The most wanted gifts under $25

Exploding Kittens Card Game

Wanted for Turning a polite family evening into open betrayal.

A fast, silly card game that takes about a minute to teach and fifteen minutes to play. It works across ages, which makes it one of the safest bets for a mixed crowd.

Why it's here Hours of entertainment for less than a pizza. It's hard to find a better deal for a mixed group.

Let it slide if They want a deep strategy game. This one is proudly not that.

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

Wanted for Keeping people up until 3 a.m. for one more chapter.

A funny, propulsive science-fiction novel about a lone astronaut trying to save Earth. It's one of the easiest books to recommend to nearly anyone, including people who 'don't read sci-fi'.

Why it's here A great book is one of the best bargains in gift giving, and it's a gift they can pass along.

Let it slide if They've already read it. Most sci-fi fans have.

Codenames Board Game

Wanted for Making smart friends yell single words at each other.

A team word game that's simple to teach and works best with four or more. It's one of the most dependable party games around, especially with people who don't usually play board games.

Why it's here A party game they'll keep bringing out, for a price that won't make you wince.

Let it slide if They usually play as just two people. Look at Codenames: Duet instead.

Carhartt Acrylic Watch Hat

Wanted for Looking equally at home on a job site and in a coffee shop.

A simple, warm, stretchy beanie with a small logo patch that's stayed popular for decades. It comes in plenty of colors, fits nearly everybody, and costs little enough for a stocking.

Let it slide if They live somewhere that doesn't really do winter.

UNO Show 'em No Mercy

Wanted for Taking a harmless family game and removing all the safety rails.

A brutal version of UNO with extra-punishing cards like Draw 10. Everybody already knows the basics, so you can start playing right away and start resenting each other shortly after.

Let it slide if Someone in the family takes game night a little too personally.

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask

Wanted for Occupying nightstands everywhere with no sign of stopping.

An overnight lip treatment in a cute little pot that comes in several flavors. It's a beauty counter favorite at a price that works well for a stocking stuffer or small gift.

Let it slide if They have a lip balm routine they won't hear a word against.

Dash Mini Waffle Maker

Wanted for Making tiny waffles that nobody needs but everybody wants.

A small, cheap waffle iron that comes in cheerful colors and takes up almost no room. It's perfect for dorm rooms and first apartments, and also for the person who finds it hilarious.

Let it slide if They've got no spare kitchen space at all.

TRUFF Original Hot Sauce

Wanted for Putting truffle on things that didn't ask for it.

A black truffle hot sauce in a bottle that looks more like a cologne. It's an easy upgrade from everyday hot sauce, and it looks expensive enough to feel like a real present.

Let it slide if They think truffle tastes like gasoline. Some people do.

Moleskine Classic Hardcover Notebook

Wanted for Promising a fresh start nobody will fully follow through on.

A classic notebook with a smooth page and a nice, simple cover. It's a safe, tasteful gift for a coworker or a writer, especially when you've got no idea what else they like.

Let it slide if They take every note on an iPad.

Archie McPhee Yodeling Pickle

Wanted for Yodeling. It's a pickle. It yodels. That's the entire case.

Press the button and a plastic pickle yodels at you. It serves no purpose at all, which is why it gets fought over at gift exchanges and lives on someone's desk for years.

Let it slide if The recipient shares a small office with anyone who values silence.

Blue Q Funny Socks

Wanted for Saying unprintable things from inside a nice shoe.

Bold socks printed with cheeky phrases for just about every personality. They're well made, come in plenty of designs, and they're an easy stocking stuffer you can tailor to the person.

Let it slide if Read the print before you give them to your mother-in-law.

SipCaddy Shower Drink Holder

Wanted for Enabling the shower beer on a professional level.

A suction-cup holder that keeps a can or a coffee within reach in the shower or bath. It's a funny idea that turns out to be quietly brilliant, and it makes a great low-cost gift.

Let it slide if They're strictly a quick-shower person.

Kitsch Satin Heatless Curling Set

Wanted for Doing their hair in their sleep.

A soft satin rod you wrap damp hair around overnight, then wake up with curls and no heat damage. It's cheap, kind to hair, and it's an especially popular pick with teens.

Let it slide if Their hair is very short. It needs some length to work.

Stomp Rocket Ultra Launcher

Wanted for Launching foam rockets way higher than you'd planned.

Kids stomp on an air pad and a soft rocket shoots into the sky. There are no batteries and no screens, and it's an easy way to get them outside and tire them out.

Let it slide if They've got nowhere open to fly it. These do go high.