Impulse buying gets a bad rap — and for good reason. Who hasn’t bought a shiny, shiny item on a whim, only to regret it the second you get home? But with giftsimpulse buys can be a good thing. A spur-of-the-moment purchase can lead to unexpected perfect-find surprise and delight — and leave your recipient wondering how they ever lived without that unique and rare item.

We’ve rounded up our CNET staff’s favorite impulse buys that have turned into surprisingly useful items, and they all make great gifts. All of these items cost less than $25, so they’re easy on your wallet, and many of them are on sale at Presidents Day. Who knows? Maybe you should pick up a thing or two to enjoy yourself.