14 Gifts for the Cheapskate in Your Life
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They're probably going to give you something they've had lying in the closet for months. Best-case, you're getting something homemade. We all have this person on our lists: the champion-level couponer who maybe takes a little too much from the phrase "a penny saved is a penny earned." If it's broken, they'll fix it; if they can't fix it, they'll live without it. This year, spend your money on helping them spend even less.
- AmazonDuct Tape
A roll of duct tape solves virtually all their problems. Whatever comes apart, falls off, or just doesn't quite fit anymore, can be stuck in place forever with just a couple strips of this silver tape. Buy them a couple of rolls so they can keep one in the trunk of their beater car, another next to that already-creaky bookshelf, and one to patch the leaky faucet. Plumbers are too expensive anyway.
- Raspberry PiVilros Raspberry Pi Zero W Kit
They'll be amazed how much computer 38 bucks buys. This kit includes everything they'll need to get up and running on the Raspberry Pi platform; all they'll have to do is connect the old monitor and keyboard they surely have lying around. It's a great way for kids to learn about programming and building computers, and not a half-bad backup family PC either.
- EmberEmber Ceramic Mug
An $80 temperature-controlling mug might seem like a crazy luxury to your loved ones, but you know the truth: once they get this mug, which keeps their coffee and tea at the perfect temperature for hours on end, they'll drink every drop they make. That means they won't have to make more, and more tasty warm java out of every cup. When you think of it like that, it's worth every penny.
- MohuLeaf
Maybe they've been wanting to cut the cord, but can't bring themselves to spring for Sling or Hulu and aren't ready to live without The Bachelor. Mohu's antenna only takes a few seconds to set up, and will offer them all their local channels over the air in high definition. If they need even more to watch, tell 'em their next birthday present is your Netflix password.
- NestNest Thermostat E
Few gadgets can actually claim to pay for themselves, but Nest's thermostat pulls it off. The handsome circular appliance actually learns your habits over time, and can automatically adjust the temperature to your ideal settings. It'll also turn down the temperature when they leave, and coordinate with their power company to pull energy only at the cheapest times.
- AmazonAnker PowerPort Solar Charger
Does your loved one already have solar panels on the roof? Do they screw in only the most efficient LED bulbs? They can take those smarts on the road with Anker's solar charger, which grabs enough energy from the sun to charge two of your devices at a time. Handy now, crucial when they decide to go off the grid completely and start a self-sufficient life in the woods.
- EverblockEverblock TV Stand
Why should each furniture piece of theirs only be one thing? Everblocks are basically human-size Lego blocks, which they can re-work into any shape they want. This kit starts as a TV stand, but could become a wall, a sofa, really just about anything. And next time they want to upgrade or renovate, all they'll need to buy is a few more blocks.
- SugruSugru Moldable Glue
Think of Sugru like a more moldable version of duct tape, which is to say it's useful for just about everything. Frayed cables? Wrap some of this super-powerful glue around it and they're set to go. Xbox joystick popped off? Pop it back on. Can't get that painting to stick on the wall just right? Two dabs of Sugru and it'll stay. This stuff bonds to almost anything, and stays just about forever.
- Nice LaundryNice Laundry Sock Box
They might be OK with the hole-ridden Hanes in their top drawer, but you love them too much to let that continue. In one fell swoop, Nice Laundry can upgrade their sock game with versatile, comfy, long-lasting footies. Best of all, it's a killer style upgrade, too. Hopefully enough that nobody will notice the ratty New Balances they refuse to get rid of.
- AmazonAmazon Rechargeable AA Batteries 4-Pack
What, like they're going to go to the bodega and spend $6 on a pair of AAs every time the Xbox controller dies? No thank you. They'll just pop their AmazonBasics rechargeables into the wall charger and juice them back up again. Maybe buy them the 8-pack and tell them these are the last batteries they'll ever need to buy. The environment, and their wallet, will thank you.
- RocketbookRocketbook Wave Smart Notebook
They're going to want something longer-lasting for their journals and letters, but this could be the only planner and to-do list notebook they need for a while. Rocketbook's Wave can sync pages to Evernote or Dropbox through their phone, and whenever they run out of space all they have to do is pop the notebook in the microwave to zap all the pages back to empty.
- AmazonZTeanok 10-foot Lightning Cable
They've probably stolen your charging cable a few times. It's easier than dropping $30 on a new one from the Apple store. Help yourself, and them, with this two-pack. Zteanok's braided cables are super durable, and long enough to reach even the outlet behind the couch. Buy them the white ones, and get a pair of black cables for yourself. That way you'll know if they pilfer yours again.
- BAllBall Pint-size Mason Jars
A couple of mason jars do all the work they might otherwise need a cabinet's worth of gear for. They're for drinking out of; for eating out of; for food storage; for keeping all their tools and silverware organized. They can buy bulk sushi rice at the grocery store and save on that totally ridiculous Calrose mark-up.
- LulzbotLulzbot Mini Desktop 3D Printer
Give someone a thing, and they'll be happy for a day. Give someone a thing that makes other things, and they'll be happy forever. This tabletop 3D printer is precise and powerful enough to make just about any tool or trinket, and hardly takes any time to learn. They can fix all the little things in need of expensive replacement parts. But fair warning: they're so cheap, if you buy them a 3D printer, you better believe you're getting 3D-printed gifts every holiday from now on.
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