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- Food & Drink
- Beauty and self-care
- Kitchen, office and garden
- Children and pets
- Books & Entertainment
- Accessories
You don't have to spend a lot of money on a gift for it to be thoughtful.And if you know where to look, you can find plenty of cheap options to delight every single person on your list.Shopping for someone who becomes competitive on their crossword puzzles? There is a book for them.For the friend who keeps urging you to follow him on TikTok?There is an FYP approved microphone for them.There are also more than a few hyper-specific gifts you can buy for anime-obsessed interpolation or gardening grandpa.To save you the time it takes to find something great (and affordable) for your best friend, your secret Santa, your nephew, and your brother's new dog, we've put together a list of 50 gifts for all the above recipients and everyone in between.They all cost less than $10 (though they don't look like it) and should arrive by December 25. But beware: we have updated this post for the last time, so stock, prices and delivery times are subject to change.
Below, each gift was chosen because someone from our team of experienced and fashionable experts actually tried and loved it or thinks it would be an incredible gift for someone with an incredibly specific taste.And to make things even easier, everything here is available on Amazon (with some items also available elsewhere, for those who like to shop).
Food & Drink
For the person who refuses to mix nut butter
It is such a pain to fight with a separate jar of peanut or almond butter.But this, of a brand loved by chefs, is ready to be spread and consists of only two ingredients.
For the greedy geologist
Get them this cheeky package of realistic-looking rock-shaped chocolates that are as delicious as they are fun.
For the delicious snack
Bling Empire star Christine Chiu says Pocky sticks are her favorite snack."I usually lick off all the chocolate or flavor before eating the stick," he says."This drags out the snack, so a package takes me about 30 minutes to finish."
For the tea drinker that does not contain caffeine
Nicole Dennis-Benn, author of Patsy, says this caffeine-free herbal tea is the best I've found "for long days and nights of writing."
For salt fanatics
This Maldon salt is approved by the chefs and Cameron Diaz."The flakes have a unique pyramidal shape," he says."When you break them on food, you get that little crunch of salt without overdoing it (unlike table salt)."
For the coffee drinker who overcame nervousness
When we asked Brenda Song about things she can't live without, she mentioned this matcha, which she found during the pandemic."It gives me the burst of energy I need, but I never get the crash I used to get from coffee," he says."So now I start every morning with a matcha latte mixed with hot water and some almond milk."
For the person who always hosts the movie night
Author Jenny Han says this is what you need to bring home the authentic cinematic experience.Just a teaspoon three-quarters of this flavored salt and "you'll swear you're in the movies," he says.
For the candy collector
Strategist writer Dominique Pariso and actor Debi Mazar love these retro purple candies, which according to Mazar "were popular in New York City in the '40s."Pariso recalls that "My mother always kept a pack of them in her bag" and observes that "While mints have a purpose, violets are just for pleasure."
For ketchup connoisseurs
If craving nostalgic flavors, Grub Street senior writer Chris Crowley recommends this pasta made with sun-dried tomatoes, which he said was the "No. 1 ingredient in '90s salads.
Beauty and self-care
For the person whose lips are chapped
According to Meena Harris, this lip balm simply "does the job."In addition, it is odorless and tasteless.
For the person whose skin may need some calming
New York dermatologist, Dr. Karan Lal, recommends this cleanser, our choice for the most convenient face wash for sensitive skin, because it is formulated without alcohol, fragrance, sulfates and phthalates.
For the night owl
A refreshing eye mask to relieve dry eyes, headaches and stress.
For the sister who prefers megalong eyelashes
This top-notch mascara boasts a stamp of approval from numerous makeup artists we've spoken to, plus our discerning friends at the Cut and over 160,000 five-star Amazon reviewers."It really gives you amazing length and volume," says makeup artist Anabelle LaGuardia. "Separate well; does not make lumps; I have no smears or relapses.
For the person tinkering with tinctures
They will appreciate the immunity-boosting supplement that the famous tattoo artist Doctor Woo takes almost every day.
For fans of European pharmacies
If they stock up on micellar water French, they'll love this bright pink British toothpaste that tastes like "if Fernet Branca were enriched with the mildest whisper of spearmint."Collaborator strategist Angela Serratore wrote that she had "requested (and received) a stocking full of Euthymol" for Christmas.
For the high school student who grows his hair
We have been told by teenage girls that butterfly hair clips are one of the (many) 90s accessories they would like to receive as a gift.
For the person with a superior sense of smell
Give them the incense that Piper Perabo burns when she travels to make her hotel room "homely and welcoming."
For the person who would prefer to receive a massage
It is not a jjimjilbang (Korean spa), but these exfoliating gloves are recommended by TikTokers to leave your skin "soft".
For the person with a dewy complexion
If they haven't tried it, they' ll appreciate the introduction.If they already have some, they will be happy to backup .
Gifts for kitchen, office and garden
For the cook who likes a good char
This scrubber, recommended by WNYC host John Schaefer, will help them return their trusty cast iron to its pre-burn state.
For the parent of the plant
This cute plant misterwill help keep their green babies alive.
For the gardener for all seasons
If they perfected their tomato plantations during the summer, they can now try their hand at a suitable crop indoors like arugula, which can withstand frequent pruning, according to urban agriculture professor Melissa Metrick.
For snobbish scissors
Finding a pair of extra sharp scissors that work well for sewing, cutting bangs and caring for puppies is not easy.But that's exactly what we discovered in these .
For the baker
An indispensable baking tool recommended by Dessert Person author Claire Saffitz , this sturdy offset spatula will help them improve their cake decoration.
For the baker driving a pickup truck
The pine and reindeer cookies are great, but have you ever made vintage pickup truck cookies?
For the artist in the family
A white notebook in watercolor paper for the person who spends every holiday painting by the pool.
For the family designer
Natalie Toren, stylist for magazines like Elle and Bon Appétit, replenishes her kit with travel sewing sets like this one for on-the-go repairs.
For the compulsive notator
A notebook loved by multiple Strategist staff members, in a format that you can always carry with you in your pocket.
Children and pets
For the child who helps around the house
Most likely the cutest gift you can give to a child who likes to do chores with mom and dad.These gloves will keep their hands protected from twigs or splinters making them feel like a big baby.
For the teenager who complains about long car journeys
This dice game, recommended by Strategist contributor Steven John, is featured in our guide to the best travel games approved by kids (which are also fun for adults)."It's a mix of probability, luck and the ability to read your opponents," he says."With children, it's a great learning opportunity; Without them, things heat up.
For Star Wars fans
This Baby Yoda figurine from The Mandalorian as a mini-bobblehead is the perfect addition to any middle school child's bedside table.
For the restless
In our back-to-school rundown, sixth-grade Riya told us that she keeps a "really elastic" Monkey Noodle in her backpack for days when she feels bored or nervous in class.
For the new child in the family
A plush toy in the shape of a puppy to put in the stroller.
For the new kitten in the family
Nora Wood, adoption event coordinator for Anjellicle Cats, a volunteer, nonprofit cat rescue service based in New York, tells us that this is the best catnip toy because it's the ideal shape for cats to sniff, snuggle and kick and it's better than "lots of shitty catnip out there."
For the new dog in the family
This trio of squirrels is a perfect gift for the teething puppy or dog known to chew every stuffed animal.
For the child who likes puzzles
Senior editor strategist Winnie Yang recommended this New York-themed mini-puzzle in our guide to the best socks stuffers.She and her children come back often.
[ Nota del redattore: questo articolo potrebbe non arrivare in tempo per Natale, ma pensiamo comunque che sarebbe un ottimo regalo in ritardo per gli appassionati di puzzle. ]
Books & Entertainment
For the obsessive subway
Strategist writer Lauren Ro called this classic book by David Macaulay, which illustrates the entire underground network of a fictional city, after one that would send her subway-loving child "dizzy." But according to her, it's just as fun for adults to watch as it is for children.
[Nota del redattore: questo articolo non arriverà in tempo per Natale, ma pensiamo comunque che sarebbe un ottimo regalo.]
For the repentant corner bending machine
Eilene Zimmerman, the author of Smacked: A Story of White-Collar Ambition, Addiction, and Tragedy, recommends these Post-it notes in our guide to the best gifts for writers.He says these very thin rectangular pageholders "are great for marking a particular phrase on a page."
For regular game night
If you want to impress the biggest game nerds you know, get them this German card game that strategy writer Erin Schwartz says "fits well with the skill level and competitiveness of its players."
For D&D enthusiasts
This set of multifaceted dice, necessary to play Dungeons & Dragons, has been described to us as "the most beautiful object I have ever seen in my life".
[ Nota del redattore: questo articolo non arriverà in tempo per Natale, ma pensiamo comunque che sarebbe un grande regalo in ritardo. ]
For the bartender at home
This book was recommended by experts as a guide to the "rules that every coffee lover should know" that still avoids "the hipster coffee culture of 2013 or so and earlier."
For the cookbook devotee
This convenient cookbook holder from our gift guide for writers will help free up important counter space so they can prepare their next party.(It can also be used for an iPad in a pinch.)
For the cruciverbalist
The most difficult puzzles in the world.
Personal accessories
For the disorganized dad
Help him keep his barn keys separate from those of the boat with this set of four beautiful leather key rings.
For the dad who still can't find the keys
This protective holder for AirTag can also act as a keychain, so you will never lose it again.
For the kawaii style collaborator
If you love designer jewelry in the shape of fruits and vegetables, these realistic strawberry earrings are a fun option.
For the person watching TV (on the phone) in bed
Doctors say wearing glasses that block blue light at night can help you sleep better after staring at a screen all day, and this pair is a solid choice with more than 1,000 five-star reviews.
For the person with a mile-long podcast queue
If they're like most college-age people we've talked to, they already own a pair of AirPods, and this cute Vaseline-shaped case doubles as a keychain to keep track of them.
[ Nota del redattore: questo oggetto non arriverà in tempo per Natale, ma pensiamo comunque che sarebbe un ottimo regalo in ritardo. ]
For the gym mouse
Whether it's a gift for an adult or a middle school, a six-pack of comfortable sports socks is always super helpful.
For the person who hates schlepping a bag
This convenient wallet with adhesive back helps to simplify daily carrying.