Whether it is stuffing stockings, or spreading the joy of gift giving, there is always room for new gadgets to brighten the holiday season. Tight student budgets and even tighter schedules may entice some to the mall and pick up the brightest thing on display or on sale, which is not the best thing to do when there is money to be saved or be better spent.

Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 2 Pro

Apple may have flashy products and simplistic designs, but when on a budget, a laptop that begins at over $1,000 will not cut it. Lenovo’s IdeaPad Yoga 2 Pro offers an impressive array of features: an ultra-high resolution 3,200 by 1,800 pixel touchscreen display, backlit keyboard and Windows 8.1 operating system. The hallmark of this laptop is the ability to fold the lids a full 360 degrees to form either a thicker tablet or a thin clamshell laptop. To seal the deal, it is under $1,000, a good price for a good, light and flexible computer.

Acer Chromebook C720

Acer’s Chromebook C720 is recommended for a simple, fast notebook for homework, web browsing and occasional video or music enjoyment. Well below what competing Windows 8 or 8.1 laptops sell for, it is priced at an affordable $249. The Chrome OS-powered notebook can take the place of a Mac or Windows PC for most people.

Worried about the software learning curve? Fear not! If you know Chrome, the internet browser, then you know Chrome OS.

With an internal 16 GBs of storage, it may not seem like much, but the cloud-based storage Google offers with the Chromebook gives 200 GBs of storage accessible anywhere the Internet is available.

Some slightly lacking features are the 11.6 inch display’s resolution at 1,366 by 768 pixels and cheap-looking design. To counter, the claimed 8 ½  hour battery life, high-definition multimedia interface output, SD card slot and single USB 3.0 all make this the best “bang for your buck” for the practical holiday shopper.

Nexus 7 (2013)

Tablets have been gaining ground for those looking to replace computers for everyday tasks when on the go. The 2013 model of the Android-powered Nexus 7 offers plenty of performance, mobility and affordability by starting at just $229. With a beautiful 7-inch, full HD 1,920 by 1,200 pixel display, powerful gaming performance and high-ranking scores on many tech sites and blogs, this tablet is sure to please anyone getting this in their stocking.

Roku 3

Have someone on your list that looks forward to watching movies, catching up on shows or just being a couch potato to avoid the cold weather, then the Roku 3 is a perfect gift. With a sleek interface and more than 750 channels supported including Netflix, Amazon Instant, HBO Go, Hulu Plus, Pandora, Amazon Cloud Player and Vudu, this box will not run out of fun anytime soon. Priced at $100 for a single-device solution, this power packed tiny box will surely bring entertainment value to any HDMI-input capable high-definition television.

Fitbit Force

Counting calories for the diet, or just trying to keep track of the steps you take or the amount you sleep each night? The Fitbit Force has those bases covered. It tracks steps taken, amount of sleep and calories via phone app, all in a stylish design. This watch syncs wirelessly over Bluetooth with your smartphone with a dedicated app for Android or iOS to keep track of you, plus it offers achievements, Facebook sharing and progress meters. Bright screen, comfortable fit and good array of features makes this $129 watch worth wearing.

Audio-Technica ATH-M30 headphones

What make these headphones special is the no-nonsense offers of great build quality and detailed, elegant sound and ample bass. Apart from being all about the sound quality, at a bargain price of around $55, it is a hard deal to beat. Although they may not have a built-in microphone for answering calls, they are nothing more than great headphones for listening to music the way it was meant to be heard that any audiophile will enjoy.