100 gift ideas for under $100

These inexpensive stuffed animals were wildly popular in the ‘90s, causing buyers to line up outside of toy stores as they awaited shipments. Interest eventually declined, and the company announced it would stop producing them in 1999. That “shut down” lasted a few months; the company resumed production in early 2000. Little kids (among others) still love them.

Price: About $4.99 each

Where to find: http://world.ty.com/catalog/catPage.cfm?status=Current&lineid=3

--JL   (Michael S. Green / Associated Press)

Yo-yos have been around for centuries, and Duncan Toys Company has been making them for more than 80 years. How can you go wrong?

Price: $3.49 to $4.99 for Classic series yo-yos

Where to find: https://www.yo-yo.com/index.php/site/categories/yo-yos/classic

--JL   (Jason La / Los Angeles Times)

This foam clown nose was created by professional clowns, so no need to worry about your loved ones making a fool of themselves when they put it on. (Seriously, it was designed by professionals!) One size fits all.

Price: $5

Where to find: UncommonGoods, http://www.uncommongoods.com/product/emergency-clown-nose

--JL  (Jason La / Los Angeles Times)

They’re colorful, cheap, extremely practical, and widely available in Chinatown shops and some Asian supermarkets.

Price: About $2, depending on location

Where to find: Los Angeles Chinatown; for location of home stores: http://www.chinatownla.com/businesses.php?c=1&categoryId=27

--JL   (Jason La / Los Angeles Times)

This exhibition, which ends Dec. 31, contains the largest collection of Cleopatra-period artifacts from Egypt ever assembled in the U.S.

Price: $2 service charge per ticket; admission to the California Science Center is free

Where to find: California Science Center, 700 Exposition Park Drive, Los Angeles; reserve tickets online at

http://www.californiasciencecenter.org/Exhibits/SpecialExhibits/Cleopatra/Cleopatra.php

--JL  (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

It’s time to give your family and friends the gift of public transportation. The Expo Line connecting downtown Los Angeles to Culver City debuted this year, and more extensions are scheduled for the next few years.

Price: $1 for the card and $1.50 for each ride

Where to find: Purchase at any Metro station, http://www.metro.net/

--JL  (Richard Hartog / Los Angeles Times)

The 99 Cents Only Store in Garden Grove carries a surprisingly wide variety of ties, including traditional, skinny, whimsical and serious. The merchandise changes, so call to make sure they have ties in stock.

Price: $.99

Where to find: 99 Cents Only Store, 9920 Westminster Ave., Garden Grove

--JL  (Kathy Pyon / Los Angeles Times)

These 10-ounce jars of marmalade are made from fruit from orange groves once owned by railroad magnate Henry E. Huntington, namesake of Huntington Library in San Marino.

Price: $7.95

Where to find: Huntington Library gift shop, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, http://www.shophuntington.org/husworma.html

--JL   (Jason La / Los Angeles Times)

These macarons are on the pricey side, but they’re tasty and come in a nice box.

Price: $10 for 5

Where to find: Bottega Louie, 700 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, http://www.bottegalouie.com/

--JL   (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Fugetsu-do has been making mochi in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo for more than 100 years. These doughy balls of sweet rice come with fillings such as chocolate, red bean and peanut butter.

Price: Varies, but a variety of selections is available for $10 or less

Where to buy: Fugetsu-do, 315 E. 1st St. Los Angeles; http://www.fugetsu-do.com/

--JL   (Diane de Guzman / Los Angeles Times)

The makers of these bottle openers gather bike parts from across the country. Functioning parts are donated to cycling nonprofits. The rest are resurrected as nifty gadgets such as these bottle openers.

Price: $10

Where to find: UncommonGoods; http://www.uncommongoods.com/product/bike-chain-bottle-opener

--JL  (Jason La / Los Angeles Times)

Monopoly Deal is just as fun as its game board version, but it’s quick (games take about half an hour), and you can play pretty much anywhere you can take a deck of cards.

Price: $5.99

Where to find: http://www.hasbro.com/monopoly/en_US/shop/details.cfm?R=F3854DAA-728A-1014-B188-F10137905FA8:en_US

--JL  (Jason La / Los Angeles Times)

Kids clamored for these digital pets in the ‘90s. You can feed and play with them like normal pets. Unlike normal pets, though, they’re reincarnated by pressing a few buttons.

Price: About $7 on Amazon

Where to find: Amazon.com; also available at Target and Walmart

--JL   (Jason La / Los Angeles Times)

Paying for digital content may be a foreign concept to some of your loved ones, but with a Google Play gift card, which debuted in August, they can buy Android apps without the unease.

Price: $10; $25 and $50 also available

Where to find: RadioShack, GameStop and Target

--JL   (Kimihiro Hoshino / AFP/Getty Images)

Give someone a year membership to LACMA for unlimited general admission, a ticket to all specially ticketed exhibitions, 10% off at the museum store and more.
Price: $50
Where to find: LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles
--JH  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)