13 gifts under $20 that are actually useful and don't suck

Win the gift exchange game this season.
 By 
Leah Stodart
 on 
All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission.

Holiday time means those super-fun-but-super-hard-to-shop-for gift exchanges. When there's a price limit, it's sometimes difficult to find a good gift that's cheap and useful.

Sure, you can find something under the limit in no time, but is your money really worth a gag gift that will be re-gifted next year?

Check out our list of gift items under $20 that people will actually use.

Want more great deals and gift ideas? Follow MashableDeals on Facebook and Twitter.

Fitness Bottle with Phone Holding Sleeve
Credit: UNCOMMONGOODS

Fitness Bottle with Phone Holding Sleeve

For The Fitness Freaks

Holding onto things like a phone, wallet, and keys during a workout is pretty inconvenient. This fitness bottle with phone holding sleeve will allow your fitness-loving friend to stay connected and keep track of their stuff without worry. With compartments for credit cards, an iPhone 7 Plus, and a place to feed headphones through while listening, this bottle will keep all the important stuff in one place.
Super Mario Mushroom Light
Credit: FIREBOX

Super Mario Mushroom Light

For The Mario Fanatic

If you have someone in your life who breaks blocks with their head instead of watching Netflix, this aesthetically pleasing $20 lamp could really light up their day. Even if your pal isn't an avid Mario fan, this lamp is just 10x more exciting than the traditional lampshade.
Pooch Selfie: The Original Dog Selfie Stick
Credit: POOCH SELFIE

Pooch Selfie: The Original Dog Selfie Stick

For The Extreme Dog Person

We all know that one person who is obsessed with their dog a little bit more than the average person. This gift is for them. The Pooch Selfie dog selfie stick makes taking selfies with their dog effortless —thanks to a tennis ball holding the dog's attention.

Google Cardboard

For The Avid Tech Consumer

Virtual reality, meet cardboard. OK, so this isn't the most high tech VR headset out there, but for $15, it's pretty darn impressive. The Google Cardboard is a headset that works with the person's smartphone and an app, allowing them to become immersed in whatever is on their phone screen.

Govino Wine Glasses (Flexible, Shatterproof, Recyclable)

For The Wine Connoisseur

Everyone knows how risky it is to leave a wine glass sitting in the sink or on the counter (cats are real brats.) A 4-pack of shatterproof wine glasses is the perfect, worry-free gift for the wine lover in your life.

MYNT ES Smart Bluetooth Tracker

For The Forgetful Person

If you're shopping for a person who misplaces all of their belongings on a daily basis or constantly leaves their phone lying around in a public place, this is the gadget for them. For $14.99, give your slightly spacey friend the gift of being able to track and find their phone, wallet, luggage, keys, pet, and all other important belongings with a Bluetooth smart tracker.
Retro Mini Arcade Game
Credit: BASIC FUN

Retro Mini Arcade Game

For The Nostalgic Gamer

It's sad that arcades aren't really a thing anymore. Wouldn't it be great to play all those favorites from your childhood? Amazon makes that possible with these mini handheld arcade games: choose from Asteroids, Centipede, Frogger, or Q'bert and take the gamer in your life back to the good ol' days.
Cold Brew Coffee Maker Glass
Credit: FAMIROSA

Cold Brew Coffee Maker Glass

For The Trendy Coffee Addict

We all have that friend who has to be the trendy one, whether it's with their fashion or diet. Luckily, this cold brew coffee maker glass can help them out. You won't have to worry about dumping any leftover cold brew in the morning and enjoy a nice cup after work.

Self Stirring Coffee Mug

For The Coffee Addict

Spice up someone's morning routine with a self-stirring mug for $13.89. This mug's exterior is already cool enough on its own, perfectly resembling a DSLR camera lens. The self-stirring feature makes drinking on the go even more convenient — perfect for the lazy morning person.
Ticket Stub Diary
Credit: UNCOMMONGOODS

Ticket Stub Diary

For The Nostalgic Hoarder

We all know that one person who keeps everything —wristbands, receipts from special events, and especially tickets. This $12.99 ticket stub diary is every nostalgic hoarder's dream — with page after page of clear sleeves with multiple pocket sizes and margins below to write down details from the event. Every memory can now be stored in an organized way with this adorable book.
NENRENT S570 Bluetooth Earbuds
Credit: NENRENT

NENRENT S570 Bluetooth Earbuds

For The Person Who Likes To Zone Out

Tons of Bluetooth headphones exist, but they can be ridiculously expensive, obnoxiously big, or die in an hour. However, this pair of wireless Bluetooth earbuds are something your music loving friend will flip over. They're so small they're basically invisible to other people, last for 4-6 hours, and are rated super high on Amazon.
H-B DURAC Galileo Thermometer
Credit: SP SCIENCEWARE

H-B DURAC Galileo Thermometer

For The Self-proclaimed Nerd

If you've got a friend or family member who loves all things science, why not get them a science gift that doubles as a sick decoration? This $14.99 Galileo thermometer is just as classy as it is functional. The glass spheres on the inside are all different densities that individually rise or fall depending on the temperature. We bet they don't have one of these yet.
SOI. Mini The Original Handbag/Purse Light
Credit: BRAINSTREAM

SOI. Mini The Original Handbag/Purse Light

For The Purse Hoarder

We all have that one friend whose bag is constantly overflowing with stuff. You know they won't change their ways and clean anything out, but you can help them find items faster with this mini handbag light. It's tiny and motion-sensing, so it'll turn on when they're digging around and help to see what's buried.
Leah Stodart
Leah Stodart
Senior Shopping Reporter

Leah Stodart is a Philadelphia-based Senior Shopping Reporter at Mashable where she covers and tests essential home tech like vacuums and TVs, plus eco-friendly hacks. Her ever-evolving experience in these categories comes in clutch when making recommendations on how to spend your money during shopping holidays like Black Friday, which Leah has been covering for Mashable since 2017.


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