Top 5 Affordable Gifts to Knock Everyone off Your Christmas List at Once
By Amanda Nicole on December 6, 2007 - 1:30pm
The best way to cross a whole chunk of hard-to-buy-for people, ie: your family, off your list is to get them one big gift to share. And if you have a sibling you can split the cost, wipe your hands smugly and sit back until that fateful morning. Here are my top 5 affordable gifts for your family to share.
1) A digital picture frame. These things emerged last Christmas, but waiting to purchase one this year was smarter for 2 reasons: 1, they've gotten cheaper, and 2, they've gotten better. This is true for all electronics, so running out and buying the first model of anything is usually best left for those who like to throw money away. This year, they start at $80 (*cough* Staples *cough*).
2) A DVD burner. Starting at $30, this really is the gift that keeps on giving. If someone in your family is a video pirate junkie, or even if they're just getting into watching shows online, a burner will enable them to collect entire television series, movies, or anything they're too embarrassed to be seen taking up to the cash register at their local video rental joint.
3) A digital camcorder. Again, these are dropping in price while increasing in technology. My guy and I bought one for our trip to Ireland last Spring, and we really do re-watch the footage. They take stills and are lighter than ever, and for $250 you get way more bang for your buck than with a camera.
4) A gift certificate to a fancy restaurant. This is probably more suitable to give to just your parents, and it gets them out and doing something they normally wouldn't do. Maybe you'll want to add a new tie to dad's stocking, just in case.
5) A USB Turntable. My mom and stepfather each had a large vinyl collection, so when they moved into their current house it got phenomenal. Then they got a bird who enjoys munching on everything in sight made of paper, so you can imagine the state of their poor records. Long story short, they got one of these USB turntables, which converts the vinyls to CD or any other digital device you use to listen to music. I've seen them for $150, but the confused yet happy looks on their faces will make it priceless.
Happy shopping!
or anything they're too embarrassed to be seen taking up to the cash register at their local video rental joint.
I can't do that anyway, because I can't get a note from my Mom... and besides, the clerks giggle too much. That's OK, but the pointing and whispering really bothers me.
I guess we know what to get you this Christmas ; )
The 2nd of January!
In October, my neighbour Josh at the other end of the hall moved out,
and not having a current driving license, he asked if I would drive
the rental truck for him. I owed him a favour anyway, so I said "Sure!".
When moving day came, and we were packing everything into the truck,
Josh handed me a box with his DVD Player in it, and said, "No arguments -
take this for helping me today." What could I say? Neighbours like Josh
are few & far between. And this DVD Player is a Pioneer just a couple
of years old, and plays everything I've tried it on, including my CDs
of all these (boring) pictures I've taken with the digital camera.