Comments on: RandomUnder$30GiftFilter

Question: RandomUnder$30GiftFilter

mistikle — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 08:23:17 -0800

Best gift for under $30?

I realize this has probably been done here before, but I figured at this time of year, such a question may be helpful to others as well.

What is the coolest thing you can think of that is available for under $30? This would be for a Yankee Swap type gift exchange, so the recipient is unknown. Therefore, what sort of sub-$30 item would you pick, that just about anyone could use/enjoy?

By: Greg Nog

Greg Nog — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 08:38:22 -0800

Well, I have a Yankee Swap at the office today, and I'm bringing an immersion blender. Everybody loves smoothies.

By: ejaned8

ejaned8 — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 08:47:53 -0800

Last year a wireless weather station was oddly the must-have.

(My family has done this for a few years, and it's usually gadgets, kitchen, bath, chocolate/coffee or something along a theme. I'm doing the theme this year -- a miniature garden gnome and bulbs for winter indoor flowers.)

By: robocop is bleeding

robocop is bleeding — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 08:55:04 -0800

I've had good luck putting together a themed kit. Once time I put together some melatonin, some scented relaxation candles, a soothing sounds CD, and a pillow for a "Good Night's Sleep." Another time was a frozen Omaha steak, a potato, some frozen veggies, small bottle of A1, and a selection of grilling spices from Penzy's as "A Big Meal." One gift at a Yankee swap that was fought over was called "Muffins: FUCK YEAH!" and was really just 30 bucks worth of muffin mix.

By: xammerboy

xammerboy — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 08:58:59 -0800

Probably the coolest thing would be a Zen Stone. It's an mp3 that holds a thousand songs, works as a radio, has a timer for jogging, and is very small and light.

Other ideas:

- Emergency mobile phone charger and socket pocket
- Sennheiser earbuds
- Smarwool socks
- High pressure showerhead (Got this idea from Mathowie in another thread)
- Book stay open
- Utilikey
- Leatherman all in one tool
- Jar popper
- Miracle Berry tablets
- Merkur Safety Razor
- Microplane grater
- Zen stones (mp3)
- LED ringlight

Good sites:
- Kool tools
- ThinkGeek
- Fredflare

By: kerning

kerning — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 09:05:56 -0800

I have a silly Secret Santa tomorrow (our limit was under $20) so I made a little trio of infused vodkas - one with coffee (the guy I have is a big coffee freak), one pineapple and one lime. Easy to make and inexpensive, and pretty much everyone likes vodka.

By: scarykarrey

scarykarrey — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 09:06:06 -0800

I would also add Wishingfish and Uncommon Goods to the list of sites. If you don't have time to have something shipped, maybe just look over the sites for inspiration and then go to a brick and mortar store to pick up the actual gift.

By: MegoSteve

MegoSteve — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 09:58:46 -0800

This Husky 200 lumen flashlight is pretty kickass for $24.99 at Home Depot. (Husky is the Home Depot store brand, I believe.) It's made a bit of a splash on the flashlight nerd forum because of its high brightness and low cost.

By: Jacqueline

Jacqueline — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 10:24:11 -0800

A check for $29.99.

By: ND¢

ND¢ — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 11:29:59 -0800

The Thank You For Being A Friend Necklace.

By: andythebean

andythebean — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 11:44:07 -0800

A Klean Kanteen.

By: hellboundforcheddar

hellboundforcheddar — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 11:54:47 -0800

xammerboy mentions Fred Flare:

They have digital watches that say the time in Japanese. Got one for Mr. Hellbound, I did.

Also try the MOMA Store and Delight.com.

By: A189Nut

A189Nut — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 12:40:47 -0800

RC helicopter - Picoo Z Atlas

By: geekchic

geekchic — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 12:57:29 -0800

A big, fat, all-American steak. And some A-1.

By: Faint of Butt

Faint of Butt — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 13:17:11 -0800

An R2-D2 pepper grinder.

By: faunafrailty

faunafrailty — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 15:33:38 -0800

I bought my nephew the EyeClops Bionic Eye, which lets you view objects magnified 100x, 200x and 400x on your TV screen. I bought it for educational purposes (really, he's 5), but think of all the fun anybody could have with this thing. (It is only under $30 at Amazon; they say the normal price is $50.)

By: mightshould

mightshould — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 06:29:20 -0800

Easy: Bacon Salt.

By: LaszloKv

LaszloKv — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 12:20:09 -0800

If you were going to give an mp3 player, I would suggest this sansa clip over the zen stone (as the zen stone has no screen, so no selection can be made).

By: not that girl

not that girl — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 18:59:58 -0800

A couple of years ago a friend gave us a small window-mount bird feeder and some birdseed. We have really enjoyed it (though, of course, we've had to replenish the seed). We're giving the same thing to a couple of people this Christmas.

By: shadytrees

shadytrees — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 19:59:36 -0800

Give a {beautiful, hilarious} T-shirt.