skies and want toys that reflect their passion.
A cheaper alternative is the Yunir 3-in-1 Simulation Airplane, which packs the same amount of fun for less — serving essentially the same purpose.
The Yunir Airplane toy glides and unfolds, has left and right steering and lights up when used. It also has a money bank and swipe card function so that kids can feel like they are operating their own airplane.
5. Ember Temperature Control Smart Mug / Ikago Smart Heated Coffee Mug Set
- Ember Smart Mug: $114
- Ikago Smart Mug: $59.99 on Amazon
Temperature-controlled mugs are — forgive the pun — boiling hot this season. While the Ember Temperature Control Smart Mugs make great gifts for just about any coffee or tea lover in your life, there are plenty of alternatives at half the cost.
One example is the Smart Heated Coffee Mug Warmer and Mug Set from Ikago.
The Ikago offers real-time infrared-detected temperature reports via a sleek visual display. You can adjust the heat settings to your liking, and it looks pretty awesome, making it a great conversation starter at home or in the office.
6. Béis The Cosmetics Case / Ocheal Makeup Bag
- Béis Case: $68
- Ocheal Makeup Bag: $9.99 on Amazon
Béis The Cosmetics Case is a minimalist, fuss-free cosmetics bag that comes in multiple colors, with beige being the hottest color this season.
While it is a great-looking case, you can get more bang for your buck with the Ocheal Makeup bag. The Ocheal Makeup bag comes in multiple colors and sizes, offers quality similar to the Béis and looks just as good.
It’s sure to grab attention whether it’s on your dresser or on-the-go, so you don’t have to compromise price over style for a cosmetics bag this season.
7. JP WinLook Pickleball Paddle Set with Graphite Face / MTEN Pickleball Paddle Set
- JP WinLook Paddle Set: $74.99
- MTEN Paddle Set: $29.99 on Amazon
Pickleball is all the rage nowadays, despite being officially coined as a game in the mid-1940s.
If you’re looking for pickleball paddles that are easier on your wallet, the MTEN Pickleball paddle set packs the same punch as the more expensive JP WinLook Pickleball Paddle Set with Graphite Face.
The MTEN Set is USAPA-approved, comes designed with fiberglass and polypropylene honeycomb core technology, and comes with two pickleball paddles, four pickle balls, two grip tapes, and one carry bag in the set.
Wrapping Up
While holiday shopping may not be everyone’s favorite activity, these popular gifts and their alternatives may just make the chore that much easier.
And while it is true that some of the more expensive items come with unique perks, you can always find similar items for nearly every popular gift that serve the same purpose for much less.
Editor’s note: Prices are accurate as of Oct. 23, 2024. Prices and availability may vary by location.
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