Top 10 Best Christmas Gifts Under $50

Harry Potter is the most successful fiction series in the history of literature. Having sold over 400 million copies worldwide, this book series has brought magic to the lives of millions upon millions of people of all ages. Although this is a rehearsal script for the new stage play and not an actual eighth novel… when it comes to the boy who lived, people are just happy to get their hands on new material, whatever format that might take. So why not give the gift of magic and imagination this holiday season? Send a friend or family member on a return trip to Hogwarts and Harry Potter’s world of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It’s a lot cheaper than a flight to Orlando and tickets to Universal Studios.

Not everyone likes magic, so for those on your Christmas list more grounded in reality… why not give them the gift of flight with this undeniably cool yet totally affordable impressive little piece of technological wizardry? For under $50, you have a wide variety of remote-controlled drones or “quadcopters” available to choose from. If your recipient is relatively young, make him or her the envy of neighborhood kids with the Syma X9 Fly Car, which is both a remote control car and drone. If he or she is more of a burgeoning filmmaker, try the sturdy Syma X5C, which comes equipped with a camera. For adults, the sky’s the limit, but the super tiny Cheerson CX-10 and high performance Hubsan X4 both come highly recommended.

Tech gifts are great, and in our modern age of affordable electronics, there are plenty of items out there vying for your attention as a shopper. For the retro gamer, or for that special someone in your life who’s afraid of the dark, but “ain’t afraid of no ghost”, this Pac-man inspired ghost lamp is sure to please. When turned on, it cycles through 16 different colors. The “party mode” activates a sound-sensitive setting, so that it will change colors along with the music. If there’s anyone in your life with a man cave, geek cave, or heck, just an available spot on his or her desk… this LED light (hurray for energy efficiency!) is the perfect 8-bit bundle of joy to send home with them.

Somewhere out there is the perfect makeup palette for everyone - she just hasn’t found it yet. With so many brands out there, it may seem like finding the right one is downright impossible, but with time, effort, experimentation and a helping hand, you can support a friend or family member her quest for a true cosmetic soul mate. Sephora’s Geometricolor Palette Blockbuster is a great place to start, with 130 eye-popping colors in three different finishes. Get her a palette that highlights her best features - Anastasia and Kat Von D and Ulta Beauty are reputable brands to start with. If she’s already found that special palette, make sure she’s all set for the new year with a fresh one.

Bonsai trees may not be for everyone, as they do require attention, care and patience. But for any green thumbs on your Christmas list, a bonsai kit might just be the perfect gift - it’s an opportunity for your recipient to take his or her natural knack for plants and apply it to the ancient art of miniature tree care. There is a wide variety of kits available online for under $50, which will include everything he or she needs: seeds, growing medium, scissors, and directions. This year’s hottest bonsai kit isn’t a single tree, but an entire miniature forest - consisting of once thought to be extinct Dawn Redwood trees from China. As added bonus… it’s considered to be one of the easier kits out there.

Forget moves like Jagger, this holiday season give the gift of lips like Jenner. Wherever you stand on the Kardashian/Jenner clan and their exploits in reality television and tabloid gossip… there’s no denying that Kylie has put her name on one seriously successful product. Kylie Jenner may very well have the world’s most popular lips at the moment, with a pout that can’t be beat. So if lipstick is their thing, why not give the ladies in your life a lipstick and lip liner combo pack to achieve that Kylie look? They come in a variety of stunning colors including Trick, Pumpkin, Mary Jo K and Dead of Knight.

Coffee… it’s the fuel that keeps our world running. But if there’s one collective goal we should all be striving for in this fast-paced society, it’s slowing down to prepare and enjoy a really good cup of quality, ethically sourced coffee - and to move away from the tasteless coffee of mega franchises. How can you help? Give someone a french press! Not everyone likes drip coffee makers, as the interior can develop serious bacteria. A french press might be a bit more work, but it’s portable, easy to clean and gives a distinct finished product you can’t get from a machine. Give the gift of helping a friend rediscover his or her love of coffee as a great beverage... rather than just a caffeine dose.

The world of photography has largely shifted online thanks to social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook, and in no small part due to the fact that every phone is now also a camera. With that, we’ve seen the rise of filters and effects among amateur photographers. With the Diana Camera, that progression comes full circle. This camera isn’t digital, it uses film. But when you take a photo with it, the camera introduces a number of effects, such as random blurring, unpredictable contrast, super-saturated colors. It even boasts a pin-hole feature. For the Instagram lover or iphone filter addict in your life, help them take their artistic photography back to the retro days of analog photography while keeping all the fun effects.

Google Chromecast has become a must-have device in many households in this new age of streaming media. Having kept the process straightforward, easy to use and compatible with a wide variety of devices, it’s little surprise that it’s become such a hot-selling item. But it’s lesser known sister product equally deserves your attention. It’s surprising how many people haven’t heard of Google Chromecast Audio, which effectively allows any speaker system to stream music wirelessly over wifi. The Chromecast audio device, just $45, plugs into any aux jack, allowing you to stream from your devices or computer. Don’t limit yourself to the audiophiles in your life - this a great gift for anyone who ever listens to music. So basically… everyone.


Before we unveil our top pick, here’s a few honorable mentions.
Tea Set


120-Hour Beehive Candle

Bath Soap Set

This booming industry has only been around since 2011, but in 5 short years, its novel concept has won over hordes of shoppers. Not everyone has a subscription to one of these boxes, but there is a subscription box out there for pretty much everyone. Chances are - he or she just hasn’t found the right one yet. Bespoke is the perfect lifestyle box for the manly hipster, while Birchbox is the big name in beauty boxes. As of 2015, there were over 1500 boxes on MySubscriptionAddiction.com alone, ranging from geek culture to cosmetics, fashion, cooking and gadgets. Treat them with a single box or a short subscription (depending on the price), and help them find the subscription box they never knew they couldn’t live without.

Do you agree with our list? Can you think of any other fantastic Christmas gifts under $50? For more holiday-inspired top 10s published every day, be sure to subscribe to MsMojo.