The Budget Babe | Affordable Fashion & Style Blog

Great Affordable Gifts for Guys

Dear Budget Babe,
Where can I find cool holiday gifts for my man that won't break the bank?
Sincerely,
Peaches

TBB: Men may not covet the latest shoe or handbag like us girls, but their costly hobbies (think electronics, cars, photography or sports) can often make gift-giving an expensive, not to mention confusing, endeavor. The trick is to be observant (take notes if necessary) and get inside your sig-o's head to understand what would really make him happy. When in doubt, go for anything edible or anything that requires batteries. But if beef jerky is all that comes to mind, heck, that's fine too. Resist the temptation to give him a wardrobe makeover or buy him beauty products. And whatever you do, DON'T buy him a tie.

With that in mind, here are some great places to start shoppin':

ThinkGeek.com: Geeky toys, gadgets and whatchamacallits
NewEgg.com: Computer everything
Target: Video games, electronics, socks, tees, boxers, PJs, candy & gourmet junk food
SierraTradingPost: Apparel and more for the rugged outdoorsman
REI: Camping and hiking gear - we recommend the manly Gerber Gator Combo Axe.
Threadless: Awesome logo tees that are sure to please plus irreverent slogan tees that say things like "Shakespeare hates your emo poems."
Hammacher Schlemmer: Unique and bizarre gadgets & gifts, like the World's Largest Crossword Puzzle.
Peet's Coffee.com: One-stop shop for coffee lovers. We recommend buying him a French press for brewing (buy one for under $30 on Amazon.com).
Calumet Photo: Everything for the avid photographer. Wallet-friendly options include memory cards, a mini tripod, camera or lens case, high-quality photo paper, or an enlargement of one of his fave prints.
Zappos: Laptop bags, camera bags, shoes, leather accessories. We heart everything by Timbuk2.
Lego.com: The Lego Ferrari will appeal to his inner child - and it's a helluva lot cheaper than the real deal.
A Collage a Day blog: Get an original work of art by Randel Plowman for $25. He'll dig it.
American Grassfed Beef: Yummy gourmet natural beef jerky - no preservatives and it's made from lean, grass-fed beef (he won't know it's good for him.)

Need gift ideas for a foodie on your list? Check out our favorite food blog wasabigelatine's holiday gift guide here.

Share your ideas for great gifts for gents in the comments!