10 Best Bets for $75 or Less – Blackwatch, American Wool, & gifts a plenty

Seventy Five dollars. That’s a lot of money. It’ll get you a couple pairs of Levi’s, a nice dinner out, or a couple months at your local gym. Seventy Five dollars. It is a lot of money, especially if you spend it right. Ten picks follow, all for $75 or under, and some of them are much, much less.

 

Faribault for Target Wool/Canvas Weekender- $55.99 w/ JOY30

After years of Target doing ho-hum collaborations, this one seems to have been a huge success. Target selling made in the USA goods? From a heritage wool mill? Just in time for the holidays too. Scarves, throws, and these almost 3000 cubic inch duffel bags are now available. Three different color combos/patterns to pick from. Now an extra 30% off with the code JOY30. Ships free.

 

Restoration Hardware Key Cover – $13.00 ($19)

A great looking way to contain all those serrated edges on your keys. Made with Italian leather. Keeps your keys in line. UPDATE: Many thanks to Greg S. for pointing out that Threads user MattFace is still making his key cases. $26, made in the USA, lots of different Horween shades.

 

GAP Lambswool Blend Rugby Stripe Scarf – $34.95

Another piece made from this year’s 55% lambswool / 45% nylon blend. A good amount of soft, but still a little bit of that familiar lambswool scratch. Thick gauge knit. Available in either a navy and white, or a navy and white with a red stripe. The code GIFT drops these to $24.46, but you have to buy a second item to get that 30% off. So, consider socks or something. 3 or more items and you get 40% off. 4 or more items and it’s 50% off.

 

TV on the Radio – “Seeds” – $10.00

TV on the Radio feels like one of those rare bands that’s unique without being divisive. They don’t seem to produce fans who ostracize people who listen to mainstream music, yet at the same time they don’t seem to attract those too-hip-for-the-room music-scene remoras who get a weird satisfaction out of having a favorite band that you’ve never heard of (nor care to listen to, after giving the snob’s beyond obscure favorite band a shot and hearing what sounds like 37 minutes of a yodeling Pirates of Penzance understudy backed by a hurdy-gurdy and cast iron Zills.) Seeds reflects that accessible uniqueness. The multiple layers of instruments and production cast a net over your attention and haul you in. The vocals are so clean they might as well have a wisp of steam coming off them. This is a heck of an album.

 

GAP Straight or Slim Italian Wool Blend Flannel Pant – $79.95

Certainly feels and wears more expensive than a 40% Wool, 30% Polyester, 29% Rayon, 1% Spandex blend. Nice job outta GAP on these. Drops to just under fifty bucks when on sale for 40% off. Size shown above is a 32×30 in the straight fit.

 

Cole Haan Whitman Leather Shoe Horn – $24.95 ($48)

A stocking stuffer for the guys who maybe bike/walk/hike/ski to work and have to change their shoes once they get there.

 

Target Haggar H26 “Tweed” Blazer – $69.99 w/ JOY30 ($99)

Button stance looks a little high, but it might be a steal for a winter appropriate blazer. That said, the description says it’s 100% cotton? Marled fabric, patch pockets, and a center vent in the rear. Sold in more precise chest sizes (38, 40, etc) instead of the ballpark Small, Medium, and Large. Like everything else from Target right now, it ships free.

 

J. Crew Blackwatch Flannel Robe w/ Monogram – $47.50 w/ JINGLE

Usually runs $95 without a monogram. On sale, and the extra 30% off drops it to just under sixty bucks. Tack on ten more for the monogram (upper left chest) and you get the $69.50 price point. Yes, expensive. But if you’re the type to give (or receive) pajamas on Christmas Eve every year, might be a fun splurge. UPDATE: Looks like the black watch is gone, but they’ve got an option in heather contrast for $47.99.

 

Standard Memorandum Notebook & Monogrammed Leather Cover – $45

Look, in the grand scheme, we’re nothing but farts of star dust. But keeping a journal, even if it’s just one to two sentences or phrases a day, can help us grow in the present. That record can also help those in the future (who for whatever reason might have an interest in our short burst of cosmic flatulence) understand what life was like for the individual who kept that record. It’s a little pricey for just the paper and staples ($11) but throw in a leather monogrammed cover and it works out to forty five bucks.

 

Auchentoshan Three Wood Single Malt Scotch – $74.99

Named for its tour of aging in American Bourbon casks, then on to Spanish Oloroso Sherry casks, and finally making a final stop in Pedro Ximenez Sherry casks. Not quite as easy for beginners as some sweeter entry level Scotches, but nothing like the smoked-out peat-fests traditional Scotch fans seem to favor. Sweetness without getting into sipping rum territory. Earthy flavors without tasting like it was drained from a bog. Lots of dried, dark fruits, and a deep reddish hue that it must have acquired in those Sherry casks. It’s Scotch you’ll want to sip on slowly, but not because you can barely stand to get it down. Quite the opposite in terms of drink-ability, but complex enough that it’ll hang out on your palate and allow you to try and pick out different flavors.

For other best bets under $75 from previous months, click here.