The holidays can get expensive—especially when everyone around you wants all the newest gizmos. If you’re on a budget and still trying to find the best grown up toys, fret not! Here’s a look at 5 of the best techno-gadgets under $100.
Echo Dot
The second generation of Amazon’s Echo Dot has arrived, and man is it cool. Alexa (Amazon’s version of an intelligent personal assistant akin to Apple's Siri or Microsoft's Cortana) lets you control virtually everything you’d want to around your house with just your voice. The Echo Dot can open garage doors; set the thermostat; turn on the coffee pot, lights, fans, and sprinklers; and just about anything else that will connect to it. On top of that, you can play your favorite music from your favorite app and—at the same time—order pizza, set a timer, and shop on Amazon. It’s a steal at $49.99.
Frigidaire Professional Stainless 7-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker FPCP07D7MS
Admittedly, crockpots under $100 abound (although there are some pretty nifty ones over $100), but this Frigidaire version is one of the most convenient on the market. Plus, it made Good Housekeeping’s list of top slow cookers. The controls are simple to read and use—even if it’s a gadget for the less than technologically savvy cook in your life. It even has a medium setting, which is a rarity among crock pots, surprisingly. It’s also completely programmable with built in “soup” and “buffet” setting. Plus, it’s huge so you can fit your whole roast into it without any awkward hacking. Slow cookers are perfect for busy families who prefer to spend their time eating together instead of waiting for dinner to finish. Prices range from about $60-$80, depending on the retailer and current sales.
Stick + Shoot Camera by Podo Labs
This is the expensive version of the selfie-stick. Instead of hiking your phone up on its own stilt, the Stick + Shoot is a 2-inch by 2-inch square camera with what is effectively a full-back suction cup to create a reusable adhesive that allows you to mount the camera anywhere. Then your phone acts as a viewfinder and shutter; you can also choose a time lapse and take videos or pictures. After you get your shot, the Stick + Shoot sends the images straight to your phone. It's perfect for the selfie enthusiast in your life, ringing in at just under the limit—$99.
Keurig K55 Black K-Cup Commercial Brewing System
If you’ve been waiting for Keurig to develop a reasonably priced brewing system, you’re in luck! Perfect for offices, dorm rooms, and single-coffee-drinker households, the K55 comes in black, blue, white, and red. It carefully distributes each cup of coffee in variations of 6-, 8-, and 10-ounce cups. Combined with the accompanying drink pods, this single cup brewer makes a great cup of coffee, tea, hot chocolate, or other hot drinks with a simple programmable set of buttons. The K55 normally runs about $90, but you can catch it on sale at Amazon for $70.
Roku Express
The Roku Express is the newest mode of streaming from Roku. The console itself is a flat rate, and the only fees you incur from there are the ones you want to. Once the Express is hooked to a TV, it packages Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, Pandora, and any other media accounts the owner might have, along with free channels, all in one neat place. The Roku Express has 1080p streaming, an effortless remote, easy layout, and everything you need to binge-watch without ever having to search for your laptop charger. This newest model is smaller than your hand, making it easy to use, easy to move, and even easier to buy at only $30.
