The best white elephant gifts under $50 that are sure to be the talk of the party

Now, here's something that'll really quack them up. Give this light-up duck a pat on the back to adjust between three brightness levels or set a 30-minute timer. "Battery life is still running high after a week of buying without charging," one five-star reviewer raved. "You also get to sit your phone in its legs and it turns into a phone holder!"

In a pinch? Pick up this two-in-one kitchen gadget and claw it a day. This crustacean cutie pulls double duty as a steam releaser and spoon holder, with one happy customer writing that the silicone legs "expand to hold different thicknesses of spoon handles."

Chances are, whoever ends up with this gift already has a "big dumb cup." But on the off chance that they don't, it's probably a good idea to pair these silly (yet stylish) straw covers with a tumbler in a complementary color. Stanley is the brand, but you can always go with this similar style from Simple Modern if you're working with a tighter budget. 

Don't get any ideas — this candle looks good enough to eat, but it's not edible. Nope, it's all for show. It's also unscented, which, ya know, wards off any temptations. 

Elf on the Shelf, who? Celebrate the holidays in the Dogghouse with this mini plush made to look just like Snoop, gold bling and all. If you've got a bigger budget, pair it with Snoop's best buddy, Martha on the Mantel. 

Bring some life to the party — quite literally! Leave this friendly-faced planter in the box or put a real (or faux!) plant inside, so the recipient can stick it on their shelf, stat. If you go with a real plant, make sure it's a hard-to-kill, low-maintenance type like succulents or cacti. 

What a hot frisbee of fun! The culinary twist on a classic will take them straight to Flavortown with properties and game pieces inspired by the spiky-haired Food Network star, including a '68 Chevy Camaro and his signature sunglasses.

If they're the type to put hot sauce on their hot sauce, then this seven-piece sampler will be a real treat. But if they don't? Then these mini bottles, ranging from a smoky bourbon to a fiery habanero, will be too hot to handle. 

This is one of those nifty inventions you didn't know you needed ... until you need it. Relieve headache pain with this compression cap, which can be heated or cooled to your liking. This five-star review says it best: "I have struggled with chronic migraines for 25 years, and it feels as if I have tried every ice pack. This hat is amazing! It stays soft and comfortable, making it easy to sleep with. And it gets so cold very easily — I leave mine in the refrigerator, no freezer needed." 

Readers, crafters and tinkerers can't get enough of this wrap-around light. They can switch between three different color temperatures and brightness modes until it casts the perfect glow. More than 10,000 Amazon shoppers picked it up last month, with one writing that they originally bought it "so I could crochet at night when my husband wanted the room dark for TV" but found it especially useful to "have on hand in case there's a storm when you lose electricity."

There comes a time in everyone's life when they get excited to unbox useful kitchen gadgets. Is that where you and your friends are at? Perfect because you can chop, slice, dice and spiralize with this 4-in-1 food chopper— just open the lid, choose the right insert, lock it into place and press down. 

Paid for by Walmart

Peak coziness unlocked: When the temperatures take a nosedive, they can snuggle up in this faux fur throw and set it to one of six heat settings from 86°F to 113°F. One cozy customer raved that it "looks and feels expensive." Another added: "I have two cats that love it so I really like the fact that you can remove the cover and wash it." 

Lego's botanicals, like this 258-piece chrysanthemum kit, are the gift that keeps on giving. Sure, there's the building part that's fun for anyone who likes stepping away from screens and tinkering away at something for an hour or so. Then there's the fact that they can bask in the beauty of their handiwork for all the years to come. 

There comes a time in everyone's life when they get excited about opening up a new pack of sponges. Give that experience to a special someone — times eight! You have two choices to make: Wrap up the whole box (giving eight sponges in total), or just give a few and hold onto the extras for future Christmas gifts.

This isn't your typical reusable water bottle. Nope, this all-time fave is virtually spill-proof, with our Deputy Editor Izabella Zaydenburg gushing that "it can be flipped upside down without leaking." It also has a built-in straw, easily fits in most cupholders and keeps drinks cold for up to 24 hours. Your trendy tumbler (ahem, not naming names) could never! 

Now, here's something that everyone knows and loves. Take the practical route by wrapping up an AirTag or two. The recipient will thank you the next time they track down their missing wallet, keys, backpack or [insert lost item here]. 

Everyone's been singing snail mucin's praises recently — including Senior Beauty Editor Jennifer Romolini. She put the brand's bestselling serum to the test and wrote that "my skin was more supple, my fine lines appeared less deep and my face appeared generally more even and had a sort of glow." These sheet masks are infused with the same slimy goodness to help achieve the "glass skin" that we're all after.