Gift Guide: Ten Top Gadgets For Under A Fiver

Now I know it’s only September, and we shouldn’t mention the ‘c’ word, but people: it’ll soon be under 100 days until Christmas. For those organised people out there, it’s time to start planning (for the rest of us, it’s time to pretend to start planning when really we know we’ll just shop on Christmas Eve like always).

Welcome to Gaj-it’s guide to the Top Ten Gadgets Under £5. They’re good for office secret santas especially- although if it makes you feel better you can just enjoy the credit crunchy goodness without thinking about December 25th…

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Chalk Mug

Sticking with office stereotypes for the moment. Everyone knows office workers drink a lot of tea. I have now joined the ranks of office workers and know this to be very true, to the point where I actually have my own mug. And everyone knows it’s mine. Usually.

Just in case, here’s a mug you can write your name on, so no one forgets it’s yours. And you can use to leave yourself memos at your desk, subtly remind your colleagues how you take your tea, or just to doodle on when you need a break.

[product#212]

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HotCans

Lets start with a great one for the office and that person you’re pretty sure actually lives there. You know the one- never leaves their desk, not even for lunch. Well, with this gift there’s no reason why they should.

HotCans are prepacked food that you don’t even need a microwave for. Using exothermic reactions these handy ready meals actually cook themselves in 12 minutes, just from opening them. So there’s no need to ever stop work again! Erm… yay? Choose from Beef Casserole, Sausage and Beans, or Vegetable Chili.

[product#210]

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Waboba Ball

The present for the person who like to spend Christmas in far flung and much hotter parts of the globe! The Waboba Ball (no I don’t know what the name means) bounces on water, so is a great plaything for in the sea or the swimming pool. Forget beach balls- terrorise other swimmers by defying the laws of science!

Does that make this gadget the perfect present for Jesus…?

[product#213]

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Colour Changing Mini Duck

A cute little stocking filler here. Christmas (or whatever other occasion you’re buying for) is usually a stressful time, and we all need to relax. Gadgets that provide an ambient glow while you soak in the tub are always popular and these little ducks are just too cute to overlook. And four per pack means you can place them in multiple stockings.

Dunk them in hot water and they go one colour. Gradually, they cool down and change back to their original colour- great for letting you know when you’ve been in the bath too long!

[product#214]

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Flame

Not a gift for the pyromaniacs out there, but a rather odd manly fragrance. The playboy in the office or your group of close friends will benefit from this one, as it attracts the opposite sex with seductive overtones of flame grilled beef.

O_o

Beef. Well, it is sponsored by Burger King. In the US last year it took four days to sell out (but we all know what they say about Americans and burgers…)

[product#216]

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Heart Hand Warmer

Ok, so it costs £5.35 which is a little over budget, but we’ll pay a little extra for romance right?

Got a crush on someone and are just a little too shy to tell them? A Heart Hand Warmer will get the message across. Snap the little disk inside back and forth and the pack heats up like your burning loins- great for keep cold hands warm on wintery days. Of course, if you just asked them out they could be holding your hand and thus not needing a hand warmer…

[product#217]

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USB Stress Button

In last years Top Ten Secret Santa Gift Guide, we featured panic buttons, little extra keys that stick onto your keyboard.

Well, if the person you bought those for is still stressed by the time it rolls round to this years secret santa, you might want to upgrade them to this. Plug it into the computer, then when their boss walks in just as they’ve done the math wrong for the millionth time, or are busy updating Facebook with reasons why they hate their job, the crime is covered by a brainy looking spreadsheet with just one hit. Simply sit and look clever until the boss leaves and then continue the melt down.

[product#218]

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Shower Clock

A good one for those who are always late because they ‘had to take a shower and lost track of time’. It’s waterproof, it suction cups onto just about any flat clean surface, and it’s 15cm across.

Now the person in question will always be very aware that they’re already half an hour late. Unless they shower with their eyes closed of course.

[product#219]

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Wind Up Phone Charger

Have a quick think through all your friends. I bet there’s one who just never remembers to charge up their phone, so it’s always dead when you try to ring them, or when they need to call a taxi the one night you left your mobile at home.

For the cost of a couple of drinks get them this. Never need they worry about letting their phone run down again- 2 minutes of winding provides you with 6 minutes of call time. And they can even buy an adaptor that means they can use it on their iPod too.

[product#215]

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And finally- for the person who has everything (or who you just don’t like that much)

Nothing

That’s right, you can actually buy nothing. And I’m not talking being stingy here- head to IWOOT and get this plastic ball filled with naff all except air. It’s simply stupid, stupidly simple, and guaranteed to get a few laughs when your victim co-worker/ little brother/ child opens it!

[product#211]

Also check out out credit crunch gadgets & Secret Santa gifts under £5 by Tanya and Christmas gadgets under a fiver by Stuart.