We do something similar (although there is no price limit set) and I agree it can be very aggrevating as you have to be gender neutral and so non specific it can be difficult. The things I have gotten in the past that seem to be well received are gadgety type things (not all of these were $20 some were towards $30). For example: a wet dry dust buster type vac, the scum scrubber-powered cleaning brush from black and decker, a steam powered cleaner, a small fire safe, a snake light when they were so popular, smaller George Foreman grill. These are things that I kinda wished I had but won't usually buy for myself. We have gotten and liked a really nice shower head, a coffee basket (DH loved this!), and a set of really fluffy nice towels (w/ gift receipt so i got to go get my color). This year I am doing a car care/emergency set (boiught last year after x-mas sales) and a sit in the chair type massager pad that DH really wants for himself. I usually pick out and buy the gift for both DH and me. An idea would be the black and decker electric scissors. They have been advertised a lot and look really cool-I want a pair-- and they are $19.99 at Target.
