The only time a holiday gift has to be expensive is when you’re trying really hard to impress the new boss. For everyone else, all you need is something thoughtful, and who cares what it costs? Getting the best stuff and the best prices is easy as long as you know where to look. Use this guide to fill the family’s stockings, or just crush it at the office white elephant exchange, all for less than a quarter-Benjamin.
You’ve heard that old saying about photos, right? That they don’t really exist unless you’re in them too? Pretty sure that was Ansel Adams, or someone. Use this handheld shooter ($18) to get your arm out of the shot, gives everyone the proper number of chins, and gives you room for the whole gang in the same shot.
Credit: Amazon
You’ve heard that old saying about photos, right? That they don’t really exist unless you’re in them too? Pretty sure that was Ansel Adams, or someone. Use this handheld shooter ($18) to get your arm out of the shot, gives everyone the proper number of chins, and gives you room for the whole gang in the same shot.
So you were too late getting on the NES Classic bandwagon. No problem: this $17 pebble of a controller pairs with your iPhone to give you access to all your favorite mobile games, new and old alike. You can even map the controller’s buttons to spots on your phone’s screen, making any game or app controller-friendly.
Credit: Amazon
So you were too late getting on the NES Classic bandwagon. No problem: this $17 pebble of a controller pairs with your iPhone to give you access to all your favorite mobile games, new and old alike. You can even map the controller’s buttons to spots on your phone’s screen, making any game or app controller-friendly.
These $20 stocking-stuffer earbuds sound so good you can definitely lie about how much they cost. Mrice has developed a sort of cult following among audiophiles, and has a history of making headphones whose abilities way outperforms the price. The only bad thing? They’re tough to find. Maybe buy a few pairs, and save ’em for other holidays too.
Credit: Best Buy
These $20 stocking-stuffer earbuds sound so good you can definitely lie about how much they cost. Mrice has developed a sort of cult following among audiophiles, and has a history of making headphones whose abilities way outperforms the price. The only bad thing? They’re tough to find. Maybe buy a few pairs, and save ’em for other holidays too.
Fitness trackers are a tough gift, like giving your loved ones deodorant or offering them a breath mint. So here’s what you do with the Flash: Tell them it’s a smart button, a way to control anything just by clicking the disc on their wrist or in their bag. Oh yeah, and it tracks your steps and sleep too. All for $15.
Credit: Misfit
Fitness trackers are a tough gift, like giving your loved ones deodorant or offering them a breath mint. So here’s what you do with the Flash: Tell them it’s a smart button, a way to control anything just by clicking the disc on their wrist or in their bag. Oh yeah, and it tracks your steps and sleep too. All for $15.
Hot or cold, tea or coffee or something slightly boozier, you can’t beat this insulated travel mug. It’s light and sturdy, and has a clever locking mechanism that won’t spill a drop or require a master’s degree to open. Mostly it does the only thing it needs to: keep hot drinks hot, and cold drinks cold, all day long. $25.
Credit: Amazon
Hot or cold, tea or coffee or something slightly boozier, you can’t beat this insulated travel mug. It’s light and sturdy, and has a clever locking mechanism that won’t spill a drop or require a master’s degree to open. Mostly it does the only thing it needs to: keep hot drinks hot, and cold drinks cold, all day long. $25.
You can up your tea-making game without knowing what Yixing pots are, or learning how to pronounce Pu-er. Just buy some loose-leaf tea, drop some into this $10 basket, basket into mug, water over basket. Easy like a tea bag, delicious like the better stuff. Fancy like you’ve always wanted to be.
Credit: Finium
You can up your tea-making game without knowing what Yixing pots are, or learning how to pronounce Pu-er. Just buy some loose-leaf tea, drop some into this $10 basket, basket into mug, water over basket. Easy like a tea bag, delicious like the better stuff. Fancy like you’ve always wanted to be.
Your smartphone camera is probably awesome. Your caffeine-shakes hands? Less awesome. This tiny $10 tripod folds up small enough to go in your back pocket, and its flexible legs can navigate most surfaces. You’ll want this on hand next time you’re doing long-exposure night photos, and definitely during your next Facebook Live-athon.
Credit: Square Jellyfish
Your smartphone camera is probably awesome. Your caffeine-shakes hands? Less awesome. This tiny $10 tripod folds up small enough to go in your back pocket, and its flexible legs can navigate most surfaces. You’ll want this on hand next time you’re doing long-exposure night photos, and definitely during your next Facebook Live-athon.
AUX cables are so 2014. But your car doesn’t have Bluetooth. Or it does, but only in that impossible interface you’ll never figure out. This $22 dongle converts your whole setup to a simple wireless one. It works for calls, music, and more, and even puts some simple playback controls right at eye level. It’s not pretty, but it makes a long commute a lot better.
Credit: Anker
AUX cables are so 2014. But your car doesn’t have Bluetooth. Or it does, but only in that impossible interface you’ll never figure out. This $22 dongle converts your whole setup to a simple wireless one. It works for calls, music, and more, and even puts some simple playback controls right at eye level. It’s not pretty, but it makes a long commute a lot better.
The little ones love their Dora and Diego. But you sure don’t. Give them some privacy with the these kid-friendly cans from Sony. Sized to fit their tiny noggins, they’re also light, cheap ($17), and will stand up to nacho cheese abuse. Choose between rad black or princess pink.
Credit: Amazon
The little ones love their Dora and Diego. But you sure don’t. Give them some privacy with the these kid-friendly cans from Sony. Sized to fit their tiny noggins, they’re also light, cheap ($17), and will stand up to nacho cheese abuse. Choose between rad black or princess pink.
Wine rule number 41,713: Tannins need to breathe. But that means waiting for a while between opening wine and drinking it, which is a non-starter. So just pop this $10 spout where the cork used to be, and it lets air in as wine comes out. Your Two Buck Chuck never tasted so delicious. Mmmm, tannins.
Credit: OXO
Wine rule number 41,713: Tannins need to breathe. But that means waiting for a while between opening wine and drinking it, which is a non-starter. So just pop this $10 spout where the cork used to be, and it lets air in as wine comes out. Your Two Buck Chuck never tasted so delicious. Mmmm, tannins.
If you had a nickel for every time you’ve lost your keys, you’d have at least the $25 you’d need to buy the Tile Mate and make sure that never happens again. This little plastic square attaches to, well, anything, and pairs to an app that will help you keep tabs. And if you do lose it? Ping it, and you’ll hear the horrible sound it makes from across the county.
Credit: Tile
If you had a nickel for every time you’ve lost your keys, you’d have at least the $25 you’d need to buy the Tile Mate and make sure that never happens again. This little plastic square attaches to, well, anything, and pairs to an app that will help you keep tabs. And if you do lose it? Ping it, and you’ll hear the horrible sound it makes from across the county.
Yeah, we know, your travel guide is Google Maps and Yelp. But that’s the boring way to travel. This is the fun way, a deep dive (sometimes literally) into places you’d never find otherwise, the weird and wild wonders of the world. Most of it’s not on a map, and some of these places you won’t even want to visit—but you’ll be glad someone else did. $21.
Credit: Atlas Obscura
Yeah, we know, your travel guide is Google Maps and Yelp. But that’s the boring way to travel. This is the fun way, a deep dive (sometimes literally) into places you’d never find otherwise, the weird and wild wonders of the world. Most of it’s not on a map, and some of these places you won’t even want to visit—but you’ll be glad someone else did. $21.
The mid-day cup of coffee is one of life’s most important rituals, a pick-me-up to stave off the afternoon crash. For when there’s not a good cuppa nearby, keep a pack of chewable coffee ($13.50 for six packs of four cubes) handy. Its makers even tweaked the caffeine levels to make your perk a little more even and a little longer-lasting. It’s not food, it’s fuel.
Credit: Nootrobox
The mid-day cup of coffee is one of life’s most important rituals, a pick-me-up to stave off the afternoon crash. For when there’s not a good cuppa nearby, keep a pack of chewable coffee ($13.50 for six packs of four cubes) handy. Its makers even tweaked the caffeine levels to make your perk a little more even and a little longer-lasting. It’s not food, it’s fuel.
It’s almost not right to call Anthony Bourdain’s latest a “cookbook.” Sure, it has recipes, if you count “put in oven” as a step in a recipe. Mostly it’s a summary of what Bourdain has learned from years of eating: about how to cook, how to take care of the people at your table, and how to make meals feel as awesome in your home as they must in his. $22.
Credit: Harper Collins
It’s almost not right to call Anthony Bourdain’s latest a “cookbook.” Sure, it has recipes, if you count “put in oven” as a step in a recipe. Mostly it’s a summary of what Bourdain has learned from years of eating: about how to cook, how to take care of the people at your table, and how to make meals feel as awesome in your home as they must in his. $22.
This is the sort of gift you give, then sit back and watch as the recipient wanders around the house for hours looking for stuff to fix. It’s not glue; it’s a liquid plastic welder, whatever that means. It’s a $20 tool for filling holes, reconnecting pieces, and sealing what has come undone. Think of it as a Tide To Go pen, but for everything.
Credit: Bondic
This is the sort of gift you give, then sit back and watch as the recipient wanders around the house for hours looking for stuff to fix. It’s not glue; it’s a liquid plastic welder, whatever that means. It’s a $20 tool for filling holes, reconnecting pieces, and sealing what has come undone. Think of it as a Tide To Go pen, but for everything.
The space pen is a classic for a reason. It feels good, it writes well, and it looks like something every Fancy Businessperson needs to have prominently displayed on their desk. Fisher’s $25 model is so good it’s also for sale at the New York Museum of Modern Art. That means you’re writing your cable bill check with a work of art. Don’t you forget it.
Credit: Fisher Space Pen
The space pen is a classic for a reason. It feels good, it writes well, and it looks like something every Fancy Businessperson needs to have prominently displayed on their desk. Fisher’s $25 model is so good it’s also for sale at the New York Museum of Modern Art. That means you’re writing your cable bill check with a work of art. Don’t you forget it.
Your phone case should reflect your personality, your mood, even your outfit. But all those things change, like, every five minutes. So get a bunch of cases, in different colors, all for $9. Then, pick your case every day the way you pick your shoes. The whole “keeps your phone from breaking” thing is secondary, really. It’s the look that matters.
Credit: Amazon
Your phone case should reflect your personality, your mood, even your outfit. But all those things change, like, every five minutes. So get a bunch of cases, in different colors, all for $9. Then, pick your case every day the way you pick your shoes. The whole “keeps your phone from breaking” thing is secondary, really. It’s the look that matters.
You know that weird drawer in your kitchen that’s basically a rat king of tangled-up openers, screws, and clamps? Throw ’em all away, and then keep this multitool somewhere you can always find it. It can open cans, caps, lids, and tabs, with one pop. We’ll take “elegant solutions to simple problems” for $25, Alex.
Credit: Moma Store
You know that weird drawer in your kitchen that’s basically a rat king of tangled-up openers, screws, and clamps? Throw ’em all away, and then keep this multitool somewhere you can always find it. It can open cans, caps, lids, and tabs, with one pop. We’ll take “elegant solutions to simple problems” for $25, Alex.
Being a coffee snob is hard work, especially if you travel. But Blue Bottle’s latest caffeinated innovation (caffienfovation? no?) keeps your grounds fresh much longer—it’s the best thing to happen in instant coffee in a long time. Keep one in your carry-on, for the days when all you have time for is the in-suite Mr. Coffee maker. $17.50 for five servings.
Credit: Blue Bottle
Being a coffee snob is hard work, especially if you travel. But Blue Bottle’s latest caffeinated innovation (caffienfovation? no?) keeps your grounds fresh much longer—it’s the best thing to happen in instant coffee in a long time. Keep one in your carry-on, for the days when all you have time for is the in-suite Mr. Coffee maker. $17.50 for five servings.
It’s like having your own personal whiteboard. This $25 spiral-bound book has erasable pages, so you can fill its 32 pages over and over without ever running out of space. Just snap a pic, wipe it clean, and try again. Perfect for keeping all your super-classified notes a secret, or just for cutting down on your carbon consumption.
Credit: Wipebook
It’s like having your own personal whiteboard. This $25 spiral-bound book has erasable pages, so you can fill its 32 pages over and over without ever running out of space. Just snap a pic, wipe it clean, and try again. Perfect for keeping all your super-classified notes a secret, or just for cutting down on your carbon consumption.
In terms of in-home DIY projects, you can’t beat the bang for the buck you get from a new showerhead. This one’s cheap ($20), but powerful and flexible enough that everyone in the family will get the water pressure they’re looking for. There’s nothing quite so luxurious as ditching your drippy rustpile for this spraying beauty.
Credit: Amazon
In terms of in-home DIY projects, you can’t beat the bang for the buck you get from a new showerhead. This one’s cheap ($20), but powerful and flexible enough that everyone in the family will get the water pressure they’re looking for. There’s nothing quite so luxurious as ditching your drippy rustpile for this spraying beauty.
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