Global Adviser

The credit crunch may have cut into your Christmas budget, but there's no need to look like Scrooge when your gifts are opened. Here are five high-spec, low-cost gadgets, costing $100 or less, that deserve a place under your tree.

Creative Zen MP3 player
Save big by ignoring Apple and bagging a thrifty MP3 player from Creative Labs. The $90, 4GB Zen boasts a 21⁄2-in. (6.4 cm) color screen and can hold up to 1,000 songs or 16 hours of video. Its credit-card dimensions make this iPod rival the perfect stocking filler. www.creative.com

Garmin Forerunner 50 and Foot Pod
Help a runner up the pace with Garmin's high-tech sports watch and foot sensor. The Forerunner 50 ($100) records the wearer's speed, distance and calories burned. Then the watch wirelessly transmits the data to a PC, allowing the fitness fan to keep track of progress. www.garmin.com

Samsung S860
Need a camera for a technophobic relative? The easy-to-use, 8.1-megapixel Samsung S860 ($90) has a 3x optical zoom and face-detection technology. So even if Uncle Bob's vision is a little blurred after a few eggnogs, his pictures will still be in focus. www.samsungcamera.com

Hot Choctail Maker
Would-be Willy Wonkas will melt when they see this kitchen gadget. Just throw in your favorite chocolate, some milk and — if you're feeling festive — a splash of liquor, and the Hot Choctail Maker ($55) will heat and blend the ingredients into a warming winter brew. www.firebox.com

Elmo Live
Wired with advanced animatronics, this super-cute Sesame Street doll ($65) dances, raps and tells stories — complete with hand gestures — in a freakishly lifelike manner. And when Elmo gets lonely, he'll ask for a hug. You'll find it impossible to say no. www.fisher-price.com

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