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For the Side Hustler
How to Stay Productive When the World Is Ending
For the Perpetual Phone Dropper
Spigen MagSafe iPhone Cases
For Creature Comforts
Squishmallows
For the Perpetually Tardy
Casio Illuminator Digital Watch
We all have a loved one who never wants any fuss. “Don’t buy me anything,” they say. But you know them better than that. The trick is to get something that doesn’t cost much, just to show you’re thinking of them. They don’t want to be lavished with expensive stuff, but they do like to feel appreciated. The best way to pick a gift that shows your affection is to choose something that matches your giftee’s interests. Here, we’ve picked 25 items for gifting, each of them under $25. This holiday season, you can make a statement without making a fuss.
Be sure to check out our many other gift guides, including Gift Subscriptions for Kids, and Gifts for Outdoorsy People.
Updated November 2023: We’ve added fun trivia packs from Brass Monkey and several books, including on how to stay productive during an impending apocalypse. We’ve also updated prices and links throughout and removed a few items.
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Photograph: Amazon
For the Side Hustler
How to Stay Productive When the World Is Ending
How do we stay productive and somehow make enough money to pay both student loans and rent, and also have time to meal plan and make perfectly executed TikTok videos (to get that sweet internet fame money!) when the world is effectively going to hell all around us?
This book by satire site Reductress made me laugh, a lot. Inside this guide, your giftee will find helpful lists like “How to Focus on Remote Work when the Woman in your Wallpaper Keeps Begging You to Free Her,” and “How to Resist Monetizing your Hobby by Being Bad at It.”
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Photograph: Amazon
For the Perpetual Phone Dropper
Spigen MagSafe iPhone Cases
It’s hard to say no to a brand-new phone case. If your loved one has an iPhone 13, iPhone 14, or iPhone 15, then you’ll want to make sure they have a MagSafe case. These cases have a magnetic array that allows MagSafe accessories to stick to them just as strongly as if there was no case at all. We like Spigen cases because they’re affordable, have nice clicky buttons, and easy access to the mute switch.
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Photograph: Squishmallows
For Creature Comforts
Squishmallows
Who doesn’t love giant squishy, marshmallow-like creatures? Squishmallows are everywhere these days and there are innumerable designs to choose from. I’m particularly fond of Kent the Chameleon here—you just want to poke his little tummy—but there are narwhals, gnomes, dinosaurs, and so many more to choose from.
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Photograph: Amazon
For the Perpetually Tardy
Casio Illuminator Digital Watch
This one’s always running late. That one’s always asking the time. Drop a hint for less than $25 by getting them this retro-fabulous digital watch. It’s great for runners, since it’s lightweight, water- and sweat-resistant, and has a stopwatch function. It comes in an array of colors, and includes a lithium battery that can last years. What more do they need?
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Photograph: Amazon
For the Pepperhead
Marie Sharp’s Hot Sauce 3-Pack
Every hot-sauce aficionado knows that savory dishes like potatoes, pizza, sandwiches, tacos, and omelets aren’t just good eatin’. They’re also a delivery mechanism for the fiery, oozing lava that is their favorite bottled sauce. If you know somebody whose brain is wired this way, get them a three-pack of scorching sauces from the venerable Belizean brand Marie Sharp’s. This trio of tongue-torturing toppings represents the hotter end of Sharp’s line. It includes three 10-ounce bottles of the company’s most habanero-forward concoctions, and the assortment includes a bottle of the greatest and most flavorful habanero sauce on the planet: Belizean Heat.
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Photograph: iFixit
For the Tinkerer
iFixit Jimmy
If your loved one is perpetually disassembling, hacking, and messing with their electronics, this is something they’ll surely wish you had gotten them long ago. The Jimmy tool from our friends at iFixit has a thin strip of steel on the tip that can be used to wedge, pry, or shimmy open just about anything. It’s also useful for scraping stickers and paint from areas that need adjusting or repair. It’s a must-have for DIY types.
★ Alternative: Less for tinkerers and more for people that are frequently opening boxes, we also love this Slice Ceramic Blade ($19), which is safe to use and has an ergonomic design.
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Photograph: Simon & Schuster
For the Wicked
The Modern Witchcraft Spell Book
If you ever talk about spells and witchcraft like I do, everyone tends to give you the same confused expression. Sadly, there are no sparks flying out of fingertips or items appearing from thin air. It’s about manifestation and channeling your intentions.
Skye Alexander’s books on modern witchcraft are brimming with information on the fun craft, but are easy to digest. If your loved one is a seasoned witch, they likely don’t need this, but could benefit from the way Alexander lays out the basics. If you can spend a bit more, there’s a three-book set for $51 that includes this title, The Modern Guide to Witchcraft, and The Modern Witchcraft Grimoire. (Read my rave about them here.)
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Photograph: Brass Monkey
For the Trivia Master
Brass Monkey Trivia
Trivia is my favorite low-stakes game where I can flex some of the random and useless knowledge my brain has stored away from years of watching VH1 pop culture countdowns. If your giftee is the same, they might appreciate the unique questions Brass Monkey puts together. Some are a little too obscure, but I appreciated that I didn’t run into any that I’d seen before. Other packs tend to blend together after a while.
We tried the Truly Terrifying and Delightfully Useless trivia packs, which ask questions like “How long is New Zealand’s Ninety Mile Beach?” (Hint: it isn’t 90 miles). Other sets (also available at link below) include Trivial Drinking Trivia, Junk Food and Food Food Trivia, and Incredibly Pointless Trivia.
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Photograph: Panasonic
For the Faithfully Wired
Panasonic ErgoFit Earbuds
If they’re still plugging in their headphones—and also still always losing them—get them a pair of these in-ears from Panasonic. They sound pretty dang good for a little more than 10 bucks, and they’re comfortable, with soft ear-hugging tips. If not, we’ve picked out a bunch of other affordable headphones and earbuds.
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Photograph: Oxo
For the Tea Sipper
Oxo Brew Tea Infuser Basket
Get this handy little infuser for your tea-sipping loved one. The basket is made of stainless steel mesh that’s finely perforated to reduce sediment and keep brews extra-clear. Spoon in some loose-leaf tea, pop the lid on, then drop the basket directly into whatever vessel you’re brewing in. The design is narrow enough to fit into just about any mug, but it also works for brewing in wide-mouth vacuum bottles and more traditional tea servers.
A pair of tabs on the side rest on the lip of the mug to keep the basket suspended in the hot water for more thorough steeping, and they’re silicone-coated to keep them from getting too hot to touch. When tea time arrives, take off the lid and flip it lid upside-down on your countertop, where it holds the wet basket and catches any drips. Read our Best Tea Accessories guide for more options.
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Photograph: Field Notes
For the Notetaker
Field Notes National Parks Series
For the notebook geek in your life (yes, they exist). These well-appointed, 48-page notebooks from the venerable Field Notes brand come with covers that pay homage to our National Parks. Each three-pack features a trio of unique covers, which respectively celebrate a different park, and you can pick which three-pack you buy. The notebooks are also heavier and prettier than the typical pocket scribbler. If your loved one cherishes paper goods, and especially Field Notes, this is the gift to get. If they’re more of a planner, check out our Best Paper Planners guide for some ideas.
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Photograph: Amazon
For the Otaku
Bandai Godzilla Figure
Buy this, bring it to a meeting, keep it hidden, and then thwonk it loudly onto your desk while the boss is talking—along with the appropriate screeching sound effect, obviously. You’ll have the whole Zoom room in stitches! Or just give it to a kid. Kids love kaiju.
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Photograph: Topo Designs
For the Neat Freak
Topo Designs Accessories Bags
These little zipper pouches are made by the bag company Topo Designs, but your loved one need not be a Topophile to take advantage of the organizational kung fu these satchels bring to any backpack or briefcase. I use the smallest one Topo makes to hold tech essentials like USB-C cables, thumb drives, and (sigh) my headphone dongles. The larger size keeps my sunglasses, reporter’s notebook, and a couple of pens all in one place. They’re also great for makeup, art supplies, or toiletries.
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Photograph: Miir
For the Coffee Nut
MiiR 12-Ounce Tumbler
We test an unbelievable number of travel mugs here at WIRED. It seems like every brand is making one these days. However, I find myself returning to this simple and elegant tumbler from Miir, or as it’s known in my house, “old reliable.” The vacuum-insulated, stainless-steel chamber keeps 12 ounces of java comfortably hot all morning, and the press-on lid is easy to manage, with a rubber ring that keeps it just snug enough. A powder coating adds a dash of color and a grippy texture. The shape is perfect too, somewhere between a ’70s-era Ikea mug and a paper coffee cup.
If your giftee likes to take their coffee with them on morning walks, they’ll love this.
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Photograph: Amazon
For the Ego-Tripper
Atumtek 40 Inch Selfie Stick
We’d never encourage using a selfie stick. But those selfie-takers! So insistent. If they yearn to selfie, they should selfie with this. It has a telescoping neck and a Bluetooth shutter trigger remote, plus it can double as a tripod. They may even want to thank you by squeezing you into the frame to turn that selfie into a groupie. But don’t count on it.
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Photograph: Opinel
For the Wayfarer
Opinel No. 9 Pocket Knife
This 3-inch folding carbon steel blade is the best pocket knife you can buy on the internet for less than $25. The classic design with the hardwood handle and locking safety collar hails from Chambéry, France. The blade stays astonishingly sharp for years. Use it to carve a block of cheese, slice a pear, and extract the gel from leaves of aloe vera. Just be sure to wash and dry the blade after each use.
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Photograph: Lomography
For the Film Buff
Lomography Simple Use Reusable Film Camera
This looks like a disposable camera, but it’s actually an inexpensive and reusable pocket cam. Even better, it comes loaded with a roll of one of Lomography’s dreamy, retro-inspired films. This one is stuffed with LomoChrome Metropolis, a film stock that produces desaturated, contrast-heavy images. When that’s done, the camera will take any roll of 35-mm film, from Lomography or from Walgreens.
The flash also has a spindle to hold a colorful gel over the bulb, so your photo fanatic can capture shots that look moody and unique without resorting to digital tricks.
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Photograph: Amazon
For the Writer and Artist
Tombow Mono Drawing Pen Set
As a lefty, I deign to draw, write, or do anything pertaining to ink. It smudges and smears and often leaves me embarrassed. That’s where this Tombow six-piece pen set comes in. These pens dry quickly and are exceptional for anyone who draws line art (or really just likes to write with a felt tip). Plus, they’re quite durable.
And if your loved one’s head is always buried in a sketchbook, then they’ll love this drawing pencil set from the same brand. It includes 12 cedar pencils with leads of high-density graphite that allows for more precise sharpening. Each pencil has a different hardnesses rating, from a stout 4H all the way to a supple 6B. Also included are a sharpener and a delicate eraser. Be aware that they may ask you to sit for a portrait after they open the gift.
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Photograph: Backcountry
For the Lovely Luncher
Keith Titanium Chopsticks
Yeah, they make an elaborate lunch every day. And yes, they usually eat it with chopsticks. The other people on their Zoom call find it borderline insufferable, but you? You think it’s just too cute. Get them these lovely titanium models. They’re great for eating with or for stirring hot tea. The durability of titanium makes them absolutely indispensable on camping trips.
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Photograph: Knog
For Late-Night Cyclists
Knog Plus Twinpack Black
These tiny magnetic lights can be clipped anywhere—bikes, bags, shirts, or even a helmet. They don’t get tremendously bright but are just enough to make your loved one visible to cars when they head home. They’re waterproof, have a 40-hour runtime, and can recharge just by sticking them into a USB-A port.
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Photograph: Umami Mart
For the Mayor of Flavortown
Umami Mart Umami Salt
This 2.7-ounce spice shaker contains a potent mix of sea salt, black garlic, and shiitake mushroom—three ingredients that add a dose of earthy umami to whatever’s for dinner. It pairs perfectly with the flavors in Japanese dishes like donburi, onigiri, or yakisoba, but it’s so addictive that your savory-loving giftee will be sprinkling piles of this stuff onto everything: popcorn, squash soup, and bagels with cream cheese.
Bonus: Umami Salt is a collaboration between two Oakland, California, small businesses (Umami Mart and Oaktown Spice Shop), so you can support the little guys while you give your loved one’s grub some extra oomph.
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Photograph: Boredwalk
For Coloring Outside Your Mind
Adventures In The Abyss: A Dystopian Activity Book For The Modern Age
Like a wise man once said, “Life moves pretty fast.” With work, family, kids, friends, and any adult obligations, it’s important to make time for mindfulness. This adult activity book, Adventures in the Abyss, helps you relax and get a little creative. It’s full of puzzles, coloring pages, and other games that can take you out of all the chaos and bring you back down to earth.
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Photograph: Amazon
For the Sweet Tooth
Chimes Original Ginger Chews, 1-Pound Bag
What’s the best candy? Chimes Original Ginger Chews. Here’s a one-pound bag of individually wrapped chews from Amazon for $15. These are made in Indonesia using ginger grown on the island of Java, and they’re naturally gluten-free. They are sweet and spicy and gooey and perfect any time of day. Your giftee will love this.
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Photograph: BrüMate
For the Life of the Party
BrüMate 8-Ounce Liquor Canteen
If your loved one likes to unwind after a long day of work by taking to the streets with some firewater in tow (assuming it’s legal in your area), get them this 8-ounce flask. BrüMate’s Liquor Canteen earns its name from the quasi-military design, with the shape of the grippy silicone sleeve evoking the gas can often seen attached to army Jeeps. The “glitter mermaid swirl” paint job probably wouldn’t pass military muster, but here it adds a little fun to each sip.
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Photograph: Jessica Chou
For the WIRED Ones
1 Year of WIRED for $5!
We’re cheating here, but a full year of WIRED.com unlimited access costs only $5. We recommend gifting your loved one the print issues as well, which come at no extra cost. A subscription helps fund the Gadget Lab’s hard work testing phones, drones, and liquor canteens, as well as all the rest of WIRED’s great original and long-form stories.
Michael Calore oversees WIRED’s consumer products coverage in print and on the web, and is one of the hosts of WIRED’s weekly podcast, Gadget Lab. As a writer, he covers a range of topics including music, film, art, software, social media, and underground culture.
Medea Giordano turned her shopping problem into a career as a product writer for WIRED. She covers a little bit of everything but loves health, beauty, and pet tech. Prior to WIRED, she was an assistant editor at Wirecutter and an assistant in the newsroom of The New York Times…. Read more