Nite Ize BugLit micro flashlight
It’s always a good idea to have a flashlight available. It’s an even better idea to have one that will either stand on its own or wrap around your wrist or any convenient surface. And if it looks like a cute little bug, that makes it the perfect gift for a tech friend. Price: ~$15
Amazon
Walmart
Ikea Produkt milk frother
It’s hard not to love the sound of steam frothing up a jug of milk, and a small battery-powered milk frother does almost as good a job with much less effort. Just remember to heat up your milk first. Otherwise, you could find yourself sipping on a luke-warm latte. Price: ~$3
Amazon
Ikea
Elago AW5 AirPods Case for AirPods
It can be a little overwhelming to see the same white AirPods cases lying around and having to wonder which pair is yours. This Game Boy-inspired case by Elago will allow your friend or relative to know which case is theirs. Also, it looks really cool. Price: ~$12
Walmart
Network Effect: A Murderbot Novel by Martha Wells
How can you dislike a novel whose main character names themself Murderbot? This science fiction adventure, which features a part-human / part-robot protagonist, has plenty of satire and comedy mixed in with interesting thoughts on human (and non-human) behavior and motivation. Price: ~$14
Amazon
Peloton subscription
If you can’t afford a Peloton bike or treadmill or are just not sure if you want one you can still take part in Peloton’s wide range of fitness classes for only $13 a month. Price: ~$13
Peloton
Dune by Frank Herbert
The new movie version of Dune won’t be around until 2021, but in the meantime, why not read the original novel? This epic tale by Frank Herbert has become a classic in the science fiction canon because, as we all know, the spice must flow. Price: ~$9
Amazon
Walmart
Spudz microfiber cloth screen cleaner
Most phones today are fingerprint and dust magnets. The Spudz microfiber cloth screen cleaners live within their own little pockets. You can hang them on your keyring, belt, or backpack so you always have something available to clean your screen. Price: ~$5
Amazon
Alpine Innovations
To the Friend Who Did Not Save My Life by Hervé Guibert
In this sharp autofictional novel, Hervé Guibert chronicles the mood swings that come with diagnosis as well as the decline and death of his friend Muzil. The twists of hope and despair will feel familiar to readers as will the capricious nature of the drug industry. Price: ~$17
Amazon
Tomboyland: Essays by Melissa Faliveno
These are essays about being a Midwesterner, a queer person, purposefully childless, different expressions of love, and so much more. Beautifully written, it flows from one memory to the next. It’s as much a series of memoir essays as it is an unfolding of identity about all it means to simply be human. Price: ~$11
Amazon
Hands to Hearts Wrapsody headbands
If you know somebody who hasn’t been to the hair salon in a while, this is the perfect gift. The Wrapsody headbands are lovely batiked rounds of cloth that can be used in folds or opened to work as headbands, scarfs, kerchiefs, and even masks. They’ll keep your giftee’s hair tamed beautifully. Price: ~$15
Hands to Hearts
Vida protective face mask
Our colleagues over at The Strategiest rave about these masks, and there are plenty of designs and colors to choose from, from plain to print. Some masks feature prints designed by artists around the world, and some are even made with recycled plastic bottles. Price: ~$10
Amazon
Vida
Filmic Pro app
This 4K video recorder app gives your Android or iOS phone a plethora of advanced features that will enable you to shoot and edit your videos like a real pro. Price: ~$15
Apple
Google
Sugru Mouldable Glue
Sugru is Play-Doh for grownups. You mold it into whatever you want and then let it harden into things like a headphone holder, a curtain hook, or a cable organizer. I’ve also used it to repair a faucet handle. It’s the fixit solution for those of us who are normally not handy. Price: ~$10
Amazon
Target
Sugru
Base Roots vegan leather plant hangers
This minimalist plant hanger has the look and durability of leather without the, well, leather. It’s a great alternative to cord or macrame hangers. Price: ~$15
Amazon
Base Roots
Melitta single-cup pour-over coffee brewer
This is the perfect basic pour-over. It’s light, easy to clean, and makes a fine cup of coffee. And unlike most ceramic pour-overs, it has two big holes so you can tell how full your cup is and avoid spillover. It makes a great stocking-stuffer. Price: ~$5
Amazon
Walmart
Melitta
Spring Chef narrow measuring spoons
If you’re trying to get the perfect measurement of an herb or spice out of a small jar, you’ll find the slightly narrower width of these measuring spoons very helpful. That makes this a nice stocking-stuffer for any cooking enthusiasts on your list. Price: ~$20
Walmart
Joseph Joseph garlic rocker
If your friend uses garlic in their cooking, don’t bother getting them an old-fashioned dicer that just makes a mess. This snazzy rocker will dice garlic buds easily and cleanly, is fun to use, and looks really nice as well. Price: ~$15
Amazon
Premium Classic Series zester / grater
One of the most useful kitchen tools is a microplane grater. If you incorporate a lot of fresh garlic, ginger, or turmeric into recipes or drinks, it makes short work out of what’s otherwise a tedious mincing job on the cutting board. It’s also great for grating some cheese over bread. Price: ~$15
Amazon
Walmart
BLÅHAJ soft Ikea shark
Everyone needs a good stuffed animal in their life, regardless of age. You, or your giftee, might like to try the Ikea shark for those moments when you need to give something a good hug. It’s fluffy and adorable and probably too big for its own good. Price: ~$18
Amazon
Ikea
The CrunchCup
If you (or your giftee) work from home and love crunchy cereal, you’ll know it’s hard to eat your breakfast while trying to avoid spilling anything — especially milk — on your expensive tech. In that case, The CrunchCup is the perfect gift. It allows you to get the crunchiness from cereal while keeping your desk clean. It’s truly a win-win. Price: ~$20
Amazon
Modern Witch Tarot Deck by Lisa Sterle
If you want to learn Tarot during the cold weather this year, this is a great beginner’s deck. The designs of the cards are colorful and diverse, making it stand out from other Tarot decks, and there’s also a booklet, making it unnecessary to constantly look up stuff online.Price: ~$22
Amazon
From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back by various authors
A great gift for any Star Wars fan! This book celebrates the legacy of The Empire Strikes Back with a reimagining of the film featuring new perspectives from 40 well-known authors. Price: ~$23
Amazon
The Death of Vivek Oji: A Novel by Akwaeke Emezi
This book is deeply introspective and thought-provoking. It takes place in Nigeria and focuses on complicated friendships and familial ties surrounding sexual and gender identity that can both define and hide who a person is. It’s as emotional as it is meaningful. Price: ~$21
Amazon
BlueAVS Audio Video Capture Card, HDMI to USB
All this device does is convert HDMI to USB, which is conceptually simple but technically more complex. However, the brand name models have become difficult to find, which is where this weird little knockoff model comes in. It’s inexpensive and it works. What more do you need? Price: ~$15
Amazon
Tamagotchi Hello Kitty
What could be more fun than having your own Tamagotchi Hello Kitty to raise and nurture? Give your favorite Hello Kitty fan this cool gadget to carry around and care for. Price: ~$20
Amazon
Kyisgos leather Apple Watch strap
Leather bands for the Apple Watch are great, but very expensive. Fortunately, if you want a leather band for your Apple wearable but do not want to spend a ton of money, Kyisgos has a $20 leather watch band that uses the same clasp as the Apple sport bands. Price: ~$20
Amazon