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Best gifts for co-workers under $50 on Amazon

Shopping for co-workers is rough. You don't want to spend a lot, but you also don't want to be a cheapskate. And, hopefully, you want to get something they'll like. To make the holidays less stressful this year, we've done the hard work for you and found the perfect, budget-friendly gifts. You're welcome.
By Elyse Betters Picaro, Managing Editor
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1 of 36 Fisher Space Pen

Fisher Space Pen (around $17)

See it now: Fisher Space Pen on Amazon

The Fisher Space Pen is a retractable, pressurized pen designed to work flawlessly in zero gravity aboard the first manned Apollo mission in 1968. Although there are now various models at different price points, this particular one sits in The Museum of Modern Art's permanent collection as a symbol of American industrial design. It'd make a perfect gift for any space or art-obsessed co-worker, or even just a co-worker who'd appreciated a pen with a bit of history to it.


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2 of 36 Amazon

Amazon Smart Plug ($25)

    See it now: Smart Plug on Amazon

    Amazon's Smart Plug basically adds Alexa voice control to any outlet, so you can schedule lights, fans, and appliances to turn on or off automatically. It's simple to set up and use -- just plug it in, open the Alexa app, and start using your voice. No smart home hub required. If you get it for a co-worker, they'll be able to control their devices at home remotely while they're in the office.


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    3 of 36 Ello

    Ello Jane Ceramic Travel Mug (around $14)

    See it now: Ello Jane Ceramic Mug on Amazon

    This is for that co-worker who always spills their coffee at their desk. It'll allow them to enjoy their favorite hot beverage from a ceramic mug, rather than a plasticky travel tumbler, but it also has a silicone boot and spill-resistant lid -- so it's an essentially a sippy cup, but for adults.


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    4 of 36 Bestkee

    Lightsaber Umbrella LED (around $25)

    See it now: Lightsaber Umbrella on Amazon

    It's an umbrella that lights up like a lightsaber. What's not to like? Your Star Wars-loving co-worker will have the coolest umbrella in the office, hands down.


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    5 of 36 Lasko

    Lasko 100 MyHeat Personal Ceramic Heater ($20)

    See it now: Lasko 100 MyHeat Heater on Amazon

    There's always that one co-worker who always complains about the A/C or cold temps. Shut them up for good with a personal space heater they can discreetly keep by their desk.


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    6 of 36 PhoneSoap 2.0

    PhoneSoap 2.0 Phone Sanitizer and Universal Charger ($40)

    See it now: PhoneSoap 2.0 Sanitizer on Amazon

    Know a germaphobe? Then get them this UV-C light that promises to kill 99.9 percent of bacteria while keeping a phone charged all at the same time.

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    7 of 36 Amazon

    Amazon Echo Dot ($50)

    See it now: Echo Dot on Amazon

    Introduce your co-worker to the Alexa ecosystem with Amazon's most popular, budget-friendly Echo device: Echo Dot. They can use it to ask Alexa to play music, answer questions, read the news, check the weather, set alarms, control compatible smart home devices, and more.


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    8 of 36 Brouk & Co

    Brouk & Co Cord Taco Trio ($16)

    See it now: Brouk & Co Tacos on Amazon

    Know a co-worker who'd appreciate a practical gift that helps them stay organized? Then they might appreciate this three-pack of colorful "taco" cord keepers made of durable vegan leather.


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    9 of 36 JBL

    JBL Clip 3 Bluetooth Speaker (around $50)

    See it now: JBL Clip 3 on Amazon

    Warning: Only get this for your co-worker on the condition that they won't blare tunes in the office and annoy the heck out of you. It's a neat little JBL speaker they can hang from their keychain to get 10 hours of wireless Bluetooth streaming. It's even IPX7-rated waterproof.


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    10 of 36 Elyse Betters Picaro/ZDNET

    Fire 7 Tablet with Alexa (around $50)

    See it now: Fire 7 on Amazon

    This is Amazon's most popular Fire tablet. It comes with a 7-inch screen, has built-in Alexa, and can be used for everything from reading books to browsing the web. It'd be a great gift for anyone.


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    11 of 36 inCharge

    inCharge Ultra Charging Keychain Cable ($13)

    See it now: InCharge Charging Keychain on Amazon

    Does your co-worker constantly ask to borrow your iPhone charging cable? Then get them this little doohickey. They can carry it on their keychain so they'll never be caught without a charging cable again. It comes in nine different colors, too.


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    12 of 36 Tile

    Tile Combo Pack ($45)

    See it now: Tile on Amazon

    Co-workers who are constantly losing their keys or wallets are the worst. But with Tile, you'll no longer have to spend forever helping them look for their stuff. It uses Bluetooth and a crowdsourcing technology to help people locate their lost or misplaced items.


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    13 of 36 Sugru

    Sugru Moldable Glue 8-pack ($20)

    See it now: Sugru on Amazon

    The co-worker who has a gazillion frayed cords -- from Lightning cables to MacBook charging cables -- will be amazed at the power of Sugru, a moldable glue that sets strong by turning into silicone rubber. They can use it to fix, bond, and seal cords, among many other things.


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    14 of 36 Philips

    Philips Wake-Up Light Alarm Clock (around $46)

    See it now: Philips Wake-up Light on Amazon

    Philips is known for its Hue lights, but did you know it also makes a light alarm clock? This lamp is a "clinically proven" light therapy device and alarm clock combo designed to improve your sleep, energy, and well-being. Get it for a co-worker who has trouble getting out of bed in the morning or who is suffering from the wintertime blues this holiday season.


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    15 of 36 Rabbit

    Rabbit Charger Duo ($50)

    See it now: Rabbit Charger Duo on Amazon

    The Rabbit Charger Duo will secure to any standard duplex outlet and can simultaneously charge two devices at the same time. Plus, with its 28-inch retractable cable, it'll eliminate cord messes. It's ideal for someone who always has multiple devices on them in need of charging.


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    16 of 36 elago

    elago W4 Stand for Apple Watch Series 4 ($12)

    See it now: Elago W4 on Amazon

    This is great for Apple Watch Series 4 owners. It's a retro watch stand designed to look like the old 1998 iMac. When your co-worker places their Apple Watch in the stand, they'll be able to enjoy the nostalgic feel of using an older Mac monitor. Perfect for any Apple fanboys (or girls).


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    17 of 36 Techlink

    Recharge Apple Watch Power and Travel case ($40)

    See it now: Recharge 1000 on Amazon

    If you have a co-worker who travels a lot and owns an Apple Watch, consider the Recharge 1000 and travel case, which will allow them to neatly use their Apple Watch charging cable while storing and safely charging their watch. Neat!


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    18 of 36 iOttie

    iOttie iON Wireless Mini Fast Charger ($40)

    See it now: iOttie iON on Amazon

    Smartphones that wirelessly charge are fast becoming the new norm, and so a fast-charging wireless pad is a safe gift, especially if it's an attractive one such as this iOttie charge in ivory.


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    19 of 36 Hersent

    Travel Genuine Leather Accessory Cable Pouch ($30)

    See it now: Travel roll-up pouch on Amazon

    This roll-up pouch is handmade from genuine premium leather and is designed to keep cables from becoming a tangled mess. Get it for a co-worker who is constantly pulling out a ball of cords, wires, and adapters from their purse or backpack.


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    20 of 36 Mophie

    Mophie Powerstation Mini External Battery (around $25)

    See it now: Mophie Powerstation on Amazon

    A low or nearly dead battery is annoying for anyone. Save your co-worker the stress of finding an outlet by giving them this rechargeable 3,000mAh universal battery that'll allow them to charge all their mobile devices, such as a smartphone, smartwatch, and more


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    21 of 36 LOOP

    LOOP World Adapter Plug ($15)

    See it now: Loop World Adapter Plug on Amazon

    There are a lot of these types of devices on Amazon, but this one is well-rated and recommended by Amazon. It essentially lets you charge up without the hassle of multiple chargers, as it recognizes many charging protocols, works with several devices, and is fitted with UK, EU, AU, CN, and US plugs. Get it for a co-worker who loves to travel abroad.


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    22 of 36 Anker

    Anker USB Type-C PD Charger ($40)

    See it now: Anker USB-C wall charger on Amazon

    This USB-C wall charger houses five ports and promises simultaneous multi-device charging at high speed. It's perfect for that geeky co-worker who has a slew of mobile devices -- from phones to laptops - that they'd like to charge at once.


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    23 of 36 Mophie

    Mophie Power Capsule External Battery Charger (around $40)

    See it now: Mophie Power Capsule on Amazon

    Can you tell we think charging accessories would be a hit with co-workers? Well, here's another to consider: A compact, easy-to-carry travel case from Mophie that charges wearables and protects devices at the same time. It contains a rechargeable 1,400mAh universal battery.


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    24 of 36 Amazon

    Fire TV Stick 4K (around $40)

    See it now: Fire TV Stick on Amazon

    Got a co-worker interested in becoming a cord-cutter? Then get them Amazon's latest Fire TV Stick. They can stream from all their favorite apps in 4K, plus get access to Alexa voice control.


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    25 of 36 E-Blue

    Captain America Alu-metal Gaming Keyboard ($48)

    See it now: Captain America gaming keyboard on Amazon

    What about that co-worker who loves Marvel movies and PC gaming? Then they might appreciate this officially-licensed Captain America gaming keyboard. It's a bit of a quirk gift, but if you're bored of chargers and cable organizers, this might be the gift idea to go with this holiday season.


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    26 of 36 Hot Topic

    Star Wars: The Force Awakens BB-8 USB Car Charger ($41)

    See it now: Star Wars BB-8 Car Charger on Amazon

    This little BB-8 unit is perfect for Star Wars nerds. It fits right in a standard cupholder and plugs into a 12V vehicle power adapter (cigarette lighter). The head rotates and makes sound, but more importantly, it comes with 2 2.1A USB charging ports, so it'll charge your co-worker's devices.


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    27 of 36 Raspberry Pi

    Raspberry Pi 3 Model B Motherboard (around $35)

    See it now: Raspberry Pi 3 Model B on Amazon

    If your co-worker loves to tinker with computers, get them the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B. It features Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Low Energy capabilities. Just make your co-worker promise to show you what sort of creations they come up with when they get around to seeing what this thing can do.


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    28 of 36 U Brands

    U Brands Desktop Accessory Kit ($36)

    See it now: Desktop Accessory Kit on Amazon

    For those of you with co-workers who hate tech but love anything rose gold, look no further than this modern desktop accessory kit, which includes scissors, tape dispenser, stapler, pencil cup, Monterey ballpoint pens, and large binder clips. It's like a cute office supply starter pack.


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    29 of 36 Poluma

    Bullet Journal (from $10)

    See it now: Bullet Journal on Amazon

    You really can't go wrong with a nice journal or notebook, but the Bullet Journal is especially cool. If you don't know how the organizational system works, see this $14 book here. It will teach you (or your co-worker) how to do bullet journaling. It doubles as a creative outlet.


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    30 of 36 WLIVE

    WLIVE Mini Vacuum Cleaner ($11)

    See it now: WLIVE Mini Vacuum Cleaner on Amazon

    We all have that one disgusting co-worker who has crumbs all over their desk. Give them this battery-operated mini vacuum cleaner. It cleans up crumbs, dirt, eraser residue, and other debris. It can even be used to clean a computer keyboard or crumbs on a car seat.


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    31 of 36 FOCUSPOWER

    FOCUSPOWER F10 Mini Bluetooth Earbud ($25)

    See it now: FocusPower F10 Mini Earbud on Amazon

    Looking for an affordable alternative to Apple AirPods, but don't want a dorky Bluetooth headset? Then check out this modern Bluetooth earbud. Your co-worker will be able to discreetly listen to tunes, answer calls, and more, while still keeping one ear free for other tasks.


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    32 of 36 Brother

    Brother P-touch Label Maker (around $35)

    See it now: Brother P-Touch on Amazon

    If you know a co-worker who is organized to the max, then they'll love this label maker. It's like the king of label makers, with user-friendly templates and memory for up to 30 labels.


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    33 of 36 PopSockets

    PopSockets: Collapsible Grip & Stand (around $10)

    See it now: PopSockets on Amazon

    PopSockets are a cute little gift for your co-worker. They can attach it to the back of almost any mobile device to instantly transform its capabilities. It works as a phone or tablet grip and makes it easier to take photos, text, watch media, and even wrap up cords.


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    34 of 36 Mr. Coffee

    Mr. Coffee Mug Warmer ($10)

    See it now: Mr Coffee Mug Warmer on Amazon

    This gift idea is pretty basic: It's a 17-watt mug warmer for use with coffee, tea, hot cocoa, and more. We think it'll suit any co-worker who is a huge fan of drinking hot beverages in the office.


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    35 of 36 Amazon

    Echo Buttons ($15)

    See it now: Echo Buttons on Amazon

    If you know a co-worker who owns an Echo device, they might appreciate these Echo accessory buttons. They can be used with, say, the Jeopardy! skill -- basically adding an interactive way to play the game through a compatible Echo device.


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    36 of 36 Sideclick

    Sideclick Remotes ($30)

    See it now: Sideclick Remotes on Amazon

    Here's a universal remote attachment for the Amazon Fire TV remote, Roku remote, or any IR remote. The Sideclick will let your co-worker more easily control the basic functions of their TV, receiver, sound bar, blu ray, and streaming media player all-in-one


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