My DS needs to buy a $10 Secret Santa gift for a classmate who is a smart, nice, nerdy, quirky kid who is her own person. When the gift exchange was brought up in class she said she didn’t want to do it because “last time my secret santa gave me a really lame gift.” My DS wants to give her a great gift to make up for her past Secret Santa disappointments, but he doesn’t know her that well (although he knows she’s into science, violin, and creative writing). My DS doesn’t think she’d like “girly” things like nail polish, lotions, etc. Any suggestions?
$10 is hard to find something good for…a few ideas offhand…
A couple of things tailored to her interests
–My D sometimes got people mugs with something they liked (maybe a mug with music notes or a science theme – check amazon, cafepress, zazzle)
–A scarf (maybe he can find one with music notes - check amazon)
-A journal to write in
And less personal…
–Some tea or coffee
-An inexpensive bottle of wine (depending on age)
And kudos to your son for wanting to do something nice for her.
Fuzzy socks.
$10 gift card with some candy canes.
Nerdy hs girl who likes science makes me think of steampunk. If she likes it, there are lots of jewelry and accessory options for under $10.
Journal
Colored pencils - Costco has a nice set that comes with a nice cloth pencil pouch holder
Pack of multi colored Sharpie markers
Gel pens
Magazine subscriptions are pretty cheap these days - maybe one that speaks to her love of writing or science - wrap one up with a candy cane or holiday candy and a note stating she’ll get a year’s subscription. My kids like getting mail. 
A succulent plant, cactus, or air plant in a cute pot.
Laptop stickers such as those at redbubble. My daughter likes these, and there are a lot of design choices.
Oops. Saw the price limit. Need to rethink!
My guys loved getting socks in a gift exchange. But first I’d get someone to find out what the “lame” gifts were.
scratch off lottery tickets (maybe she’ll becme a millionaire)
movie basket with candy , popcorn, a favorite video or gift card for redbox or the local dollar theater (although here it’s a $3-4 ticket)
basket of cup, hot chocolate, peppermints
ticket for something at the school - music concert, play, sports event
Ear buds for phone/iPad, Old Navy Infiniti scarf/gloves, food gifts (gift card and a small special treat to go with it…a few truffles from Sees) or go on Amazon and search 10.00 gifts for teen girls: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/search?rh=i%3Afashion-novelty&keywords=10.00+gifts+for+women&page=1&ie=UTF8&ref=is_s_ss_c_aw_cat_2_16_fashion-novelty&sprefix=10.00+&sprefix=10.00+gifts+for+&ajr=0
Or you could go to a store like dollar tree and get things for a stocking stuffer.
Just noticed your S is in HS…nix the wine suggestion.
Some ideas. Funny (creative writing; assuming she is OK with Star Wars):
http://www.modcloth.com/shop/books/william-shakespeare-s-the-empire-striketh-back
Cute (for a violin player; assuming she celebrates Christmas):
https://www.amazon.com/Miniature-Violin-Christmas-Ornament-4/dp/B0010SSU12
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005ANF6HY
https://www.amazon.com/String-Miniature-Hanging-Holiday-Ornament/dp/B004OZNHWK
Was in Costco today looking for $10 Secret Santa for HS Sr’s MUN party. (First time for everything…)
They have three packs of fuzzy socks for less than $10 and a nine pack of Toblerone bars for under $10.
An amaryllis (may be too much of a mom gift).
I like the movie pass and microwave popcorn and the dollar store (or drug store) of a stocking filled with candy, holiday pencil or pen…silly really, but could be fun.
This would be a great gift for a nice, smart, quirky, nerdy HS girl who is also a creative writer.
https://www.amazon.com/Hyperbole-Half-Unfortunate-Situations-Mechanisms/dp/1451666179/ref=pd_sim_14_4?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=Y6C8XZTPHCFP76SBPZ34
paperback is $12.43, but close enough.
Trust me - Worth. Every. Penny!
Great suggestion! My daughter – creative to the core – loves that book!
My D loves old fashioned fountain pens and her HS and young adult friends do too. They’re pretty inexpensive (a few dollars including postage) online. Maybe that and a paperback in calligraphy? My kids always want candy or cookies for gift exchanges or D likes soft scarf or sweater.
I’d try to find out what she considers “lame,” since she obviously has an opinion and if he cares it would be good to see if he can do a bit of digging.
These notecards are the funniest. I have given them often as gifts and the recipients always get a great laugh out of them. On sale at B&N for only $11.
Along the same lines, there are great books in that price range by female comedians like Mindy Kaling or Amy Poehler. My college-age Ds love them.