The Best Gifts Under $100

You want to give something good, you do not want to spend a fortune, and the person you are buying for has not created a wishlist. A hundred dollars goes further than most people think. Here are fifteen of the best gifts under $100, with the models to look for.

Personalised photo book

A photo book works for almost any occasion: a birthday, a wedding or a holiday you took together. Sites like Shutterfly or Mixbook let you make one from about $20. It is one of the cheapest gifts here and often the one people keep longest.

Wireless headphones

For someone who always has music or a podcast on, get wireless headphones. The Anker Soundcore Life Q20 and the JBL Tune 500BT both stay under $100, sound good and are comfortable for long listening sessions.

Coffee maker

For a coffee lover, the Keurig K-Mini or the Black+Decker 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker costs between $30 and $70. They will use it every single morning, one cup at a time, which is more than most things in this price range can say.

Fitness tracker

A fitness tracker suits the friend who is always training for something. The Fitbit Inspire 2 and the Garmin Vivosmart 4 count steps, calories and more, and neither costs much. It is a small push towards whatever goal they have set themselves.

Portable Bluetooth speaker

For someone who takes music everywhere, the JBL Flip 5 and the Anker Soundcore 2 both stay under $100. They sound good and fit in a bag.

Instant Pot

The Instant Pot makes soups, stews, rice and a lot more, so it earns its place on the counter. Models like the Instant Pot Duo Nova or the Lux cost between $50 and $100. Give it to someone who actually cooks, not to someone you hope will start.

Kindle

A Kindle gives a reader books, magazines and newspapers wherever they are. The Kindle Paperwhite and the Oasis range from $80 to $250, so only the Paperwhite fits this budget. That is the one to buy anyway.

Smart speaker

The Amazon Echo Dot and the Google Nest Mini start at about $30. They play music, control the lights and can even order groceries by voice. Good for someone who likes gadgets.

Personalised jewellery

Etsy and Pandora have plenty of jewellery you can personalise for $20 to $100. A name or a date makes it about them and nobody else, and it is something they can wear every day.

Board game

A board game brings people round the table and is a good excuse for a regular game night with family or friends. Classics like Monopoly and Scrabble, or newer games like Settlers of Catan and Ticket to Ride, cost $20 to $60. Choose Ticket to Ride for a family that has played Monopoly one time too many.

Personalised cutting board

For someone who loves to cook, a cutting board engraved with their name or a short message is a good fit. There are many woods and designs, and most cost between $20 and $50.

Cocktail set

For the home bartender, a cocktail set from Cocktail Kingdom or the Mixology Bartender Kit has everything needed to mix drinks. They cost $30 to $80.

Digital picture frame

A digital frame shows a rotating set of photos. The Nixplay Seed and the Skylight Frame start at about $50, and you can add new pictures from far away. Grandparents in particular love them.

Portable charger

For anyone who is always on the move, a power bank like the Anker PowerCore 10000 or a RAVPower portable charger means the phone never dies halfway through the day. They cost $20 to $50.

Personalised wine glass

A wine glass with a name or a short message is a nice small gift for a wine lover. There are lots of styles, starting at about $10.

A good gift under $100 is mostly about knowing what the person uses, and a bit of clever shopping does the rest. If you are buying for a Secret Santa this year, pick one item from this list that fits the budget and order it this week.