Six Great Holiday Gifts for $50 or Less
All week, "The Early Show" is sharing ideas on must-have holiday gifts at various price points, from $100 all the way down to free, suitable for almost anyone's budget.
On Tuesday, Real Simple magazine Executive Editor Sarah Humphreys pointed to six hot ones you could get for $50 or less:
The following descriptions were prepared, at least in part, with information provided by manufacturers or retailers)
Gift for Rockers: Electronic Rock Shirts ($30)
Who needs Rockband? ThinkGeek has these fun wired shirts that actually play music. On the electronic rock guitar shirt, you can strum the frets to make actual guitar sounds, and on the drum kit, you can tap the bass, cymbal and snare. Best of all - no musical talent needed, but according to the thinkgeek website - "Electronic Guitar Shirt is not a toy that plays pre-canned musical riffs, it is a real musical. All major chords are recorded from a real electric guitar, and the included magnetic pick allows you to strum just like you would a real guitar. The included mini amp clips to your belt and gets plenty loud with great sounding amplification circuitry. The tone knob on the amp lets you adjust the sound just like a real guitar. Available in child/adult sizes at ThinkGeek.com.
Gift for Kids: Pumponator ($20)
This is the gift a parent would never give their own child, so if you have a young niece or nephew, consider this balloon maker - you will be the cool aunt / uncle for life! It rapidly fills balloons with water or air (BOTH will be displayed on set) and comes with 500 balloons, strings for tying and an internal pump. Best of all, a 4th grader named Lexi Glenn invited this product. (She was looking for a way to fill up water balloons without soaking the bathroom floor. She used a garden hosed and realized that a smaller version would be even better.) Available at DailGrommet.com.
Another Gift for Kids: Radio Flyer Classic Bumper Car ($50)
This is a bumper for your little guy or gal. This sturdy vehicle features 360-degree castor wheels for smooth cruising, furniture-friendly bumpers, and seven awesome cartoonlike crash sounds, depending on where you hit it. This wall-friendly bumper is safe to play at home, since it won't mark your walls or furniture thanks to foam bumpers. Purchasing multiple cars are perfect for kids aged 1 to 3 to bump into each other. Available at Target.com, RadioFlyer.com and a variety of other online stores, but prices vary.
Gift for Cooks Who Don't Cook: Heirloom LA Lasagna Cupcakes ($42 for 6)
Heirloom LA offers these great gourmet lasagna cupcakes in a variety of flavors, such as lamb ragù, wild boar Bolognese, and pumpkin mozzarella. You can buy them in packages of all meat, all vegetable, or a blend of the two. Each cupcake is a single serving and can be frozen, so it's the perfect gift for a foodie who doesn't have time to make an entire lasagna. Plus everyone at your next dinner party can choose his/her favorite flavor. Lasagnas are available at HeirloomLA.com.
Gift for Artists: Sephora Endless Color Blockbuster ($48)
This travel-friendly make-up palette includes 187 products in a dazzling variety of colors worth $435. All that for … 98 eyeshadows, 70 lip glosses, 6 cream eyeliners, 5 pencils (2 lip liners & 3 eye liners), 4 applicator brushes, 3 blushes and 1 mascara (and a partridge in a pear tree.) The high-quality formulas are divided into two categories for easy application: warm tones on the right and cool tones on the left. The case has a slim profile and features palette on sliding trays. It's a limited-edition, so make sure to get yours while supplies last. (I read some of the 357 reviews and overall people really liked this item. The product received 4.5 stars out of 5. It's perfect for a young girl or someone who likes to expert with colors.) Available in Sephora stores or online at Sephora.com.
Gift for Sports Fans: HSN's ProToast NFL ($33)
Jerseys and caps are nice, but you can take your team spirit even further with this toaster from HSN. It brands slices of bread with one of 32 team logos. And in our experience, it works best with Wonder Bread. Available at HSN.com