12 Cheap, Just-in-Case Gifts to Keep on Hand for Surprise Guests

I keep a couple unopened sets of the game Sushi Go on hand year-round because it’s extremely affordable, practically pocket size, and truly fun for anyone. Though billed for ages 8 and up, I’ve seen plenty of kids a couple years younger easily catch on to its pass-and-play conceit. Associate staff writer James Austin, our resident games expert, revealed in his glowing review of Sushi Go (which we’ve previously recommended as a stocking stuffer) that he first learned to play among friends at a bar. My retired mother is also a huge fan.

In fact, if you don’t own Sushi Go yourself, I suggest remedying that to experience its addictive, entertaining charms firsthand. (An under-$10 splurge? Treat yo’ self!) Then you can rave with your giftee about how much you both love Sushi Go.

Should you encounter stock issues with Sushi Go—or if, like me, you’ve already given it to everyone you know—I’d next recommend Exploding Kittens from our guide to the best gifts for families. (The game is described as “kind of a cross between Apples to Apples and Russian roulette.” To me, it’s more like Uno.) Exploding Kittens costs more than Sushi Go, but it’s also a crowd-pleaser that my family, my kid’s friends, and their parents all enjoy in equal measure.

Everyone uses tech gadgets, yet nobody ever seems to have enough of them; people are always losing earbuds, forgetting chargers in another bag, and so on. An inexpensive tech accessory, therefore, makes a great catchall gift—such as the under-$15 Moondrop Quarks wired earbuds we recommend in our guide to the best tech gifts, in which we rave that they “sound much better than the affordable price tag would suggest, and even better than sets that are double the cost.” The earbuds have a standard-size analog plug, which means they don’t pair with any device that doesn’t have one (but your giftee can use them on most newer planes’ headphone jacks). And their futuristic design makes them look way cooler than any cheapo set you might find at the bottom of your backpack.

Our reading light pick, the $16 Glocusent Bookmark Style Reading Light, is a versatile gift to have on hand. It’s great for late night reading in a shared space, or for reading while traveling. The compact light offers three different color temperatures and five levels of brightness, so your giftee can adjust the settings to suit their needs.

Two more somethings we all need every day: something to write on and something to write with. Whether you’re giving a gift to a daydreaming scribbler, a super-organized list-maker, or a journaling traveler, the pocket-size Field Notes Memo Book from our guide to the best notebooks and notepads will delight your recipient—especially if you pair it with a Uni-ball Signo RT1 gel pen or two, which we recommend in our pen guide. (Both are sold in packs that you can divide up for numerous giftees for under $10 apiece.) The Field Notes notebook’s ruggedly handsome look and the Uni-ball pen’s frisky colors gorgeously play off one another, and both deliver high quality for the price: Our pen testers appreciated the Signo RT1’s smooth handling, and staff writer Elissa Sanci has noted that the Field Notes Memo Book’s acid-free pages “are virtually smudge-proof.”

Show how much you care about your unexpected gift recipient by giving them the joy of un-chapped lips and hands this winter. Glossier Balm Dotcom, one of our lip balm picks, is a stylish yet affordable upgrade from your standard cylinder of ChapStick—the kind of little luxury many may not buy for themselves but would greatly appreciate receiving. (You could also purchase the Balm Dotcom Trio, which saves you a couple bucks; grab the birthday-theme balm for your favorite January baby.) Weleda Skin Food (which we’ve also recommended as a gift for new moms) has a similarly high-end feel and an intoxicating scent to boot, but it has more applications. I use it on my lips, hands, cuticles, elbows, and feet; I even slather it on my face before bed on those really dry, cold nights.

This luxe rubbery mask by Dr. Jart is our top-pick sheet mask and especially moisturizing for winter-worn skin, thanks to the serum it comes with that you layer on first. This need not be a gift for skin-care obsessives only—even the most skeptical among us would get a kick out of how ridiculous the blue mask looks while you’re wearing it. If you want a cheaper sheet mask option to bundle with something like the lottery tickets, Trader Joe’s trivet, or a sweet confection, the My Beauty Diary Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizing Masks are about $15 for a pack of eight.

That ragtag assortment of freebie magnets festooning most people’s largest kitchen appliance could use a glow-up—which you can deliver with this set of adorable, under-$10 TabEnter Decorative Refrigerator Magnets, another pick from our white elephant gift guide. We’re partial to the 12-piece cactus set; however, you may want to check out all of the available designs (pandas, ninjas, clouds, and the like), which can work for elementary-school-age kids and up. We also recommend the 10-piece Hey Foly Sushi Fridge Magnets and 20-piece MagMen Refrigerator Magnets in our guide to kids birthday party favors.

If it’s an item that most people could always use more than one of, then it’s an item that makes a perfect just-in-case gift—and really, who couldn’t use another corkscrew, especially a well-made, classic-looking one like the True Fabrications Truetap? Our top-pick corkscrew costs about $6 and comes in an array of eye-catching colors. You can also pair it with any corked cider, bubbly, beer, or vino to elevate the typical, here-I-got-you-a-bottle-of-something gift.

A similar option at less than $10 is the Gerber Shard Keychain Tool we recommend in our stocking stuffer guide. Because it’s a bottle opener and more (a screwdriver, a pry bar, and a wire stripper), it covers a broader spectrum of giftees, including the handyperson, the frequent traveler (it’s TSA-friendly), and the kid who likes to build things. You could easily add a little personality to this one by affixing it to the cheapest, kitschiest keychain you find at the gas station.

This article was edited by Hannah Morrill and Catherine Kast.