We’ve done the searching so you don’t have to. Get inspired by all that tech, music, film, art, food and more have to offer your loved ones this holiday season. Added bonus: they’re not going to break the bank.
If they’re into making memories…
Try Fujifilm’s Instax Mini 9 (which, okay, retails for a little over $50 but was too cute not to include). For the phone-obsessed, there’s the AMIR Camera Lens Kit, a set of attachable fisheye and wide angle lens that give phone camera users an edge. If you’re feeling personal, try the simple Mosaic photo book. Artifact Uprising also has awesome under $50 gifts like this one. For your friend who keeps all their ticket stubs, there’s even something for them.
If they have (or want) a green thumb…
You’re not going to get cuter plants designed for urban living than at The Sill. You can search by small spaces, low lighting, and hard-to-kill fauna (aka succulents). We highly recommend the air plant for a near-impossible-to-kill plant option. Or, just to be safe, consider Home Depot plants: they offer a one-year warranty.
If they love food…
Let’s be honest: spiralizers are a/the thing now, given that they are one easy way to turn vegetables into pasta noodles, curly fries, salads, and more. For the healthy drinkers you know, there’s Corkcicle, with items like the Corkcicle’s Whiskey Wedge with a double Old Fashioned glass. West Elm also has fun options for the person who likes to entertain, where you can get marble cheese boards and cake stands on a dime. Or – get creative with these personalized cookie cutters from Etsy.
If they’re feeling artsy…
MoMA Design Store has a ton, from MoMA inspired clocks to creative puzzles to calendars to notebooks, a ton of which comes under the $50 mark. Or, grab a ticket to one of the exhibits in the city now: the Klimt & Rodin Dual Exhibition at the Legion of Honor, and the Robert Rauschenberg, Walker Evans, Soundtracks and more exhibitions at SFMOMA, to name a few. The Museum of Ice Cream has also been extended through February.
If they’re into movies…
Take their love of film offscreen, with books like The Wes Anderson Collection: the NYT bestselling look at the director’s filmography over the years. Chromecast and Amazon Fire Sticks allow you to stream tv and film from virtually anywhere. It’s the perfect thing for the millennial in your life, who probably doesn’t pay for cable and streams everything instead (with these devices, they can use their laptop and watch tv like the rest of us). For the bigtime film buff, you can take the obsession one step further with these street maps made up of the locations of nearly 1,000 films including the Wolf of Wall Street, Jurassic Park, and Reservoir Dogs. When in doubt, check out this list of Stranger Things merch for…pretty much everyone you know.
Or music…
The John Lennon Letters is a collection of correspondences of one of the world’s most famous musicians of all time. Snag a new pair of Urbanears earbuds or go for a Bluetooth shower speaker…a reliably fun option. And vinyl has been making a comeback…get in on it with a Stranger Things LP.
Or tech…
Someone you love always losing their things? Tile, and this Bluetooth tracker, have you covered. The Echo Dot is like a scaled-down version of the Alexa, coming in under $30. Or bring tech into the kitchen with iDevices iGrill Mini. There’s the Bluetooth Selfie Pen is perfect for the photo-obsessed in your life…who want to be subtle about it. Or, give the gift you secretly wish you had yourself – the perfect portable charger.
If they’re outdoorsy…
Try Lifestraw water filter, the unbreakable hatchet, the new S’well bottle, the best microfiber towel on the market, or anything Patagonia. Or, keep them cozy with a durable multi-purpose outdoor blanket or a Matador Pocket Blanket. REI under $50 is another safe bet.