As long as you're only going to use them to study, and not for actual flying... Have you asked around at the club? Most pilots would be happy for you to have their old charts. (In fact, I'd be happy for you to have my old CAA 1:500.000 chart but I only have the Southern England one here.) Sure, you might need to erase a few pencil marks, and ignore the creases but other than that they should be perfectly fine for studying. And are free. (Granted, that makes them a rather cheap Christmas present though.)
I agree that the quarter mils are not really useful for PPL-style cross country work. Unless you fly something very slow, or do a PPL(H), or when you do extensive aerial photography work or something like that.
Other Christmas tips:
- A decent headset (rather expensive maybe, but what's your hearing worth...?)
- Kneeboard
- Decent sunglasses
- Subscription to a flying magazine
- A monogrammed/personalized hi-viz vest or jacket
