M&S Christmas Gifts for Her: What to Buy at Every Budget

M&S is where you end up when there is one name left on the list and no ideas. That is a decent place to end up, as long as you buy with a budget in mind and stay away from anything that needs a guess at her size. So here is the shop sorted by spend. Jumpers and pyjamas have their own edit, so they are not in this one. Every price below was checked on 3 November, and prices move, so look again before you buy.

M&S stocking fillers under £10: socks

Yes, socks. A five-pack of the sparkly ones is £10, a single embellished pair is £6, and the slipper socks with grips on the soles are £8. They are cheap enough to buy for three people and I would not overthink it.

M&S gifts under £30: scarves and slippers

The printed square scarves are £15 and they are my pick of the whole M&S gift range at that price, because they look like a present from somewhere more expensive. If she is more of a wrap-up-warm person, the wool blend scarves are £25 to £26. The £26 faux fur snood is a big brown statement, so only buy it for someone who already dresses like that.

Suede moccasin slippers with a faux fur lining run from about £24 to £30. That is a good price for real suede. Slippers do need a size, so check hers first.

M&S dressing gowns: the safest gift at £25 to £50

If you buy one thing from this list, buy this. Long pile fleece gowns are £28 to £30, the wide-stripe hooded ones are £35, and pure cotton towelling is £45 to £50. The leopard print fleece at £35 is the one I would wrap, because animal print is never the wrong answer, though the grey is there for anyone who disagrees with me. A loose gown is also far more forgiving on size than anything else with a label in it.

M&S bags and jewellery for a bigger gift

A leather tote at £26 is the best price I found in the M&S bag range, and most of the everyday bags stop at £40. For party season, the satin beaded clutch is £16 and the diamanté frame clutch is £50. The jewellery mostly sits between £15 and £40. The 18k gold-plated pearl earrings at £40 are the ones that look like a proper present, and a twist necklace at £85 is the top of the range.

The M&S gift to skip: the £130 cashmere jumper

The Pure Cashmere Argyle Relaxed Jumper is £130 and it is the only pure cashmere jumper M&S has in our catalogue right now. Skip it unless you know her size and her taste in argyle. That is a lot of money to spend on two guesses, and £130 buys a gown, a scarf and the pearl earrings with change left over.