Quirky gifts for cheap-ish

December 18, 2012 6:18 PM

Interesting gifts for my family - give me some inexpensive gift ideas for weird, funny, creative, or out of the ordinary gifts. Bonus if I can order them online and get them on time for Xmas, still.

So money is really tight right now, so I'm going bare minimum on gifts this year, but I'd like to get something small for my sisters and both of my parents. I can spend between $20 and $50 each. I'm sick of the classic gift card, perfume, DVD type stuff. What are your ideas for different, quirky gifts (or shopping websites in general)? I'm open to anything - goods, or gift cards for services. Ideally, stuff I can order online, although I'm not opposed to brick-and-mortar stores.

Bonus: I also need a gift for my 18 month old nephew. My sister suggested something with wheels he can scoot around in/on/ride. Your best suggestions for a little car, or rocker, something physical he can wear himself out with (under $50 ideally)?

posted by catatethebird to Shopping (18 answers total)

uncommongoods is exactly what you're looking for.
posted by raztaj at 6:25 PM on December 18, 2012

I second uncommongoods
if they like anything remotely geeky, you're likley to find something at thinkgeek.com (you can find some of those tees at HMV - well in Canada anyway)

And if they like graphic tees, threadless tees (they also have baby/toddler stuff). lots of quirky tees that are just really cool.
posted by electriic at 6:33 PM on December 18, 2012

I think Fab and Urban Outfitters are also great for this sort of thing.
posted by livinglearning at 6:33 PM on December 18, 2012

Perpetualkid.com is also good for quirky-but-useful things, especially for kitchen items.
posted by jetlagaddict at 6:34 PM on December 18, 2012

For your nephew, how about a Little Tikes Pillow Racer? My 16 month niece has the same interests as your nephew, and I bought her the ladybug one (we'll find out if she likes it soon!). FYI I got one for about $15 less at Target, so you may try shopping around.
posted by raztaj at 6:38 PM on December 18, 2012

For the nephew, get something he can ride and push.
posted by Fairchild at 6:42 PM on December 18, 2012

I'd like to suggest birdfeeders with birdseed! They have been a hit with my aunts and uncles in the past. I purchased some nice wooden ones from a discount store, and filled them with basic birdseed. It's something a little different and unexpected, but still useful.

This year I purchased some strawberry-shaped birdseed bundles for my mom, who likes watching the birds at their place from gardeners.com. They have sale codes on retailmenot, but shipping is a little high.
posted by shortyJBot at 7:22 PM on December 18, 2012

This car is a classic for the 18 month old. My 2 kids and 3 nephews all loved the one their grandmother has. It was popular for years. Oh, and this might be obvious but avoid anything with pedals. Pedaling is just too frustrating for kids at that age. The "sit and scoot" style of ride on toy is available at places like Target or Toys R Us for about $30. Some of them are called 4-in-1 ride-ons. Or 2-in-1. Also, I wish I'd known about the Rody horse when my kids were that little.
posted by selfmedicating at 7:52 PM on December 18, 2012

For the grownups, I just recommended magnetic putty over in another askme, and it's still a good idea, dammit. Putty oozes up and engulfs the magnet.
posted by selfmedicating at 7:55 PM on December 18, 2012

Great suggestions so far! I think the pillow racer might be the thing for my nephew. (And I have some of that magnetic putty myself.)
posted by catatethebird at 8:31 PM on December 18, 2012

I just discovered this tiny crockpot for heating up lunches at work and think it would be a great gift for anybody to takes their lunch to work most days. And it's only 20 bucks!
posted by jabes at 8:33 PM on December 18, 2012

Thirding UncommonGoods. There's also Things You Never Knew Existed.
posted by SisterHavana at 9:07 PM on December 18, 2012

I just bought the tiny crockpot for my husband based on another thread here on MF and he loves it. Leaves the base at work and just takes the liner in with him filled w/ soup or chili or whathaveyou. I second it as an unusual and thoughtful present.
posted by jvilter at 10:03 PM on December 18, 2012

My friend, what you want is the Happy Spoon. I have bought these for so many christmas gifts and they have always, ALWAYS been welcome.
posted by KathrynT at 10:25 PM on December 18, 2012

I've posted it before to another gift suggestion question, but last year i gave sugru to pretty much everyone, and it was a huge hit (after people figured out what is was exactly). To this day they still tell me of things they've used the sugru for/on. Was cheap (10€ i think?)
posted by PardonMyFrench at 12:57 AM on December 19, 2012

Seconding Sugru. I gave InstaMorph moldable plastic (available on Amazon Prime) for a White Elephant this year and it went over pretty well.
posted by aabbbiee at 6:55 AM on December 19, 2012

I love stuff advertised on TV.

I'm very fond of my PedEgg, Lint Lizard, BumpIt, Grout Bully, etc. I'd love the brownie pan or the meatloaf pan. You can find a lot of this kind of stuff at Marshall's on sale.

Anthropologie had gorgeous measuring spoons. Really pretty.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 7:08 AM on December 19, 2012

You should also ask your sister if a used/consignment ride-on would be okay with her. Your nephew certainly won't mind, you can find really good deals on kids stuff in excellent shape if you look around. He's only going to use it for a year or so anyway.
I got a tricycle for my nephew - it was $48 at Target, $14.99 at the local consignment shop. He's already outgrown it and it has been passed along to his cousin
posted by jaimystery at 1:25 PM on December 19, 2012