Holiday Gift Guide: Tech Toys For Tight WalletsHoliday Gift Guide: Tech Toys For Tight Wallets

Holiday shoppers are -- predictably enough -- looking for deals. The Consumer Electronics Association found that 66% of consumers plan to devote more time and energy bargain hunting this season than in previous years. And according to the E-Tailing Group, 83% of them will base their holiday purchases primarily on price.

But you don't have to be a Scrooge just because tough times require you to be a tightwad. Spread good cheer by taking advantage of the fact that consumer electronics firms are slashing prices to the bone. Although you'll find deepest discounts for higher-ticket items such as MP3 players, laptops, and flat-screen televisions, you'll find bargains all over the spectrum. To help you stay within budget during what is likely to be a cash-strapped holiday season, we've put together a list of 35 high-tech gadgets under $100 to bring joy into any household.

To help you get the best deal possible, we've tried to capture the street prices of these products, some of which are substantially lower than the suggested retail price. Indeed, the price on these gifts varies considerably from store to store, so you should definitely join the crowd and shop around.

Green Gadgets

Hands-Free Lightbulb
$24.95
Do your kids leave the lights on no matter how you plead with them to flip the switch? This bulb from SmartHome.com turns on automatically when they enter a room and off automatically after they leave. The motion sensor detects movement within a 360° field of vision for up to five meters. No wiring required. And no more reminders to shut the lights -- for that alone, they'll thank you.

Kill A Watt EZ
$49.99
This one is for the frugalistas on your list. With this they can figure out where they're leaking cash. Simply plug the Kill A Watt into any electrical appliance, input the kilowatt-hour rates, and it tells not just how many kilowatts per hour are being consumed, but how much the appliances cost to operate.

P3 Kill A Watt PS
$99.95
In addition to protecting valuable electronics from power surges and spikes, this strip measures how energy efficient they are, allowing users to calculate overall electrical costs. How much is that home network or home theater system costing you? The P3 will tell.

Solio Classic Charger
$99.95
If they're into sustainability, they'll dig the Solio. As long as the sun is shining, (and no one is in a hurry) there will be power. Solio charges all kinds of mobile gear, from cell phones and iPods to digital cameras, game players, and GPS, the eco-friendly way. Roughly one hour of sunshine gives 20 minutes of cell phone talk time or 50 minutes of MP3 tunes. A fully charged Solio Classic will charge a typical mobile phone more than twice or allow you to listen to more than 20 hours of iPod music.

Hybrid Solar Lite
$24.95
Stop buying flashlight batteries. An 8-hour charge in sunlight or room light provides 16 hours of continuous light from the Hybrid Solar Lite. Its lithium backup battery has a 7-year shelf life. Waterproof to 80 feet, and it floats. MP3 Alarm Clocks

iHome's T158W Line-In Alarm Clock
$29.95
If someone on your list would rather wake up to their favorite music than to a random tune or an irritatingly cheerful DJ, check out one of the many MP3 clocks on the market. iHome's T158W Line-In Alarm Clock connects to an MP3 or CD player and awakens sleepers with a surprisingly high-quality sound.

Sony AM/FM/MP3/CD Clock Radio (ICF-CD7000WHT)
$69.95
Sleepyheads can set a nap time of 10, 20, 30, 60 or 90 minutes and snooze until a favorite CD or MP3 file rouses them from slumber.

Weather Radios

Oregon Scientifics' Emergency Public Alert Radio /Weather Station (WRB603)
$149
If you have a friend who obsessively checks the Weather Channel or weather.com, there are a number of weather radios that broadcast current as well as predicted temperatures, barometrics, and public weather alerts.

Oregon Scientifics' WRB603 combines an emergency public alert radio and weather station. It monitors the U.S. Emergency Alert System and receives all NOAA reports and all. Weather aficionados will like that it registers indoor/outdoor temps, and gives 12- to 24- hour local weather forecasts. In an emergency, grab the mobile radio (which may be purchased as a standalone unit for $69.99) and head for safety.

Eton FR400 Emergency Crank Radio
$60
Eton's self-powered FR400 weather radio broadcasts AM, FM, and NOAA weather channels for severe storm updates. It is water-resistant, has a flashlight and siren, and can charge cell phones. Bonus: Eton contributes 70 cents of the sales price to the American Red Cross.

Pedometers

New Balance VIA Wrist-Watch Pedometer
$49.95
You probably know someone who is likely to make a New Year's resolution to get more exercise. Pedometers are excellent gifts to strengthen their resolve. The Model NB Wrist pedometer/sports watch not only counts steps, but distance traveled and calories burned. The watch has a stopwatch timer, alarm, and 1/100 chronograph.

Talking Pedometer With FM Radio
$49.99
The Oregon Scientific Model PE829 pedometer includes ear bud headphones for listening to the radio while burning off the calories.

Pedometer With Panic Alarm
$52.99
Finally, for walkers who want or need a little extra security, there's the Oregon Scientific Pedometer with Panic Alarm. Not only does it measure the distance and time of a workout, but its has a light and an alarm to signal for help. Travel

Ecosol Powerstick V2: Portable USB Charger
$59.99
This USB device tanks up from a PC and then charges mobile gadgets on-the-go. It comes with nine adapters for everything from iPods to cell phones. Grab this and go without worrying about taking the right chargers with you when you travel.

Balanzza Digital Luggage Scale
$24.95
As airlines get more Scrooge-like in how much luggage they'll allow on board without charging, it's important to know what to pack and what to leave behind. This scale will easily weigh up to 100 pounds of whatever-you've got-in-those-bags.

NZXT Cryo LX Notebook Cooler
$69
Our laptops are getting cooler in terms of design, power, and functionality, but they're more prone to overheating than ever. This device has three 120-mm fans embedded in it to keep your laptop well ventilated. Bonus feature: four USB ports to plug additional devices into your system.

Franklin Universal Translator
$39.95
For the international traveler in your circle of friends, there's the portable portfolio of translator devices from Franklin. Although you can buy ones that translate languages one-to-one -- Spanish to English, or French to English, for example -- the best deal is the travel version of Franklin's Universal Translator, which translates 12 different languages.

Flexible Keyboards

Flexible 109-Key Silicone Keyboard
$24.95
The keyboard is a basic tool for those who shuffle e-mail all day, but hardcore gamers have special keyboard needs. This one features a one-piece construction that is pliable, dust- and water-resistant, and virtually indestructible. For the germophobes on your gift list, note that the keyboard can be washed and disinfected. Comes with a USB connector with a PS/2 adapter.

Grandtec Glowing Keyboard
$34.99
This is another silicon-based flexible keyboard that is washable and withstands coffee, Mountain Dew , Red Bull, and other spills. Will cast an eerie green glow over the local coffee house next time your gamer rolls in for a late night latte and WOW session.

Yard And Garden

Gardeners always have water on their minds. When it rains they want to know how much, and when they have to leave their plants for any length of time, they like to know that the greenery is getting enough to drink. Here are a couple of high-tech tools to help.

Hideki Wireless Rain Gauge
$24.12
Made by Honeywell, this wireless rain gauge displays 7 days of rainfall history, indoor temperature, and time/date. Data is transmitted to the main unit up to 100 feet away.

Plant Watering System
$49.95
This one is for plant lovers who too often return from a road trip to brown, wilted leaves and dry pots. This automatic plant watering system irrigates up to 14 potted plants. The 65-foot hose and 7-liter tank deliver H₂0 to thirsty plants as specified, every 12 or 24 hours, at programmable rates. Water is dispensed in short bursts at 30-second intervals to allow the soil time to absorb it. Thumb Drives

Victorinox SwissFlash
$49.95
The sharpest tools in the Swiss Army lineup may be the ones that come with USB memory sticks. The SwissFlash pocket tool shines an 18,000 mcd LED light (or laser pointer), files your fingernails, and holds up to 16 GB of data on its removable USB drive. Prices start at $49.95 for the 1-GB model.

Ridata's EZ Yego "Y"-shaped USB Drive
$13.95 and up
This cleverly designed drive has two additional USB ports for connecting extra devices. It needs no external power or battery, and features a power-saving mode. EZ Yego is available in capacities of 1 GB, 2 GB, 4 GB and 8 GB and transfers data at up to 480 Mbps. Advanced partition and security functions allow password-protected sectors to be created for the storage of sensitive material. ($30.78 and up)

Security

Doberman Security Jogger Alarm
$19.99
Keep the runners in your life safe from dogs, thugs, and other close encounters with this jogger alarm -- at the push of a button it will sound off and flash lights to attract needed attention. Comes with an MP3 pouch.

Weather Channel Battery Booster
$19.99
This efficient little device allows you to jump-start your ride without opening the hood or struggling with bulky cables. Simply connect one end to the 12V socket in your car, and the other end to the socket in the car giving you the energy burst. Comes with a 13-foot cord.

Levana Wireless Child Tracker
$89.99
For parents with wandering offspring, this gadget can bring peace of mind. If a child roams out of sight, press the find button, and the receiver points in his or her direction. The receiver also beeps when child wanders out of user-selected range.

Wireless Driveway Alert System
$69.99
Home alone? Relax. The sensor in this device detects and reports movement of people or vehicles outside a home or business and reports the results to a receiver inside the house, which emits a tone. Range of coverage extends to 1,000 feet.

USB Foot Pedal Security Button
$7.99
For friends who value their privacy, or are up to no good, give the next best thing to a cloak of invisibility. Tapping this foot pedal closes all Windows programs instantly before anyone sneaking up behind can get a peek at the screen.

Dashboard Video Camera
$59.99
For the accident / ticket prone people in your life, think about this one. If you watch Cops, it will look familiar. This video camera mounts on a car's dashboard just like those in police cruisers. Should there be a mishap on the road ahead, it will produce video evidence of what really happened in the form of a recording the conditions of the road, weather, and other drivers. Powered through the 12V outlet in your car, or with four AAA batteries. DATEXX LED-99 SuperBattery Charger
$19.99
Know anyone who has been stuck with a dead cell phone? This device will charge most USB-capable gadgets such as MP3 players, handheld games, PDAs, and most important... cellular phones. When fully charged, the SuperBattery will last two weeks on standby. Plugs into an AC outlet, runs on rechargeable battery, or can be hand-cranked to keep cell phones and iPods juiced.

Sidewinder Portable Cell Phone Charger
$19.95
Never let your loved ones run out of cell phone juice when in an emergency situation. A few cranks of the handle and that dead cell phone will be good for a few more minutes of talk time. Two minutes of cranking yields 6 minutes of talk time or 30 minutes standby. Invaluable in an emergency; super handy when plugging in isn't an option. Comes with adapters for phones from these manufacturers: Nokia, Motorola, Sony/Ericsson, Samsung, Kyocera, Audiovox.

Gaming Keyboards

Even newbie gamers know they're missing something when they try and play a game on a conventional keyboard made for pounding out e-mails rather than accumulating points. Hardcore gamers wouldn't be caught dead without a state-of-the-art gaming keyboard.

The Logitech G15 Backlit USB Gaming Keyboard
$67.45
The Logitech G15 Backlit USB Gaming Keyboard has a backlit tilt-back game panel display so gamers can keep tabs on messages, game, and system status without missing any of the action. Blue backlit keycaps provide a cool glow when the action gets under way and the hour grows late. And 18 programmable macro keys can be used to create up to 54 custom macros per game. Features a full-speed USB hub and cable-routing channels for mouse and headset.

Razer Lycosa Gaming Keyboard NIC
$69.12
The Razer allows deactivation of the Windows key and 10 customizable software profiles with on-the-fly switching. It comes with a microphone and headphone jack and a detachable wrist rest. Nice touch: backlighting mode illuminates the four WASD keys only.

Eccentricities

ThinkGeek Annoy-a-Tron
$9.99
This is definitely the kind of gift you give yourself -- and no guilty feelings about it. The Annoy-a-tron generates intermittent beeps at intervals between two minutes and eight minutes. You hide it close to where your victim lives or works, and watch him or her go nuts. There are three possible frequencies (2 kHz, 12 kHz, or alternating) which are progressively more annoying. Just don't get caught.

Zibra Open It!
$9.99
Now that you've given all these neat gifts to your friends and family, it's time to help them get the packaging open. That's where the Zibra tool comes in handy. It features offset cutting jaws that can cut through tough packages quickly and easily -- and can double as wire cutters. Integrated into the tool is a self-retractable utility knife and a mini screwdriver with interchangeable Phillips and flat heads. 4GB USB MP9 Digital Pocket Video Recorder Ballpoint Pen
$49.95
This USB-powered pen is actually a mini digital video recorder (DVR) that combines a camera and recorder that can be used to record performances, lectures, or other events. It has a 4-GB capacity and a built-in microphone.

Robot Builder's Bonanza
$19.77
The kids have been bugging you for a robot forever, but the Legos Mindstorms NXT kit doesn't come cheap. Here's your chance to build a 'bot together. This book includes plans, programming tips, parts lists and money-saving hacks. Illustrated. Considered the robot hobbyist's bible.

Remote Control Robot Construction Kit
$57.55
Looking for something a little less DIY? This from RobotStore.com provides the building blocks to make the gripping, rolling, lifting, scooping robots of your dreams. Or your children's dreams. Comes with twin-motor gearbox, crank-axle gearbox, remote control box, ball caster, tires, and a universal arm.

Its A Wrap
By all accounts, we’re in for a rough economic ride. A Deloitte study released in October showed that most of us (61%) are too uneasy about the economic climate to spend freely. But the flip side is that there are bargains to be had -- it's a tech toy buyers' market.