36 Unique, Meaningful, Or Simply Awesome Gifts That Cost Less Than $50
Significant other: "What do you want (other than a dog)?" Me: **sends this list**
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1. A mermaid tail blanket to transform any abode into a paradise under the sea. Listen to me, the human world is a mess. Let us all pretend to be Ariel, am I right?
2. A personalized ring that lets you keep your loved ones ~on hand~ at all times. And by loved ones, I mean your pets.*
*Your children, siblings, parents, or friends could also be a good option. Just make a note with your order to specify what you'd like your ring to say!
Get it from Grace Personalized on Etsy for $28 (originally $35, available in three colors).
3. A cake decorating kit for the friend who tags you in just about every single BuzzFeed Tasty video. We get it, Amy. You love the jiggly cheesecake.
On a serious note! This inexpensive kit includes everything you need to make an over-the-top piece of sugar art (cake). It includes a cake turntable an icing spatula, 24 icing tips, a pastry bag, a cake brush, a cake cutter, a cake pan, and three cake scrapers.
Promising review: "This is such good quality for the price! The turntable spins nice and smoothly, the icing tools are great, and this kit really helped me make my daughters cake look nice for her birthday party!" —Damon
Get it from Amazon for $14.95.
4. A USB night light any recipient is sure to seriously adore. Dare I say they will love it to the moon (this is where you slap your knee) and back.
This night lamp has a battery that should be charged for up to three hours, that way the light itself lasts for up to ten hours! Plus, you can tap the lamp itself to change brightness and color (yellow or white).
Promising review: "My son loves this. He needed a nightlight to keep on in his room, and this really fit the bill! It sits on the tabletop, and gives off enough light to see but not enough to disrupt his sleep." —Ryan
Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in six styles).
5. A prompt-filled hardcover journal ideal for movie buffs and aspiring critics. Forget saving those ticket stubs — this book acts as an even better memento.
Promising review: "My husband and I are avid movie renters. We also have several hundred movies in our collection. We bought this journal to keep record of what we've seen and what we liked and disliked about it. Plus, it's a great conversation starter! The very first movie we recorded in this journal was Thor, and my husband was a huge fan whereas I could have lived without seeing that movie. It was fun to use this journal to talk about what we liked and disliked afterwards!" —JJ Christensen
Get it from Amazon for $19.95.
6. Ankle socks that embody my constant mood for the past decade. Hanger is a real thing, and that is a fact.
Get them from Amazon for $10.99 (available in 34 styles).
7. A Ghirardelli chocolate sampler box complete with squares of milk chocolate, caramel milk chocolate, sea salt dark chocolate, mint dark chocolate, caramel dark chocolate, and PEPPERMINT BARK.
These melt-in-your-mouth chocolate squares are also packed in a ready-to-give box that you don't even need to gift wrap, am I right?
Get a pack of 15 from Amazon for $12.85.
8. The Burn Cookbook — a recipe book complete with delicious dishes that tie in with Mean Girls so freakin' well. The Fetch-uccini Alfredo, for example, looks extremely delicious and extremely full of carbs.
Promising review: ""This is the cookbook I never knew I needed! The instructions are easy to follow and the ingredients are easy to find. Kraft mac and cheese for cheese balls? Awesome! Jonathan Bennett and Nikki Martin gave us the perfect parody cookbook. This is such a great buy and well worth the price." —Darrell Nelson
Get it from Amazon for $15.
9. An LED curtain string light for the pal who prefers dim ~mood~ lighting while spending their Friday night bingeing the newest Netflix original. Optional: Pair this gift with a candle and they'll love you forever.
These string lights are perfect for both indoor and outdoor use.
Promising review: "These lights are perfect for what I was looking for. They give off a warm and cozy glow, and really add a nice touch of oomph to the room." —Nechama G.
Get it from Amazon for $17.99.
10. A science kit that lets you grow your very own terrarium! This gift will inspire your kiddos to develop a green thumb — and not turn into an eventual plant murderer, like I am.
This kit includes two plastic mason-style jar, decorative lids, potting mix, organic chia and wheat grass seeds, garden figurines, decorative sand, river stones, and a plant mister. It even includes glow-in-the-dark stickers!
Promising review: "I bought this for my little brother and he was so smitten with this gift! He loves nature and loved putting this together himself. The instructions were easy to follow and it didn't take too long to put together. In the weeks that followed, he was happy he had a 'job' to do as he had to water the terrarium daily with the special spray bottle included. The different plants popped up in about 2-3 weeks. Very cool!" —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $12.99.
11. An Airbnb gift card you'll want to gift the friend or family member most likely to use the #wanderlust hashtag on Instagram.
This is also the perfect last-minute gift because it's sent directly to your email account! You can hypothetically order this five seconds before Christmas morning begins and you will be FINE, sunshine. All the lucky gift card recipient will have to do is redeem the gift card on the actual Airbnb site.
Get it from Target for $50.
12. A nonstick sandwich maker to give the poor pal so incapable of cooking, even scrambling some eggs is a challenge. At least this panini press will give their daily meals an air of ~gourmet~.
This is an especially great for the college student in your life who is stuck without a kitchen, forcing them to eat out or eat at the dining hall. The horror...
Promising review: "Amazing product! Can’t get any better for the price! Being a college student and living in a dorm without an actual stove obviously sucks, especially when the dining hall food is not great either — but this legit has saved me so much money because I can make actual food now rather than either eating microwave food or wasting money on ordering food. It has a lot more functionality than just a panini maker! You can use this to make hash browns, omelettes, french toast, etc!" —Sarah
Get it from Amazon for $16.99.
13. A hand-stitched embroidery hoop complete with the state that is closest to your heart — whether that's your home state or the best state (NEW YORK, OBVIOUSLY).
This is the perfect gift for your homesick pal!
Get it from EmBroidersBoutique on Etsy for $20+ (available in four sizes).
14. A measuring spoon set made from luxury porcelain that feels much more expensive than the price tag would suggest. Plus, these whale babies are stackable for easy storage!
This set comes with measurements for one tablespoon, 1/2 tablespoon, and one teaspoon.
Get it from Amazon for $15.26.
15. A car neck pillow for the poor soul who was hoping for a present that barked. You'll get a corgi next year, kid. **begins to sob uncontrollably**
Get it from Amazon for $15.90.
16. A Harry Potter-inspired pop-up book you'll want to flip through whilst drinking butter beer and eating some pumpkin pasties.
Get it from Amazon for $20.99.
17. A hair brush set because why not turn taming your mane into a marble- and rose gold-covered luxury? This gorgeous set includes a paddle brush, a blow dry brush, a comb, and two clips.
18. A cold brew maker with an airtight lid and stainless steel filter that will keep your coffee fresh for up to two weeks. "No more paying unreasonably high prices for your favorite cup of Joe," I'll say to the underpaid BFF I bought this for.
Just add up to six tablespoons of your go-to coffee beans into the filter, fill it with water, and leave it in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Then, remove the filter from the pitcher and — BAM — you've got some delicious coffee.
Promising review: "This was my first cold brewing experience, but this product made it easy! Just put your coffee in the filter, fill it with water, and forget it in the fridge for a day! Plus, I love that everything comes apart easily and can be put in the dishwasher." —shackelforrd
Get it from Amazon for $19.99.
Read our full review of this coffee maker.
19. A perfume sampler box complete with six best-selling Tocca scents. Feeling floral? Spritz on some Florence. Want to feel fresh? Spritz on some Stella.
Plus, the box these perfumes come in is also vanity-worthy gorgeous.
Get it from Birchbox for $38.
20. A mortar and pestle for the guac connoisseur. They do not care that guac costs extra (ALTHOUGH IT SHOULDN'T), thank you very much.
21. A gorgeous Venus et Fleur arrangement featuring a single rose that will last 👏 all 👏 year 👏 long 👏. You may want to get this for the pal who prefers fresh bouquets to just about everything else.
No! Seriously! This rose will last for an entire year. And if you hate red roses? No problem — you can get the above arrangement in 23 different colors. You can also choose between a black or white keepsake box.
Get it from Venus et Fleur for $39 (available in 23 colors).
22. Wooden ornaments you can personalize with the name of your family members. Or the name of your cats! Totally up to you.
**gets matching ornament with cat**
Get it from Rachel Emma Studio on Etsy for $3.36+.
23. A wall hook that doubles as both decor and storage space. Hang your favorite jewelry on this pretty little thing + never worry about losing that expensive necklace ever again!
I, personally, would store my keys on this thing because I always manage to lose my damn keys. It's a gift.
Get it from Urban Outfitters for $12.
24. A Fender leather strap perfect for the guitar aficionado in your life. You know, the one who should be touring with the Stones right now.
25. An attachable aerator to make your less-than-$10 wine taste like it was sourced from Napa and aged for 10 centuries. "I'm getting some dry notes of expensive," you'll say.
This attachable aerator deposits oxygen into your wine, which improves taste and allows aromas to EXPAND.
Promising review: "These wine aerators are FABULOUS! I do wine demos for different wineries and I don't always have time to let a bottle of wine breathe properly before a demo starts. These greatly enhance the flavor and it makes all the difference in the world. My sales numbers increased greatly. And you can't beat the price!" —Ash Bash.
Get it from Amazon for $12.99.
26. A constellation necklace emblazoned with a North Star. If I could describe this gorgeous piece of jewelry with one word, that word would be dainty.
Promising review: "This necklace is gorgeous — so dainty and so lovely! Such a stunner and I'm so happy I ordered this." —Baxter Boots
27. An 11-piece bullet blender to stop your best friend from spending $11 — $11 FOR BLENDED FRUIT — on a near daily basis. You've got rent to pay, Karen. Make your own damn smoothies.
This Magic Bullet is great for smoothies (HI KAREN), but it's also perfect for making sauces, dips, omelettes, and a slew of other delicious things. It can chop, grind, blend, and whip anything at all!
It even comes with a to-go lid, meaning you can drink your delicious homemade smoothie whilst commuting to work!
Promising review: "Great value! It meets all my expectations for what I use it for (I make protein smoothies with almond milk, protein powder, banana, peanut butter, fiber, and ice). I was using a big blender in the past and making way more than I needed, but this bullet blender makes cleanup and portion size super easy. And for the low pice, this can't be beat!" —Wbask6842
Get it from Amazon for $31.90.
28. Magnolia Table: A Collection of Recipes for Gathering by MY GIRL, Joanna Gaines. Look forward to hearty, classic recipes that will motivate you to stop ordering in so damn much.
Get it from Amazon for $17.93.
29. A luggage tag and passport holder set to add a much-needed dose of chic to that uncomfortably long, turbulence-filled, I-got-a-seat-next-to-the-bathroom flight.
And say hello to organization with this gorgeous passport holder — it has card slots AND a pen holder, meaning you won't have to dig through your overly-stuffed backpack to find that free ballpoint you got from your bank.
Get it from Nordstrom for $25 (available in eight colors).
30. A personalized cutting board that is both beautiful and functional. This is the perfect present for new couples and families!
Get it from Well Written Gifts on Etsy for $29.95+ (available in five colors and two sizes).
32. A luxury soy candle to fill any home with the fresh scent of freshly-picked roses. Plus, this thing is made in France meaning you'll basically be gifting someone a trip to Paris. Right? RIGHT!?
Psst, the 2.4 ounce candle has a burn time of up to 20 hours!
Promising review: "This candle has a beautiful, delicate fragrance that somehow manages to fill a room without being sickly sweet or overpowering. It is very subtle whilst still being noticeable and feeling luxurious. It's just so lovely!" —georgiadcw
Get it from Nordstrom for $35+.
33. A science kit complete with nine activities to keep the kiddos (and rent-paying youths who still feel like kiddos) busy during their long winter break. WHO SAID SCIENCE COULDN'T BE FUN?
Promising review: "My son had a great time mixing and creating with this kit! Once he started with some of the easier experiments, he couldn't get enough. The instructions are well written and easy to follow, and this kit was worth the price for the laughter that ensued." —Aaron M.
Get it from Amazon for $10.54.
34. A gorgeous custom ring you can personalize with your favorite cityscape. Think everything from New Orleans and New York to Paris and Prague!
Get it from CaitlynMinimalist on Etsy for $21 (available in three colors, 68 cities, and sizes 4.5-12).
35. A savings jar for all the deprived adults out there (myself sadly included) who have never been to Disney and experienced the joy that is that damn teacup ride.
"I Never Went to Disney" will be the title of my memoir.
Get it from thewanderandwild on Etsy for $17.36+.
Prepare for this kind of reaction after all the presents have been unwrapped this year:
Looking for the perfect gift for any occasion? Check out all of BuzzFeed’s gift guides!
The reviews in this post have been edited for length and clarity.
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