If you haven’t noticed, our mission these days definitely includes providing as many holiday shopping tips as we can, with the holiday season upon us and all. Saving money online, going online to shop instead of at physical stores, shopping-aiding mobile apps, you name the topic, we’re trying to cover it. But are you trying to figure out what to buy?

Is your mind sprinting in the wild, scouring for gift ideas? Here’s an item to consider – mugs. Why mugs? Well, why not? They can be fun gifts that won’t cost you a house, and can be for anyone. Not only that, there are some truly ingenious and imaginative mug designs that have surfaced in the past couple of years and are definitely worth a look.

We have gathered some of the coolest mugs you’ve probably never seen before (OK, maybe you have) that can be excellent gifts.

Ctrl-Alt-Delete Cup Set [$11.99 On ThinkGeek]

Guilty of using your computer too much? Show your addition to your computer with this black set of cups. When turned up, these cute, dishwasher-safe cups made from plastic can each hold up to 8oz of your favorite hot or cold drink.

The set measures 10.5’’ long, 4’’ wide and 2.75’’ tall.

Self-Stirring Mug [$18.99 On ThinkGeek, £9.59 On Firebox]

Do you know anyone who perceives coffee or tea as his or her daily must-have concoction without fail? Of course you do. Then this mug will probably present itself as a great little gift without a doubt, that is, unless your buddy drinks it black. This $18.99 (excluding shipping) stainless steel mug holds a plastic spinning disk that operates (thanks to two AAA batteries, not included) when you press a button on the handle. If you’re in the UK, you can order from Firebox, which offers a similar mug for £9.59 (excluding shipping).

Tetris Heat Changing Mug [£6.99, Roughly $9.37, On Firebox]

For Tetris enthusiasts, this mug reveals a game in its beginning stages when cold. When hot, more of a full game is revealed along with scores and all.

The only con about this mug would be that it’s not microwave- or dishwasher-safe.

Big Mouth Toys Toilet Mug [$11.99 On Amazon]

Here’s a gag gift that’s bound to incite a few chuckles. This is a hand-painted, toilet bowl-shaped ceramic coffee mug that’s suitable for dishwasher use and can hold up to 12 oz of liquid, though to be honest, since I have a weaker stomach, I think it’d do better as a centerpiece instead of an actual mug. However, these customer images from the Amazon product page beg to differ.

Be sure to read the full buyer reviews on Amazon to see the reactions customers have given.

Rubik’s Cube Mug [$12.99 On ThinkGeek, $9.13 On Amazon]

I first saw this on ThinkGeek but since it’s out of stock till 12/10, I’m linking to a similar product on Amazon that has the same dimensions. The pre-solved Rubik’s cube-shaped mug is 3’’ on each side and features a curved drinking area to ease how you drink, considering it might be challenging to sip out of a cube.

Camera Lens Mug [$14.99 On ThinkGeek, $19.95 On Amazon]

This camera lens-shaped mug doesn’t just look great. It can fool your friends easily. It’s currently out of stock on ThinkGeek (though it’s supposed to be back in stock at the end of this month), which is why I’ve listed a similar product from Amazon. The latter can hold up to 16oz of liquid and is washable by hand only. If you’re looking for an insulated mug of the same shape, be sure to check out alternative products from Amazon, like this $49 version that can come with a soft travel bag.

Chalk Talk Chalkboard Coffee Mug [$8.99 From Vat19]

Do you have a friend who is a teacher? This mug might remind him or her of more work, but it’s undeniably a fun mug from Vat19. Vat19 is my new favorite YouTube channel that pumps out loads of witty infommercials, basically, without any of the corny elements that distinguishes TV ads. The ceramic mug itself can hold up to 12oz of liquid, is dishwasher- and microwave-safe and has an erasable surface, of course. And for those worried that chalk dust might go into the liquid, the awesome Vat19 product page says that this shouldn’t happen unless you’re writing on the inside of the cup.

Laboratory Beaker Mug [Starting At $12.99 On ThinkGeek]

Here’s another teacher-friendly gift mug that can easily suit science buffs as well. The glass beaker can hold up to 400ml of liquid, acid, etc. If you’re so inclined, you can also check out this other Cocktail Chemistry Set which comes with flasks and test tubes for your adult drinks.

Fred & Friends Stacked Ceramic 12-Ounce Mug [$10.50 On Amazon]

This glossy mug not only has got the good looks of 3 cups, it’s also a cute and unique gift for anyone with a collection of tea cups.

The single mug can hold 12oz of liquid, whether it’s hot or cold.

Face Mug [$18 On UncommonGoods]

Snack lovers, and lazy people in general, rejoice! There’s a cool new way to lug around your dose of coffee along with a cookie or two.

You might just start using this mug to carry everything for you, donuts even (don’t tell me I didn’t warn you).

Have you seen some absurd but ultra-creative geeky mug that’s not on this list? Let us know in the comments!

Image Credit: emdot