It probably seems premature to talk about Christmas and Hanukkah - but is that it? We have Prime Day is just around the corner with some great ways to save money. From there it goes straight to the regular barrage of Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals. In honor of the fabled early bird, we're here to help you get that affordable vacation worm. OK, that might not be the best term, but see where we are going here.
This round-up is all about great gifts for $ 25 or less. Some items are old favorites, others are new finds. As always, if you have your own candidates to nominate, click on the comments!
True wireless earbuds are all the rage these days, but sometimes I prefer to keep the cord on, especially during exercise. That way, my earbuds won't fly when I shake them loose, and they can only dangle when I try to take them out.
Mpow's Sports Buds are IPX7 waterproof and can be combined with two different devices. I particularly like the large, raised, separate volume buttons on the top and the large red multifunctional button on the side - two usability gains.
As of this writing, there are approximately eight different colors available, priced between $ 14 and $ 20. You probably won't find better sports earbuds at this price point.
This is one of my favorite new items for 2020. It's a retractable table tennis net that can be set up almost anywhere: dining table, picnic table, conference room table and so on. You also get a pair of paddles, some balls, and a string to carry everything. Presto: table tennis to take away.
On a personal note, my father has something to do with dementia, and I recently learned that table tennis has the potential to slow cognitive decline. So I got one of these for him; We played all the time when I was a kid. Long story short: he loves it. Plays almost every day now. It was a huge win.
The button below will take you to a set from Amazon seller RuRuYunYe who currently has a 10% discount coupon for a $ 20 set. If that is no longer available, there are tons of other versions of it in the same price range. For example, in this article is one for $ 19.97, one for $ 18, and one for just $ 16.
Rick Broida / CNET
The Wyze Band is by no means a perfect activity tracker, but it does a lot, especially given the low price. It has an AMOLED color screen, a full-time heart rate monitor, support for Alexa voice commands and a battery for up to 14 days.
It's a clock too, of course, and can fling notifications from your phone. Read our Wyze Volume first to find out more.
Incidentally, the Wyze price does not include shipping, which is around $ 5. You can also order the band from Amazon for $ 29.98, including shipping.
Rumors of an Apple wireless tracker are not yet known. In the meantime - and for the millions who have Android phones - the Tile Mate tracker does the job well. For only $ 25 this little guy can attach a keychain, handbag, backpack or something similar. Then just pair it with your phone.
Can't find your phone? Press the tile button twice to make it ring. Can't find the token (and whatever it's attached to)? Use your phone to find it. You will soon see why these are amazing gifts.
Maybe the game got Stranger Things to thank for, but it appears that Dungeons & Dragons has seen a minor resurgence in recent years. If you need an inexpensive gift for someone who wants to expand their gaming horizons beyond the gamepad, the classic role-playing game with pencil and paper might be just the thing. This starter kit contains everything a newbie needs to get the game up and running - including all required multi-sided dice, natch - for less than $ 15. If you're shopping for someone who already has some ideas on how to play the game, the new D&D Essentials Kit might be a better choice.
Continue reading: See the best gifts for board game and table game lovers
These practical straps run through your phone case so that you always have a good grip on your phone. They are $ 8 each, with a choice of dozen of patterns and a variety of colors. Buy three or more (choose your own colorful palette) for free shipping and you have three handy gifts. I'm only speaking here, but I think the Ninja Loop is the best gift ever.
Subscribe to our daily spotlight on the best tech deals on the internet - from phones to gadgets and more.
Originally published last year. Updated with new information for 2020.