This is the point in the holiday shopping season when you start to feel the real drain of your bank account.
But with gifts still to buy, you don't have to shell out big bucks.
In fact, some of the hottest products of the year clock in well under $100, from gaming consoles and VR headsets to drones. Some even double as stocking stuffers -- we're looking at you, chewable coffee.
No matter who you're shopping for, here are some of the most worthy (and affordable) buys:
First, let's start with Amazon's(AMZN)Echo Dot -- the hockey puck-sized answer to the larger and pricier Amazon Echo smart speaker.
The 1.5-inch device, which features built-in voice assistant Alexa, can read the news aloud, order you an Uber and control lights in the house. It's a solid entry-level gift for anyone new (and interested) in the smart home world. While it's not as powerful as the Echo, especially when it comes to speaker quality, it's more than half the price at $49.
For smart home newbies, the Philips Hue lights starter kit ($69) is a great companion to either the Dot or Echo -- and works in the home even without one.
