Cozy
Heated throw blanket
The gift that gets used every evening from November to March.
Under $100Check price on Amazon: Heated throw blanket (opens in a new tab)Gift ideas for mom
Set the budget and the occasion. You get six ideas for mom, each one something we'd give.
Six ideas for mom, under $50, Christmas
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Kitchen
Electric milk frother
Café drinks at home. Small, and she won't buy it for herself.
Under $25Check price on Amazon: Electric milk frother (opens in a new tab)Garden
Amaryllis bulb kit
Blooms in January, when the garden is the last thing happening.
Under $50Check price on Amazon: Amaryllis bulb kit (opens in a new tab)Reading
Rechargeable book light
Warm light, clips to anything, charges by USB-C.
Under $25Check price on Amazon: Rechargeable book light (opens in a new tab)Home
Stoneware pie dish
For pie week in November, and every pie after.
Under $50Check price on Amazon: Stoneware pie dish (opens in a new tab)Self
Silk pillowcase set
Looks like a splurge, costs like a dinner out.
Under $50Check price on Amazon: Silk pillowcase set (opens in a new tab)Tools
Rechargeable LED work light
Garage, trunk, under the sink. He'll mention it later.
Under $50Check price on Amazon: Rechargeable LED work light (opens in a new tab)Kitchen
Instant-read thermometer
Ends dry turkey and overcooked steak in one gift.
Under $25Check price on Amazon: Instant-read thermometer (opens in a new tab)Car
Portable jump starter
The winter one. Fits in the glovebox.
Under $100Check price on Amazon: Portable jump starter (opens in a new tab)Outdoors
Insulated camp mug
Keeps coffee hot through a whole football game.
Under $25Check price on Amazon: Insulated camp mug (opens in a new tab)Home
Lined slippers with a sole
The kitchen floor is cold from here to April.
Under $100Check price on Amazon: Lined slippers with a sole (opens in a new tab)Kitchen
Cast-iron skillet, 12 inch
The pan that outlives the cook. Season it, then stop worrying.
Under $50Check price on Amazon: Cast-iron skillet, 12 inch (opens in a new tab)Splurge
Espresso machine
Better coffee than the café, every morning, for years.
SplurgeCheck price on Amazon: Espresso machine (opens in a new tab)Tech
Noise-canceling headphones
The quiet they didn't know they needed: flights, trains, open offices.
SplurgeCheck price on Amazon: Noise-canceling headphones (opens in a new tab)Travel
Weekend duffel bag
Fits a weekend and the overhead bin.
Under $100Check price on Amazon: Weekend duffel bag (opens in a new tab)Home
Cocktail shaker set
A good shaker and a jigger. Friday night gets an upgrade.
Under $50Check price on Amazon: Cocktail shaker set (opens in a new tab)Family
Digital photo frame
Load it from your phone; the photos change on their own.
SplurgeCheck price on Amazon: Digital photo frame (opens in a new tab)Toys
Magnetic building tiles
Hours of building, no instructions, no batteries.
Under $50Check price on Amazon: Magnetic building tiles (opens in a new tab)Outdoors
Kids' walkie-talkies
Range across the yard and down the block.
Under $25Check price on Amazon: Kids' walkie-talkies (opens in a new tab)Art
Art supply set in a case
Markers, pencils and pastels in one case. Nothing to lose.
Under $50Check price on Amazon: Art supply set in a case (opens in a new tab)Science
Beginner telescope
Shows Saturn's rings on the first clear night.
Under $100Check price on Amazon: Beginner telescope (opens in a new tab)Active
Balance board
An indoor outlet for a winter afternoon's energy.
Under $50Check price on Amazon: Balance board (opens in a new tab)Desk
Snake plant
Hard to kill, fine in low light, and only needs water every few weeks.
Under $50Check price on Amazon: Snake plant (opens in a new tab)Desk
Insulated tumbler
Hot coffee at 11 a.m., and no sweat ring on the desk.
Under $50Check price on Amazon: Insulated tumbler (opens in a new tab)Food
Hot sauce sampler
Six small bottles, one for every lunch.
Under $50Check price on Amazon: Hot sauce sampler (opens in a new tab)Tech
Wireless charging pad
One less cable on the desk.
Under $25Check price on Amazon: Wireless charging pad (opens in a new tab)Home
Olive wood serving board
Cheese tonight, a bread board for the next 20 years.
Under $100Check price on Amazon: Olive wood serving board (opens in a new tab)Home
Soy candle set
Clean scents that don't fill the whole house.
Under $50Check price on Amazon: Soy candle set (opens in a new tab)Wine
Wine aerator
The thing every host uses and nobody buys.
Under $50Check price on Amazon: Wine aerator (opens in a new tab)Kitchen
Enameled Dutch oven
The pot behind every stew and braise this winter.
Under $100Check price on Amazon: Enameled Dutch oven (opens in a new tab)Home
Robot vacuum
Clean floors every day without anyone doing them.
SplurgeCheck price on Amazon: Robot vacuum (opens in a new tab)Reading
E-reader
A whole library in a coat pocket, weeks on one charge.
SplurgeCheck price on Amazon: E-reader (opens in a new tab)Pets
Dog puzzle feeder
Turns a two-minute meal into fifteen minutes of work.
Under $25Check price on Amazon: Dog puzzle feeder (opens in a new tab)Pets
Cat window perch
Hooks over a sunny sill. Cats claim it within the hour.
Under $50Check price on Amazon: Cat window perch (opens in a new tab)Pets
Pet camera with treat tosser
Check in on the dog from work and toss a treat.
SplurgeCheck price on Amazon: Pet camera with treat tosser (opens in a new tab)Coffee
Conical burr coffee grinder
The biggest upgrade for home coffee, more than any machine.
SplurgeCheck price on Amazon: Conical burr coffee grinder (opens in a new tab)Coffee
Pour-over coffee maker
Clean, bright coffee in four minutes.
Under $50Check price on Amazon: Pour-over coffee maker (opens in a new tab)Kitchen
Electric gooseneck kettle
Holds a set temperature. Better pour-over and better tea.
Under $100Check price on Amazon: Electric gooseneck kettle (opens in a new tab)