Fifty-Dollar Gift Ideas

100: Ultimate Budget Coffee Kit

2011-11-16T08:02:00.001-08:00

First the grinder:

Then the Maker:

Well under $50. Great for the coffee Lover!

99: Amazing $5 Low Flow Shower Head

2011-02-10T16:29:00.000-08:00

I use this. It saved $40 per month off of my gas bills.

98: Remmington Ceramic Hair Dryer - $40

2011-02-10T16:28:00.001-08:00

97: Battery Powered Sweater Shaver - $10

2011-02-10T16:27:00.000-08:00

96: Zippo Hand Warmer - $15

2011-02-10T16:26:00.001-08:00

Simply awesome.

95: Sennheiser HD238 Headphones - >$50

2011-02-10T16:25:00.001-08:00

Much better than their pricetag.

#94 - Watch Case - $49

2010-12-16T23:36:00.001-08:00

I have an eight-watch watchcase. It was very expensive. I love it.

This one is just as nice. It holds ten watches. It is not expensive.

#92 - Tommy Hilfiger Blue Rubber Watch - ~$50

2010-12-16T13:39:00.000-08:00

I wear a Timex chronograph that looks extremely similar to this one. It was well over $100 and is not made anymore. This would be a nice substitute if mine ever failed. It is currently just over $50, but goes on sale often. Keep an eye out for it.

#91 - Orvis Moose Bottle Opener - $15

2010-12-15T12:20:00.000-08:00

#90 - Toy Story 3 Lego Trash Compactor - $30

2010-12-15T12:19:00.001-08:00

#89 - Calvin Klein Soho Wallet - $20

2010-12-10T20:49:00.000-08:00

$20 @ Calvin Klein

#87 - Terraforma Whisky Stones - $20

2010-12-03T14:45:00.001-08:00

#86 - Cedar Shoe Shine Box - $43

2010-12-01T22:28:00.001-08:00

Lovely. Well-made. Enough said.

#85 - 'Dynamite' Fire Starters - $39

2010-11-29T11:01:00.000-08:00

"Atop Wiley Coyote’s Christmas list, these fire starters are shaped like sticks of dynamite and come packed in a rugged cedar chest. Whoever makes a comment about fire starters constituting cheating gets a punch to the side of the head-this is a gift that’s simply fun to give and fun to receive. Go with it."

Via: Art of Manliness

#84 - Firewood Carrier - $44

2010-11-29T10:59:00.000-08:00

"If you’re a man who loves to make and sit by a roaring blaze in the fireplace, or in other words, if you’re a man, you need a nice carrier to bring in the loads of logs needed to keep your fire roaring. Consider this one from the Duluth Trading Co. It’s made with tough “fire hose” canvas and reinforced leather handles. And it’s nice and big, so bark and other debris don’t get trailed into your house."

Via: Art of Manliness

#83 - Timex Field Watch - $30

2010-11-29T10:57:00.000-08:00

"Military field watches are all the rage among heritage menswear junkies. They’re supposed to look like the field watches issued to soldiers during the first half of the 20th century. Timex has taken advantage of this fad by issuing J.Crew “military” watches that sell for $150 . But here’s the thing. Timex makes a very similar field watch for just $25. It just doesn’t have the fancy pants J.Crew label attached to it. If you’re looking for a simple, yet handsome-looking watch, but can’t bear the thought of having your wife fork over $150 for it, consider the Timex Camper or Timex Expedition. Both are under $30, and they tell time just like the $150 version."

Via: Art of Manliness

#82 - Kaweco Sport Mechanical Pencil - $25

2010-11-23T22:54:00.000-08:00

"These little German beauties are durable, timeless, and produce fine-lined work fit for any creative."

$25 @ Stag Austin

Via Valet

#81 - Wenger Evo Wood Knife - $50

2010-11-23T20:33:00.000-08:00

Absolutely gorgeous and utilitarian.

#80 - Brook Farm Piggy Bank - $28

2010-11-23T12:15:00.000-08:00

$28 @ Brook Farm

#79 - OPS Digital Watch - $25

2010-11-23T11:31:00.001-08:00

A digital watch with an interesting aesthetic.

#78 - NordicWare Cookie Sheet - $12

2010-11-23T08:32:00.001-08:00

These NordicWare cookie sheets are the best! If your friend or family member is still using an old rusted out dollar-store cookie sheet, please, do the world a favor and buy this for Christmas.

#77 - Par Avion Luggage Tag - $18

2010-11-22T09:27:00.001-08:00

$18 @ Flight 001

#76 - Metropolitan Whistle @ Best Made Co. - $35

2010-11-22T09:21:00.000-08:00

$35 @ Best Made Co.

#75 - Gerber Bear Grylls Survival Knife - $50

2010-11-21T22:45:00.001-08:00

While currently listed at $59, it is often on sale for under $50. Keep your eyes pealed. Great looking and performing knife.

#73 - Emergency Fire Starter - $5

2010-11-21T22:43:00.000-08:00

I have this. It is super-cheap, super-useful, and super-fun.

#72 - Cast Iron Skillet - $20

2010-11-21T22:41:00.000-08:00

#71 - Celestron Portable Telescope - $30

2010-11-21T22:37:00.001-08:00

#70 - Leatherman Fuse - $30

2010-11-21T22:36:00.000-08:00

Beautiful, rugged, and useful. What a wonderful combination.

#69 - Polar Bear in a Snowstorm Coloring Book - $7

2010-11-21T22:28:00.000-08:00

$7 @ Toronto Zoo Store

#68 - Whiskey Aftershave - $12

2010-11-13T13:02:00.000-08:00

It might get them fired, but they will smell good doing it!

[$12 on etsy.com]

#67 - Moleskine Smartphone Case -$40

2010-11-13T13:00:00.000-08:00

iPhone or Android + Taste = This case!

#66 - Five Four Polka Socks - $10

2010-11-12T19:50:00.000-08:00

The picture says it all.

[Five Four Link]

#65 - Star Trek Pizza Cutter - $25

2010-11-10T12:04:00.000-08:00

$25 @ Thinkgeek.com

#64 - Tape Doormat - $49

2010-11-10T12:02:00.000-08:00

For your hipster friends.

Meninos.us

#63 - Leather Head Credit Card Holder - $25

2010-11-09T19:59:00.000-08:00

This is the best gift I got in 2010:

At $25, I consider this the bargain of bargains. The artisan makes handmade baseballs also. This card holder is baseball stitched on the seams. Wonderful.

Leather Head Credit Card Holder [link]

#62 - Kiel James Patrick Nautical Bracelets - $35

2010-11-09T19:23:00.000-08:00

Kiel James Patrick makes the most beautiful, prep-influenced accessory I have found this season. Starting at only $35, this bracelet is just the thing for your fashion-minded gift recipient.

kieljamespatrick.com/

Dropbox - Free & Up

2010-08-23T10:44:00.001-07:00

Dropbox is a great online program that allows a person to have his or her files on any computer. A gift subscription would be just the thing.

Dropbox

#60 Kotobuki 2-Tiered Bento Box - $17

2010-01-13T18:46:00.000-08:00

Or the upgrade:

Price Alert - Polaroid Digital Video Camera - $45

2009-12-22T20:42:00.000-08:00

#59 Bushnell Compact Binoculars - $13

2009-12-22T20:40:00.000-08:00

#58 Telescope - $38

2009-12-22T20:39:00.000-08:00

Price Alert - Nikon Coolpix L20 10MP Camera - $79

2009-12-22T20:37:00.001-08:00

$79!

#57 Knife Set - $50

2009-12-22T20:08:00.001-08:00

#56 Night Vision Goggles - $50

2009-12-22T20:04:00.001-08:00

This is awesome. There are endless possibilities for uses and games with these.

#55 Eyeclops Mini Projector - $33

2009-12-22T20:01:00.000-08:00

Is it 1080p? No. Does it include LCD technology? No. Does it cost nearly nothing and project nearly anything? Yes. Make those backyard campouts something special!

#54 Moon in My Room - $20

2009-12-22T19:57:00.002-08:00

Nice looking moon for a child's room.

#53 Notebook Table - $35

2009-12-22T19:57:00.001-08:00

#52 Acoustic Guitar - $50

2009-12-22T19:54:00.000-08:00

If you would have told me ten years ago that your would be able to buy your kid an acoustic guitar for $50, I would have said you were crazy. But here we are. Is it a fantastic guitar? No. But it will work great for a beginner.

#51 Constellation Nightlight - $18

2009-12-18T14:36:00.000-08:00

The ultimate in kidlet mood lighting.

#50 High Tech Brownie Pan - $35

2009-12-18T14:34:00.000-08:00

Win-win. They get cookware. You inevitably get brownies. Can't Lose.

#49 Electric Wine Bottle Opener - $20

2009-12-18T14:30:00.000-08:00

#48 USB Camcorder - $50

2009-12-18T14:29:00.000-08:00

Deal Alert: Sansa Fuze 4GB - $50

2009-12-18T14:28:00.000-08:00

Often cited as one of the best small capacity players.

#47 Nike+ Kit - $23

2009-12-18T14:25:00.000-08:00

Do they have Nike shoes and an iPod? Finish off the kit for workout analysis.

#46 T3 Bespoke Travel Hairdryer - $50

2009-12-18T14:24:00.000-08:00

Epic quality.

#45 - Creative Mp3 Player - $45

2009-12-16T12:08:00.000-08:00

#44 Kitchen Nook Bench - $45

2009-12-16T12:07:00.001-08:00

Doesn't just belong in the kitchen. This is versatile seating at its best.

#43 iPod Travel Kit - $31

2009-12-16T12:05:00.001-08:00

#42 Notebook Backpack - $29

2009-12-16T12:00:00.000-08:00

Or messenger bag:

#41 Flippin' Frogs Game - $10

2009-12-16T11:58:00.000-08:00

Not just for kids... imagine this as a drinking game!

Price Alert - Holga Camera - $27!

2009-12-16T11:57:00.000-08:00

#40 Fragrance

2009-12-13T21:51:00.000-08:00

What is his or her favorite? We often don't treat ourselves to the things we love.

#39 Stick-e Yoga Socks

2009-12-13T21:49:00.000-08:00

Need warm feet, but also don't want to slip on the mat?

#38 Heartrate Watch - $30

2009-12-13T21:47:00.000-08:00

#37 Swiss Army Golf Tool - $40

2009-12-13T21:46:00.000-08:00

#36 Heart Pendant - $50

2009-12-13T21:45:00.001-08:00

Both stylish and interesting. She'll love it.

#35 Egg & Muffin Maker - $30

2009-12-13T21:36:00.001-08:00

I want this SO bad!

#34 Waffle Maker - $50

2009-12-13T21:35:00.001-08:00

#33 Casio Dive Watch - $50

2009-12-12T13:19:00.001-08:00

Some guys need Rolex to look good. Others can rock a Casio. Which type is your guy?

#32 Beatles Monopoly - $30

2009-12-12T13:16:00.001-08:00

Have a Beatles fan who seems to have everything? This was released very recently.

#31 Popcorn Popper - $25

2009-12-12T08:14:00.000-08:00

Remember when you were a kid and popcorn was an event? It still can be even if Orville has made it easier to have everyday popcorn.

#30 Wine Aerator - $30

2009-12-11T13:13:00.000-08:00

For the wine lover.

#29 La Cie ImaKey Flash Drive - $30

2009-12-10T13:10:00.000-08:00

This fits perfect on a keychain. It really can't be beat for sleekness and design.

#28 Sufjan Stevens - Songs for Christmas - $19

2009-12-09T19:09:00.000-08:00

Makes for very interesting listening at Christmas. There is nothing wrong with Bing Crosby singing Irving Berlin, but this takes things to a whole other level.

#27 Mr. Beer Kit - $40

2009-12-09T12:09:00.000-08:00

With MR.BEER® you can brew any style of beer imaginable at a fraction of the cost. Each brewing system will produce approximately 2 gallons of great tasting beer in as little as 14 days and is completely reusable! All our kits include everything you need to brew your first batch of beer and are the perfect starting point for beginning and intermediate brewers alike.

- Mr. Beer.com

Enough said.

#26 TableTop Air Hockey - $25

2009-12-08T12:04:00.000-08:00

Who wouldn't love to have this?

#25 Cashmere Gloves - $19.99

2009-12-07T12:06:00.000-08:00

This is the kind of thing she wouldn't buy for herself, but will love.

#24 Reusable Grocery Bag Set - $10

2009-12-06T12:07:00.000-08:00

#23 Bocce Ball Set - $45

2009-12-05T11:59:00.000-08:00

Bocce is a game I really love to play. The following set includes resin bocce balls. Very nice.

#22 Daisy Red Rider BB Gun - $35

2009-12-03T12:12:00.000-08:00

"You'll shoot your eye out!"

Who cares? I have always wanted one.

#21 Folding Keyboard - $30

2009-12-01T12:15:00.000-08:00

#20 Victorinox Swissflash 2GB Thumb Drive and Swiss Army Knife - >$40

2009-11-02T08:06:00.000-08:00

What a great idea! To put the digital world with the analog world of old. Someone told me about this the other day and said, "whenever she cuts a cuticle or edits a word document, she will think of you."

Sold.

#19 DIY Uke - $54

2009-03-19T09:17:00.001-07:00

[Urban Outfitters]

#18 Retro Flip Clock - $35

2009-02-25T22:32:00.001-08:00

This amazing clock is offered by Barnes and Nobel of all places.

[Link]

#17 Tap Lights - $10

2009-01-01T22:06:00.000-08:00

Tap lights are highly underrated. They are so useful. With a three pack, you can place them under a cabinet in the kitchen (see photo below) and have all the workspace light you would ever need. In the garage the same concept applies. You can never have enough light while working on all the little projects a person has.

#16 iPod Shuffle - $47.50

2008-12-22T19:55:00.000-08:00

Do you remember the days when getting a genuine Apple iPod was hundreds of dollars? My first iPod was $500! You can now buy a 1GB iPod for less than $50.

Don't forget you can always get a set of iGrados as well!

[iGrado post]

#15 Bacon Salt

2008-12-22T18:22:00.000-08:00

I am a huge fan of this idea. I would love to try this:

#14 Gourmet Snacks - $25

2008-12-22T18:20:00.001-08:00

What about some gourmet snacks? I love receiving these!

#13 USB Turntable - $50 - $100

2008-12-21T21:08:00.000-08:00

I know this possibly stretches the budget, but I often see these on Craigslist for $40 - $50. The one below is $76 /shipped new from Amazon. It is possible to get one for under $50 if you look around.

Grace Digital Turntable - Record Player.

#12 Holga Lomographic Camera [update]

2008-12-20T20:20:00.000-08:00

Amazon has the Holga Starter Kit
on sale right now for $59.99. That is the best price I have seen in the past six months!

#11 A How-To Book ~ $25

2008-12-20T20:02:00.000-08:00

Does your friend or loved one want to learn how to do something a lot? I want to learn how to build tube amplifiers. My wife wants to learn how to knit. Research the best how to book in that field and with the leftover money, build a starter kit. For example, for someone who wants to learn to knit, you could stop by Joann Fabric and grab some cheap knitting needles and yarn. Wrap that up with the how-to book and you have a very thoughtful present that presents well.

Knitting

Building Tube Amps

#10 His or Her Favorite Band's Discography

2008-12-19T18:19:00.001-08:00

My buddy's favorite band is Radiohead. For under $50, I can get every full-length studio release of the band:

Pablo Honey - $3.76

The Bends - $4.80

OK Computer - $5.99

Kid A - $4

Amnesiac - $3.86

Hail to the Thief - $4.83

In Rainbows - $6

#9 Concert Poster Update

2008-12-11T14:21:00.000-08:00

Apartment Therapy had a post concerning concert posters as wallpaper. I thought this was a good post showing the different types of good-looking posters out there.

[Original Post]

#8 Headphone Amplifier - $35

2008-12-11T00:21:00.000-08:00

Who hasn't been on a plane listening to his or her headphones from either an iPod or laptop and been unable to hear properly? It happens to everyone... sometimes even to those who have those fancy noise-canceling headphones. A headphone amplifier is just the trick for that. A CMOY is an amp designed by Chu Moy that has very high sound quality and very low power consumption.

For the money, you can't do better with a headphone amp. Also, if you would like to build your own, visit TangentSoft.

Purchase here: ebay

#7 Cheap Camera Update - Diana for $50 at Urban Outfitters

2008-10-03T12:23:00.001-07:00

The Holga I mentioned a few weeks ago is a great camera, but the Diana is the name-brand equivalent and seldom sells at a price that makes it worth buying. But Urban Outfitters has one for $50. I would choose this over the Holga.

Link

#6 Case of Good Beer- $21

2008-09-27T21:22:00.000-07:00

When I turned 21, I was working at a terrible company. On my birthday though, I received the best present I had ever received at that point - a case of Coors. I had never had so much beer. I never felt more like an adult. And today, my twenty-ninth birthday, I would like nothing more than a case of good beer.. a case of Fat Tire, a case of Arrogant Bastard, a case of Boddingtons would all do the trick. I was at Costco the other day and saw Fat Tire for $21 per case. That is a heck of a deal. I received some really good stuff this year, but what I find myself reaching for at 9:29PM is a Fat Tire that doesn't exist in my fridge. Don't let your friends down. Make sure their fridge is stocked on their significant holidays.

Relevant Links:

Fat Tire

#5 Wall Stencils - $10

2008-08-30T17:42:00.000-07:00

Does your friend or significant other think he or she is Banksy? Stencil art is a lot of fun but, if you don't know what you are doing to create stencils, it often comes out wrong. That is where professionally-made stencils come in. For example, I am interested in turntables. I particularly like the Technics 1200 in terms of aesthetics. Stencil1 happens to have that covered. They have a number of options and sizes available. Not only turntables, but cassettes, Obama's face, guitars, trees, and more.

Related Links:

Stencils at Stencil 1

Info on Banksy - Banksy.co.uk

#4 Klean Kanteen - $16

2008-08-29T20:49:00.000-07:00

With so much being made of eco-friendly products, the Klean Kanteen is both hip and functional. Made of stainless steel instead of plastic, the bottle is both indestructible and BPA free (look it up, it is not pretty). $16 sounds like a lot of money, but this is the last bottle you will buy. I know that I used to spend $6 for a case of individually bottled water. Now I am able to reuse gallon jugs for $0.30 outside the supermarket. If you are smarter than I am, you could also drink tap which is better for you but, to me, tastes heavier.

I have a friend named Mary who always said that anything that used the letter K instead of C was racist and attempting to harken back to KKK, but I find no evidence that this company is in any way racist - despite its use of Ks instead of Cs. No, she was not joking. I, however, am.

Related Links:

Klean Kanteen at Amazon

Klean Kanteen at Reusable Bags

#3 Grado iGrado Headphones - $49

2008-08-28T23:15:00.000-07:00

Admittedly, the iGrados are as ugly as sin, but they sing sweeter than the angels. Based on the critically-acclaimed SR-60 - in fact, they both have the same headphone driver - the iGrado allows even those with modest funds to reach audiophile bliss. They are pictured in black, but are also available in white - a great color to match a person's iPod.

In a world where audiophile headphones can cost over $1000, at $49, the iGrado represents amazing value for such sweet sound.

Splurge: Grado SR-60 - Same headphone driver, but with a better housing and classic industrial design. The Grado SR-60 can for many people be the last set of headphones they ever buy. At $69 retail, the SR-60 may seem a bit out of touch. But please find a store near you that carries them and test them - you will buy them!

#2 Moleskine Notebook - $10

2008-08-27T19:09:00.000-07:00

A Moleskine notebook may seem like an extremely small gift, but they are lovely. I once bought a pack of Moleskine Small Cahiers for my mother-in-law for her shopping lists, memory lists, etc. and she absolutely loved them. These cahiers are the same as Hemmingway used to write his novels. He talks about these notebooks in The Garden of Eden.

I bought my Moleskine Pocket Journal a couple of years ago to write essays and just the thought of it makes me smile. It is so well-crafted and at the same time so commonplace it just fits. It used to be trendy for self-proclaimed world-travelers to take a fresh pocket journal for every trip in order to paste in keepsakes, produce sketches, and write about the culture. Currently, Moleskine has a line of Journals tailored to this with pre-printed info on the city of your choice.

All said, for a gift, the Moleskine Pocket Journal is the best, but for everyday use, I use the Moleskine Small Cahiers. I keep all my notes for work and from meetings in these. I can't say enough about them.

Photo: RippleMDK