31 clever gifts from Amazon that work for everyone on your list - all under $50
- Great news: Affordable gifts can be just as useful as expensive gifts.
- Below are 31 presents that anyone will actually be excited to receive. You can get them all on Amazon (come on in, last-minute shoppers) and for less than $50.
Not everyone on your gifting list this year wants or needs an expensive gift, but you'd probably still like to find them something thoughtful regardless. For that tall order, I've rounded up 31 of the best finds on Amazon below - with all the perks of easy, fast shipping and saved payment information.
These are unique but affordable gifts for the slew of people in your life not waiting for the keys to a new Tesla. They're thoughtful, useful, and may even make life in 2019 easier for your giftee.
Below are 31 great Amazon gifts that will cost you less than $50:
A vacuum insulated stainless steel water bottle people swear by
Hydro Flask 32-Ounce Wide Mouth Bottle, $39.95
These cult-favorite, vacuum insulated stainless steel water bottles work really well. It'll keep hot drinks hot for up to six hours, and cold drinks cold up to twenty-four hours.
A powerful external battery
Portable 6000 mAh Charger, $30.99
It's not groundbreaking to give someone a portable charger, but they'll find themselves grateful for it more times than they can count. It's perfect for traveling, commuting, and insurance for long days away from home and on the go. We rated this model by Jackery the best portable charger iPhone users can buy. It reportedly charges iPhones twice as fast as the original iPhone charger.
A media streamer that can turn a basic TV into a smart one
Fire TV Stick 4K, Alexa-Enabled Voice Remote, $39.99
The all-new Fire TV Stick has a new Wi-Fi antenna design optimized for 4K Ultra-HD streaming and more storage for apps and games. Essentially, though, it's still your standard media streaming stick, and can convert a basic TV into a smart one that can stream Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu and more. It's Alexa-enabled, too, so you can control it by voice — turning the volume up on your sound bar and dimming the lights simultaneously.
Anthony Bourdain's best-selling culinary and travel memoir
"A Cook's Tour: Global Adventures in Extreme Cuisines" by Anthony Bourdain, from $7.21
This is Anthony Bourdain's New York Times best-selling chronicle of traveling the world in search the globe's greatest culinary adventures. From California to Cambodia, Bourdain spent much of his adult life searching for the perfect meal.
A durable, inexpensive Fire tablet
Amazon's Fire tablets are a relatively great deal for a tablet if you're not looking for anything super high-performance driven or luxe. For the average user, they're a good fit. It's Alexa-enabled, so you can ask for quick access to music and entertainment or messages and calling, and it has up to seven hours of battery life.
You can shop the latest versions for a bit more money here.
A popular reusable shopping bag in a fun print
Baggu Standard Reusable Shopping Bag, $12
Baggu bags are popular for a reason — they come in tons of fun prints and can fold down to pretty much nothing even though they can hold 50 pounds of stuff.
An all-new Echo Dot
3rd Generation Echo Dot, $49.99
The newest Echo Dot is a great gift for expert or amateur tech users. It has thousands of skills, but doesn't require much once it's set up. Alexa can control smart lights, outlets, TVs, and more to make life more seamless, and she can tell you the forecast, find and check recipes, and play music or set alarms and timers. For $60, you can pre-order one with a built-in clock now, too.
One of the year's most noteworthy books
"On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous: A Novel" by Ocean Vuong, $18.60
Ocean Vuong is an American poet, and "On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous" is his much-anticipated debut novel. Published in 2019, it's a letter from a son to a mother who cannot read that delves into family history, addiction, violence, trauma, and compassion and tenderness. If they're a bookworm looking for the next bittersweet American classic, you may want to start here.
An electric bottle opener
Oster Cordless Electric Wine Bottle Opener with Foil Cutter, $17.99
This slim device cuts foil and uncorks wine bottles seamlessly, then stows easily out of sight. It has to be charged, but it'll open 30 bottles per charge.
Highly rated in-ear earbuds
Panasonic ErgoFit In-Ear Earbud Headphones, from $8.83
Whether for everyday use, the gym, as a backup, or just for travel when Bluetooth headphones won't connect to the in-flight entertainment, there are ample uses for really solid in-ear buds with a stereo plug. This pair has an extended cord, three sets of ear pads for the perfect fit, and is "Amazon's Choice" with over 38,000 five-star reviews.
A candle that pays homage to their favorite place on earth
Homesick Candles, available at Amazon, $29.95
This is a great gift for pretty much anyone. Gift them a candle customized to smell like their beloved hometown, college town, or favorite getaway to show that you know them and want to bring their most loved spots a little closer to home.
A portable and waterproof speaker
JBL Clip Portable Waterproof Wireless Bluetooth Speaker, $49.99
This wireless Bluetooth speaker is waterproof, durable, and comes with a carabiner attached so it can be clipped for easy carrying. It has 10 hours of playtime and maintains sound quality even at high volumes.
The cult-favorite clay mask that took over the internet
Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay Facial & Body Mask, $9.99
The Aztec Clay Mask is one of those cult-favorite products of the internet that's driven from the obscure depths of Amazon to beauty vlogs, Youtube testimonials with over 4 million views, and even the Sephora beauty blog. Right now, it has over 12,000 five-star reviews on Amazon.
It's been called "the world's most powerful facial," and it's also under $10. It can be mixed with water, but it works best with a little bit of apple cider vinegar. You can read a full review here.
A cast iron skillet with almost 10,000 five-star reviews
Lodge 10.25-Inch Cast Iron Skillet, $13.25
This 10.25 cast iron skillet has nearly 10,000 five-star reviews, and Lodge has been making cast iron cookware since 1896, so they've learned a thing or two about what makes a great kitchen tool.
One of the best-selling fiction books of 2018
"Little fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng, from $9.72
This was one of the most popular fiction books purchased on Amazon in 2018, and it's also one of our favorite books of 2018. That's all to say that it's a safe gift for the bookworm or friend headed out for a January vacation with a long plane ride ahead.
A famous hot sauce made from peppers grown in over 30 community gardens in the Bronx
Small Axe Peppers Variety 3-Pack, $31.95
This all-natural, tangy hot sauce is best known for its part in the popular Youtube series "Hot Ones." It's made from Serrano peppers grown in over 30 community gardens throughout the Bronx.
A cold brew coffee maker
Takeya Deluxe Cold Brew Coffee Maker, $16.99
This cold brew maker is as inexpensive as it is convenient, and it saves me hundreds of dollars per year. It easily fits into most refrigerator doors, is simple to use, and makes a good amount of cold brew at once. If they need more than one quart, there's also a two-quart option under $20.
A salt plank for cooking
Himalayan Salt Plate and Holder Set, $38.68
A salt block is the multitasking tool more and more kitchens are adopting. They're a stable crystal structure, which means they can hold a temperature very well. It can be chilled to use as a serving platter for sushi, or heated over a grill or stovetop to cook veggies infused with flavor. Himalayan salt is more nuanced than table salt, and the amount of saltiness imparted varies with the type of food (moist foods absorb more salt, fatty foods repel it, etc.). It's also long-lasting and naturally antibacterial.
A universal USB wall charger that fits four devices
Anker 4-Port USB Wall Charger with Foldable Plug, $25.99
Double the outlet space with this four-port USB wall charger. Its advanced charging capacity also means their tech will charge faster than average.
An Atlas Obscura calendar full of daily photos and tidbits about the world's strangest and coolest places or festivals
Atlas Obscura Page-A-Day 2020 Calendar, $14.99
The Atlas Obscura calendar is a fun, novel way to infuse each day with an anchor of appreciation and wonder for the world. There are hundreds of photos that celebrate the world's strangest and coolest places, festivals, and foods. Travelers and life-long learners are particularly good candidates for this one.
A delicious gift basket of caramel, chocolate, and crunchy gourmet treats
Chocolate, Caramel and Crunch Grand Gift Basket, $37
For less than $40, you can gift gourmet chocolates and caramels already pre-wrapped in a keepsake basket. The set includes seasonal favorites like caramel corn, chocolate pretzels, and peanut brittle.
A hair turban that will cut drying time in half
Aquis Original Microfiber Hair Turban, from $20
Aquis' cult-favorite hair towels have inspired a slew of rave reviews online, including one from our own team of product reviewers.
The towels are made from a proprietary fabric called Aquitex that's composed of ultra-fine fibers (finer than silk) that work to reduce the amount of friction the hair experiences while in its weakest state. It also prevents hygral fatigue — the stretching and swelling of wet hair that makes it vulnerable to frizz and damage — by cutting the hair's drying time by 50%.
A charging case that protects and charges wireless devices on the go
Mophie Wireless Power Capsule External Battery Charger, $36.88 (originally $39.95)
This compact, travel-friendly case charges wearables like the Fitbit Flex, Beats by Dre, and JBL Wireless Earbuds on the go. The 1,4000 mAh rechargeable battery translates to about 60 hours of audio playback in wireless earbuds.
A milk frother so they can make their favorite coffee or hot chocolate drinks from home
A milk frother is an unexpectedly convenient tool to have around the house, and it can make an otherwise normal cup of coffee or hot chocolate closer to what you'd buy at the cafe. With it, they can make lattes, cappuccinos, and frothy coffees every morning for less.
A soap bar that's a great life hack for tough stains
The Laundress Wash & Stain Bar, $5.67
This may qualify as more of a stocking stuffer due to its miniature size, but it's a great gift in any form. This is another early Insider Picks favorite because it's relatively cheap and works exceptionally well. The Laundress Wash & Stain Bar is one of the only things that can bring white clothes back from the brink of donation piles, as we've attested in our roundup of the best things we bought on Amazon under $25.
The best travel pillow we've found
We know it sounds gimmicky, but these travel pillows from Trtl really do make a difference, which is why we've voted them the best travel pillows you can buy. It won't make the frequent traveler feel like they're in bed at home, but it will offer a better, more restful sleep on the move.
A hilarious card game
What Do You Meme? Party Game, $29.99
This hilarious popular card game brings together the funniest memes of the Internet with over 350 caption cards for funny combinations.
Alexa-enabled smart plugs
Wemo Mini Smart WiFi-Enabled Plug, $24.49
These plugs turn your devices into smart tech. They help your giftee control their lights and appliances from a free app on their phone, or by voice using Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit.
A highly rated pump with universal wine stoppers to keep open bottles fresh for longer
The Original Vacu Vin Wine Saver with Two Vacuum Stoppers, $11.89
This hyper-popular pump and universal wine stopper set keeps open bottles of wine from prolonged exposure to the air, which is what causes the breakdown of its character and taste. This version makes a "click" sound when the user has managed to create an airtight seal, and has almost 3,000 five-star reviews.
A keychain that finds their keys for them
Tile Pro with Replaceable Battery, $23.16
Never let them lose their keys again. This new Tile keychain pairs with their smartphone so they'll always be able to locate them. Conversely, you can press the Tile button to locate your phone if it's lost, even if it's on silent mode.
A photo book from one of the most renowned wildlife photographers
"Polar Obsession" by Paul Nicklen, $36.69
Paul Nicklen is an acclaimed Canadian photographer, film-maker, and marine biologist known especially for his work in and deep understanding of the Arctic. He's a frequent contributor to National Geographic and has won the BBC Wildlife Photographer award of the year as well as the prestigious World Press Photo award for photojournalism.
Nicklen's photos reflect a reverence for creatures in isolated or endangered environments, and "Polar Obsession" is an incredible homage.