20 Gifts for Mom 2021 (for Any Budget)
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The holiday season often times creeps up on us unexpectedly each year, but this year, we got you covered with all of the right gifts to to treat mom like she deserves. Our annual gift guide rounds out a combination of the best gifts for all different types of moms and is great for any budget. Part of the work that we do in this guide is to hunt for the cheapest items that both pass our quality test and our joy maximization tests. Let's jump right in.
Tech ($-$$)
In 2021, tech is constantly changing, and buying Mom a new iPhone every year often times is not in the budget, but this year we have some pretty cool gadgets that got you covered for all the tech that she might need and then some.
Apple AirTag ($)
$29.00
On the cheaperish end, the Airtag is one of my favorite tech items of 2021, due to its practical value. At first, it might seem crazy to spend $29 for Airtags, but I have had about 3 critical saves from this device since I bought mine 6 months ago. You can pair this with Airtag holders like this or this to have the keys or wallet covered. It can be a huge timesaver for the days that you are rushing out the door and can't seem to find your keys. The setup process is extremely seemless and you can view all your Airtags right on the map with Find My and get exact directions to your items.
Ember Temperature Control Smart Mug ($$)
$99.95
If you are like us, you probably aren't living somewhere in a tropical climate and make daily runs to your local coffee shop to prevent a morning meltdown. The Ember mug perfectly temperature controls your drinks to ensure that it stays warm, even in the coldest temperatures. Its sleek design allows for good gripability and a 1.5 hour battery life helps to keep that long cup of coffee alive. As with anything now, you can pair it to an app to control your temperature control, or choose to use the mug without the app too. It might be worth noting that this is handwash only. Perfect for any busy mom who doesn't want lukewarm coffee in the morning, but then again, who really does?
Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen, 2021 release) ($$)
$84.99
Alexa products are all over the place, from clocks, to microwaves, to any speaker out there. There is so much you can do with this product for a fairly reasonable price. Make video calls to Grandma, play some music, get a quick dinner recipe, or do some online shopping. Amazon sold millions of Alexa enabled devices last year, and this year should be no different. Amazon Alexa, is becoming the centerpeice of the home, and perfect for any mother, whether technically savvy or not.
REIDEA Electronic Candle Lighter ($)
$11.99
We don't even know how this is scientifically possible, but an electronic candle lighter is a must have as a stocking stuffer this holiday season. You can recharge the lighter with a USB like you would an iPhone and it prevents the awkard situation of mom asking if you got a lighter on you when she can't find one before your holiday party starts. Get this, the lighter doesn't even have a flame either, making it a safe addition to the house.
B-Land Cell Phone Holder ($)
$21.99
Holding your phone while watching an entire netflix series can be quite exhausting, and no need to put your mother through that. We love this cell phone holder because it doesn't look like your typical cell phone holder mechanism. It is designed to be extremely versatile in its use cases, whether laying down on the bed, or cooking a meal on the counter, or even in the car. It is compatible with 25+ phone sizes, and is easy to store take apart and store away, although the material it is made out of isn't the highest quality, it still should last her a long time.
Fashion ($-$$)
Not every mom out there wears the same thing, so we wanted to bring a pallette of accessible options that we think would add to any closet. We also looked for objects that work well with other categories such as tech or the kitchen. Substitute the clothing store gift cards for apparel with more meaning.
TIJN Blue Light Blocking Glasses ($)
$10.99
Working from home is here to stay for most, including mothers all across the world. Mom probably has enough headaches each day from family life, so let's prevent another one with some blue light blocking glasses that don't look they are made for gaming teenagers. TIJN has a wide array of styles of bluelight glasses at a very affordable price and reviews of the blue light technology show that it works really well.
Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag ($$)
$38.00
Mom wearing a fanny pack during vacation is an American tradition by now, so why not get her a new one? Lululemon makes the age old eyesore now turned fashion trend perfect for any mother out there. Their selection of colors are fantastic and the material is the same quality as you would find in their leggings without breaking the bank. The water repellent fabric can keep your electronics and valuables safe while on the move in the rain.. or maybe mom can't stop spilling her drinks on herself.
lululemon
The Cinchable Chore Jacket by Everlane ($$)
$48.00
Everlane has got you covered for making sure you can keep mom in modern style. They have some pretty sweet deals around this season and have been running a sale slashing this jacket's price from $88 to $48. You really can't go wrong with the quality of some of their outerwear that can span across multiple seasons, whether it be fall or the cold start to the spring. She might not have to borrow from your closet with an entire wardrobe upgrade from Everlane.
Nancy by Warby Parker ($$$)
Starting at $95.00
The Warby Parker employees at my local store know me by name now, so it's no surprise that they are making the list here. Warby has superb quality glasses for a non-designer pricetag for some of their glasses. They make a few pair of sunglasses that were just made for mom, including Nancy(hence the name). If your mom needs a perscription, you can do those too, but single vision perscription can run you a tab close to $200, so hopefully insurance has you covered on this one. The scratch resistant lenses also has a guarantee for one year where they will replace your lense if there does happen to be a scratch.
Warby ParkerBoston Shearling Birkenstock Clogs ($$$)
$165.00
Birkenstocks have been all the rage for every age generation these past few years. These shoes that look like they belong in the middle ages have made quite the noise over the past few years. Their Arizona shoes have been very popular during the summer as a casual travel shoes, but since winter is soon approaching, it might be best to upgrade mom's slipper game with some of these. Reviews of these have been raving about the comfort of these clogs, even for those with wider feet due to the adjustable straps. Although pricey, we think these are gonna be one of the top gifts this holiday season.
JDubb’s Reviews
Kitchen ($-$$$)
Kitchen upgrades are always a safe go-to option when in a last second panic to get a thoughtful gift. For those that are more culinarily inclined, we added a couple options for those expert chefs and some options that can help mom's beef stew taste like it was made from an expert chef.
Totally Bamboo 3-piece Bamboo Cutting Board ($)
$14.99
Cutting boards aren't always the sexiest gift to give somebody, but for a frequent cooker, a solid cutting board that doesn't look like you took an axe to it is essential. I personally love having an assortment of cutting board sizes and the cutout handles also make for easy storage if you want to hang them from a peg in your kitchen if cabinet space is tight. The boards are the perfect thickness and can endure frequent use from the sharpest knives. Even if she might not get to use these ever, they still look great in the kitchen.
Beautiful by Drew Barrymore 6-Quart Touchscreen Air Fryer ($$)
$89.00
Drew Barrymore makes cooking appliances? The catch here is the line's emphasis on form and aesthetic of the equipment, and also a high bar of culinary quality, and at a reasonable price. Her Beautiful line of product has been all over gift guides for the holidays 2021. No cooking afficionado is complete without a practical use air fryer such as this one. Most air fryers on the market are quite the eyesore and feel like they are meant to be hidden deep in the cabinet until use, but Drew had some good taste here.
Demeyere Nonstick 1.5 qt. Covered Egg Poacher ($$)
$49.99
The versatility here is pretty much unbeatable to deliver perfect poached eggs while the nonstick pan can double for other applications of use to. Need to poach eggs for the whole family at once? Check. Need a spare pan to cook some sauce? Can do. What's best is that it has a spot-welded handle allowing for only a minimal absorbtion of heat so that the handle doesn't get too hot
Breville CS20001 Joule Sous Vide ($$$)
$199.95
Sometimes you need to pull out a sous vide to cook things longer(only kidding) and to the perfect temperature, and the Breville CS20001 Joule continues to be the top of the list under tech recommendations from Wirecutter, and we love the technology that comes with it. Breville is the classic household name behind some of our oldest cooking appliances, but here they championed a product filled with new technology and a very sleek(and small!) design. All the controls can be done with a smart phone to deliver you the perfect medium rare steak or to nail your chicken pesto recipe.
Ooni Koda 12 Gas Powered Pizza Oven ($$$)
$399.00
A hefty pricetag for my favorite item on the list this year. You can't beat having your own outdoor pizza oven at under $500 producing pies that rival your favorite local pizza joint. I am putting this gift on the list for both mom and dad, because you can't go wrong with either. It can cook your pizza in just 60 seconds with your crust reaching the perfect golden color. Ooni is going to be a household name for making some of the best pizza that you can make yourself, even if you aren't a pizza pro yet. Just have a look at their overview video to see for yourself how impressive the product is.
https://ooni.com/collections/ovens/products/ooni-koda
Athletic ($-$$$)
Staying healthy is often top of mind for mom, and we got a curation of some of the best athletic acessories, clothing and products focused on wellness. Some of these items come with a high price tag that make up for it in the quality of the product.
Bala Bangles Adjustable Wrist & Ankle Weights ($$)
$49.00
Several moms during their childhood might remember the excessive amount of accessories worn and depicted during workouts in the 80s with legwarmers and sweatbands. Flagrant colors were the norm back then and it seem like it is finding its way back into the world but now in the form of some very well designed wrist & ankle weights. These can fit almost any ankle or wrist out there as they are entirely adjustable and almost feel like you aren't wearing them at all.. except for the weight of course. Slightly on the pricey side for a 1 or 2 lb weight, but cheers to the days of working out in style.
TheraGun Elite Deep Tissue Massage Gun ($$$)
$399.00
In-between work, cooking, dropping off the kids, dealing with dad, and hitting the gym, mom might not have enough time to get a deep tissue massage every week and it is not always the easiest to make time for proper muscle recovery. Especially if she is sitting at a computer for most of the day or has been having muscle soreness, the TheraGun is a masseuse in your pocket offering a range of speeds and can connect to your mobile phone for wellness practices in app. It is strong, pretty quite and very mobile which allows you to take it on the move or store it in the car if need be.
Gaiam Cork Yoga Mat ($)
$29.99
For the Yoga loving mom, we have the long lasting, perfect grip, and environmentally sustainable Cork Yoga Mat. Traditional rubber yoga mats tend to collect all types of hair and dust very easily and I never fully liked the grip of the surface either. After I purchased a cork equivalent, I have fallen in love with not only the aesthetic of the product, but also the great grip that the material gives, all while supporting a product built with sutainable products.
TriggerPoint Foam Roller ($$)
$39.99
A product with a similiar outcome to the TheraGun Elite above, but not at a bank breaking price point. Most fitness gurus will tell you the importance of foam rolling before and after workouts, and it is a well priced addition to any shopping list. The particular reason why we like this foam roller itself is because it is a smaller size so it is easy to fit in a duffel and is not too pointy for those moms with many muscle knots.
Lululemon Core Large Duffle Bag ($$)
$168.00
What better way to round off gifting for your fitness obsessed mom then by upgrading her duffle? Lululemon was never known for its bag and accessories, but their high bar of product quality does not just apply to their clothes. The best part of this duffle is that it is small enough to fit into most gym lockers, while also being large enough to store a foam roller or a massage gun and all of mom's other gym essentials. Might be a great idea to change out that gym duffle she has been using since college for some of that Lululemon.
lululemon
Make Gifting Easier
We built a free application to make your holiday extra special this year. Organize all your gift shopping and invite the ones coming to your holiday party all in under 5 minutes. Secretly claim items off of others' wishlists and get the gifts that everybody wants. Download on the App Store today:
Happy holidays!
-Olive Gifting