The best holiday gifts for everyone on your list

The ultimate gift guide, all under 50 dollars

Isabella Sanchez / Assistant Arts & Culture Editor / USD Vista

The holiday cheer can quickly turn into fear when it comes to figuring out what to get friends and family. While the holiday season can be the happiest time of the year, it can also be the most stressful.  Not only is finding gifts for people overwhelming, but trying to get something for everyone risks a dwindling bank account. With so many people to shop for, setting a budget is essential. The Vista is here to make the holidays less stressful with a gift guide that ranges from $50 and under (so there is more giving without having to give up half of your bank account). 

For the marvel fanatic: tickets to the new Spider-Man movie

For those who would rather spend time doing something other than wrapping gifts, tickets to the anticipated new movie in the Spider-Man franchise is the way to go. In theatres, starting Dec. 17, “Spiderman No Way Home” follows Peter Parker (Tom Holland) as he navigates his world that was turned upside down. No longer able to use his mask to hide his identity, Peter is left to figure out how to proceed in his new predicament. When he asks for help from Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), his world further spirals out of control.

For the avid reader: “101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think” by Brianna Wiest

A lot of people find themselves in slumps or being uninspired, and this book will cure both of those struggles. Split up into mini essays, this book takes the reader on a journey through a variety of different topics. Some includeembracing negative thinking, recognizing uncomfortable feelings that actually indicate you’re on the right path, and exploring pursuing purpose over passion. A lot of the mini essays might have you thinking that “this idea changed my life.” For those who enjoy self-care books, this is a must have. Buy it on Amazon for $15.99 in paperback.

For the candle collector: Homesick candle

If a friend or roommate is far away from home, a Homesick candle is the perfect gift. Each Homesick candle features a state in the U.S from coast to coast. Every state is captured by a scent, ranging from New Jersey to Hawaii. There is even a collection for cities if a friend misses the salty scent of, for example, the bay in San Francisco. The brand has a storefront on Amazon and the luxury candles’ price floats around $34. 

USD sophomore, Shae Tavarez, has been unable to travel back to Hawaii, and she was gifted one of the brand’s Hawaii candles and loved it. 

“I highly recommend gifting this candle this holiday season,” Shae noted. “It is the perfect gift since it’s unlike typical candles you usually see and provides a sense of home for those who are unable to go back and visit throughout the semester.”

For the self-proclaimed photographer: Disposable Camera

Disposable cameras are a perfect gift this season for those who want to capture more memories. They are fun, inexpensive, and produce Insta-worthy photos. Lily Rand, USD junior, thinks that they are a top pick for gifting this season. 

“They make ones with cute designs at Urban Outfitters,” Rand said. “I think it’s fun to give someone a gift that they can use and capture memories on.” 

Disposable cameras are sold on Amazon, Target, and other sites for varying prices. The disposable camera Lily mentioned is $20 on Urban Outfitters. 

For the card player: We’re Not Really Strangers card game

We’re Not Really Strangers is a card game about delving deep into people’s minds and forming meaningful connections. It forces everyone to open up and answer either simple or complex questions. There are three levels of questions: perception (which explores how people view each other on the surface), connection (rarely asked questions), and reflection (reflect on what people learned about one another and themselves). Where one person could get a question like “Do I seem like a coffee or a tea person?” another could get “What lesson took you the longest to unlearn?” This game is the perfect ice breaker and is fun for any event. It is available to purchase on Amazon for $25.

For the life of the party: Karaoke microphone 

Karaoke whenever, wherever with a karaoke microphone. For the friend that loves to break out in song randomly, this gift is right up their alley. While there are plenty of karaoke microphones available to purchase on Amazon, there is one available exclusively on Urban Outfitters for $30 if you want more fun features. The microphone includes a built-in phone holder to pick the song and help display the lyrics so there are no awkward moments when someone is belting out the track. There is also a remix function and the ability to record the singer’s performance.

For the binge watcher: Roku Streaming Stick+

Give anyone who loves watching TV (aka everyone) a Roku Streaming Stick+ device to make sure that they can binge watch the next season of Tiger King. This device is one of the easiest-to-use remotes and offers all of the major streaming services. That includes Netflix, Apple TV, Prime Video, and Hulu. Bonus, it is compatible with basically every TV. This portable streaming device allows you to move your movie to any screen: living room, bedroom, or even a hotel room. As long as the TV has an HDMI connection, there is no need to stop bingeing. The Roku Streaming Stick+ is sold on Amazon for $29.99.

For the practical friend: HydroNet by Gearproz USA

A smaller yet useful gift like the HydroNet is a great option for those who would rather receive practical gifts than funny ones. These heavy duty paracord nets fit around your water bottle so there is less slamming, dents, and scratches. The product also includes a handle and is compatible with different water bottle brands like Hydro Flask, Yeti, and Thermoflask.

For Andrew Oleson, a USD sophomore, gifts that are useful are superior when gifting to friends. 

“I like to give gifts to my friends that are useful surprises,” Oleson noted. “I gave my best friend a hydro that I wrapped in a paracord case so the metal wouldn’t scratch anything, and he loved it.” 

These nets are sold on Amazon for a price range of $14.97 to $16.97.

With the holiday season finally here, shopping is going to be in full swing. From gifts that range from thoughtful to practical to funny, this guide will help check everyone off your list. Most importantly, survive the holidays with at least some money left in your bank account. Happy holidays, and most importantly, happy shopping!