$25 doesn't go as far as it used to. As recently as a decade ago, $25 could fill up your gas tank and buy a pretty good gift, with plenty of options for just about every interest and occasion. Nowadays, it’s a struggle to even find a $25 takeout meal for one person and average national gas prices are inching toward $5 a gallon. And we all know wages have not kept up.
Good news: There are still plenty of thoughtful, interesting items out there to be had for $25, which are sure to appeal to everyone from coworkers to neighbors, relatives you don't know well, and the friend who seems to have everything. All things on this list have been tested and vetted by at least one person on the WIRED Reviews team—often more than one—to ensure it is indeed a good gift you'd be proud to give. Check out more of our gift guides to find something for everyone on your list this year.
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Amazon (Denali, Cuyahoga, Olympic)
Puffin (The Fleece)
MoMA Design Store
MoMA Design Store
WIRED senior Gear editor Julian Chokkattu recommends this colorful acrylic desk accessory that keeps pencils, scissors, and other large items on top and smaller items like paper clips (or, in Julian's case as a phone reviewer, SIM ejection pins) on the bottom. Shown is the pink-and-amber color combination, but there's also a blue-and-green option.
Amazon (Denali, Cuyahoga, Olympic)
Amazon (Glacier, Hawai'i Volcanoes, Everglades)
I've used Field Notes for years—they’re lightweight, sturdy, and a perfectly pocketable. The National Parks Series elevates what would otherwise be a utilitarian notebook to its giftable status, with artist-created covers inspired by our nation's natural wonders—from Acadia to the Hawai'i Volcanoes.
My city recently got its own brick-and-mortar Muji store, and if you’ve never visited the famed Japanese retailer in person, it’s basically a mecca for stationery and desk accessories. These pens in particular are famous for their smooth ink and precision tips, and make a perfect companion for the Field Notes notebooks at left.
Puffin (The Fleece)
Puffin (The Alpine)
Puffin (The Resort)
These drink cozies are a favored white elephant gift from WIRED reviewer Nena Farrell ("It's like playing Barbie with your drinks," she says), but I like them because they remind me of Will Ferrell and his friend Harper Steele in the movie Will & Harper, where they go on a road trip, dress up their drinks in these exact cozies, and come up with ridiculous names for them like Cornelius Danderhoff. It reminds me of road trips I took with friends in college, which reminds me that I'm old, which … makes me want a drink.
Set the right vibe in any room with this WIRED-recommended, Matter-compatible smart light bulb that features millions of colors, scenes, and effects you can control with Alexa, Google Assistant, or the Govee app. You can also sync it to music with the latter, using the microphone on your phone.
Let your giftee be heard wherever they go with their very own Bluetooth microphone. Former WIRED A/V editor Parker Hall especially liked this one for its series of playback and mixing controls, in addition to adjustable volume, echo effects, and the ability to play, skip, or pause your backing track.
A sleep mask is a must for proper sleep hygiene, and WIRED reviewer and sleep mask aficionado Louryn Strampe loves the roomy fit of this 22-momme silk model from Quince. It’s half the price of similar 100-percent silk sleep masks, and there's free shipping to keep things affordable. Choose from among 12 color options, including Eucalyptus, Espresso, Pink, Terra Cotta, and Light Blue.
Crowned our best earplugs for sleep, the silicone Loop Quiet 2 are capable of blocking out 24 dB and fit entirely flush with your head, ensuring that they're perfectly comfortable when you lie on your side. The little handle makes them easy to pull out, and they come in four fun colors with a variety of ear tips to ensure your giftee can get the perfect fit.
Help your giftee’s personal space stay cool and fresh with this 4-in-1 fan, the best handheld fan I’ve personally tried. You can set it on a table or desk, hold it in your hand, clip it onto something with the bottom carabiner, or wear it around your neck. It’s plenty quiet enough to hold a conversation over, and it comes in four fun colors.
Jacobsen Salt Co.
Jacobsen Salt Co. (Salt)
Jacobsen Salt Co. (Salt Cellar)
My entire family is obsessed with this finishing salt, which is harvested in Netarts Bay, Oregon, just a couple of hours from our house. The large, irregular crystals look (and taste) fantastic on meat, roast vegetables, and desserts, and offer the perfect amount of crunch. Either the salt itself or the stylish arched salt cellar—handmade by Pigeon Toe Ceramics in Portland, Oregon—would make a terrific gift on its own.
A sharp, trusty chef’s knife is a staple in any kitchen, and Kiwi knives are beloved by multiple members of the WIRED Reviews team for their ability to hold an edge just as well as knives that cost 10 times as much. I’ve had a Kiwi knife in my own knife drawer for more than 20 years, and it's still going strong.
Who doesn’t love a colorful Le Creuset Dutch oven? The real-deal, enameled cast iron version may not be in your gifting budget, but the 8-ounce stoneware cocotte is perfect as a salt cellar, garlic roaster, or even a bowl to eat out of. Most of the classic colors are available, so you can match your giftee’s kitchen or other Le Creuset pots if they have them.
I have a separate gift guide for plant lovers, where I talk about how much I like the usability of this book. Put together by Vanessa Minton of From the Garden, “How to Grow Medicinal Herbs” features clear and complete directions that are perfect for beginners, from growing the plants to how to incorporate them into infused oils, tinctures, teas, and syrups. I actually did give a copy to a friend as a gift, and she liked it so much she took it on a trip and read it cover to cover on the plane.
Back to the Roots
Amazon (oyster)
I received this dehydrated fruiting block in a box for my birthday a couple of years ago, and I was super impressed with how quickly and abundantly the oyster mushrooms grew—right on my windowsill. Growing mushrooms isn’t always easy, but this is a fun and educational method for kids and adults alike.
Happy Happy Houseplant
Happy Happy Houseplant
Tropical Monstera deliciosa houseplants are all the rage right now, but many people may not know that they actually bear a fruit. It's rarely produced outside the monstera’s native climate, so you may not have the opportunity to taste it, but you can get the gist with this one-of-a-kind monstera fruit taffy. (It’s tart!)
Being able to keep track of keys, luggage, and other gear is critical, and these Bluetooth trackers work just as well as AirTags for a quarter of the price. A pack of four with little lanyards and fun stickers retails for $24 but often on sale for even less. They work with Apple’s Find My and take just seconds to sync to your phone. I have four of these in use in my household, and they are truly indistinguishable from AirTags in both tracking and quality. There's also a rechargeable set that works with both iOS and Android, but we haven't tried that one.
WIRED contributing reviewer Alexis Berger organized multiple zones of her house with these QR Code stickers. They come with a free app that will scan and catalog all of a drawer or box’s contents using AI—that way you can just look on your phone for the location of an item instead of spending all day tearing your home and garage apart.
I cannot even begin to list all the times I’ve been glad to be carrying a reusable bag, but the ones I usually have in my purse are small and flimsy. Former WIRED reviewer Medea Giordano loved this 25-inch-tall ripstop model that carries up to 50 pounds yet folds into a flat 5-by-5-inch pouch. It’s also machine washable and comes in 35 colors and prints.
WIRED contributing reviewer and former barista Pete Cottell loves this espresso accessory for its durability and design—and can be found in seemingly every coffee shop where I live in the Pacific Northwest. However, even if you don’t have an espresso machine, the uses for a little spouted measuring cup are endless. I have a plastic one and use it for everything from measuring small quantities of liquid ingredients to fertilizing plants.
Amazon (12-Ounce)
WIRED reviewer Boutayna Chokrane recommends this Hydro Flask in her guide to the best travel mugs for its stainless steel rim that makes for smooth sipping. I have the tumbler version, but I wish it had a handle like this mug. Mine is not easy to hold when it’s cold outside and I'm wearing gloves. (Mug is hand-wash only.)
Though this simple warmer only turns on when you have a mug on it, it was effective and reliable when we tested it, and it makes a great gift for anyone who works from home and ends up having their coffee or tea run cold during meetings. I bought one for my husband for Christmas last year, and it’s still going strong.
WIRED reviewer Louryn Strampe has this mini gaming controller, which is compatible with Nintendo Switch, PC, macOS, iOS, and Android devices. It's tiny, cute, and actually works—she uses it to play Stardew Valley and Bastion on her iPhone. If your teen loves gaming, it would make a great stocking stuffer too. (It gets about 10 hours of battery life per USB-C charge.)
Amazon (3-Pack Variety Pack)
Amazon (3-Pack Tajin)
Amazon (3-Pack FIFA)
Dr. Squatch soap is a pretty safe gift for teen boys (source: I have a teen boy), and a three-pack makes it more likely they’ll at least get one scent that’s a favorite. There are always lots of fun collabs each season, too—this year’s include Taijn seasoning and FIFA.
Yes, they are $1 over the limit, but these bag charms are worth the extra buck. They include little roller-ball bottles of popular Sand + Fog fragrance oils and come in a ready-made gift box, The charms look great on bags and backpacks, and would be a perfect stocking stuffer or angel-tree gift for teen girls.
WIRED reviewer Simon Hill's family loves this hilarious drawing game that's based on Telephone. Sketch a visual representation of a word or phrase and then pass it around the table for people to guess what it is. It's great for parties and can accommodate four to eight people. The recommended minimum age is 12, but Simon's 9-year-old daughter loves it.
These puzzles look like normal landscapes but contain a secret section not pictured on the box, with something jarringly incongruent like a dog pooping or a cat barfing. Remove the red sleeve and your giftee will have no idea anything is amiss until they put it together. I gave one of these to my husband, and the ruse worked flawlessly and was just as hilarious as I'd hoped.
Amazon (Roto Wipe)
Amazon (Baby Influencer Kit)
Amazon (Pudding Pouch)
Amazon (Earwax Candle)
I have given these boxes countless times with either a gift certificate or homemade coupon inside, and they’re always a hit, especially in group settings. Many of the dozen or so designs are toilet-themed, but each one is just serious-looking enough that it usually takes people a few long (and hilarious) minutes to realize it’s not a real item.
Epiphany Outdoor Gear
WIRED reviewer and esteemed outdoorsman Scott Gilbertson swears by this tiny telescoping bellows that will help any fire get going again, whether that's a campfire or your wood stove at home. It stretches out to be surprisingly long and is a must-have for wet firewood, bug-out bags, or even backyard cookouts.
I carried a Nalgene all through college in the late ’90s before the brand's polycarbonate was found to have BPA. Now Nalgenes are back with BPA-free Tritan renew plastic, which makes them lightweight and perfect for both outdoor activities and everyday use.
I'm a Leatherman kind of person myself, but sometimes you just need a bigger knife. In those cases, you won’t do better than this folding, portable number featured in our Buy It For Life guide. French Alps-based Opinel has been making knives since 1890, and the No. 8 in particular is so well designed it’s been displayed in museums.
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Source: Wired
