Our Holiday Gift Guide With Tips For How Not To Break the Bank

It’s that expensive time of the year again. We’ll be the first to admit that we love getting gifts, but finding the appropriate gift for someone else can be a challenge, especially if you don’t want to end up maxing out your credit card. There are plenty of other gift guides out there with great recommendations. But let’s face it, you already know that stuff like a Wii (if you could find one) and an Ipod are all great gifts. Here are some more affordable personal recommendations coming from our personal gift / wish list this year, as well as some tips on how to keep your budget at sea level.

First of all, we recommend trying to buy as much as you can online. E-commerce stores are almost always cheaper then the brick and morter chain in your neighborhood, and if you choose the right online store you can skip the tax and shipping costs. For general electronics (video game consoles, camcorders, TVs, ipods) we recommend Amazon hands down. Their customer service is excellent, they almost always have the best price and they offer free shipping on items over $25. On the other hand for peripherals and computer components, we especially like Newegg. But before you buy anything online, sign up for a cash back account at FatWallet. Each time your purchase something from an online store, log in to your Fatwallet account first and then click on FatWallet’s link to that store. A few months later Fatwallet will send you a check or a Paypal payment with a return on your original purchase. Buying a Dell computer? FatWallet will give you 3% cash back, and their site also lists all of the current coupons available for the e-store you are shopping at. Most of the popular online shops, with the exception of Amazon.com are currently apart of FatWallet’s cash back program, and you’d be surprised how much all of those purchases adds up. I’ve been a member since December 2005 and have gotten back a total of $393.07 so far.

Also, other bargain hunter sites like BensBargains, TechBargains and Slickdeals are must bookmarks. Just be careful, they can become addictive. It’s kind of like going to Costco. You go there to save money but end up losing money because you end up buying things you never really needed to begin with.

If you’re looking for a quirky, geeky but still affordable gift, than there is no better e-store than the likes of ThinkGeek, KlearGear and Firebox. These three shops have truly quirky nerdy gifts, whether it’s a tie, a USB Snowbot, a monitor decoration or silly toilet paper, these are great places to go for affordable gifts that people with a sense of humor will appreciate. Brando is also great for it’s selection of insane USB products you never knew existed or needed but will want. Just keep in mind that their standard shipping can take a while since they are located overseas.

Well enough with the shopping tips, here are a couple of gadgets and accessories fresh from our gift list.
Our video games wish list this year includes Rock Band as our top choice. It’s one of those games that everyone in the family will enjoy. If you’re johnsing for adventure, you’ll love Assasins Creed for Xbox 360 or PS3, and lucky Wii owners will have fun with the long anticipated Super Mario Galaxy.

In the peripheral category we have a couple of items that we have had an our eyes on. Let’s face it, you can’t buy everyone an ipod or a computer, not just because it’s expensive, but chances are they’ll have it already. GelaSkins has a dynamic range of artistic skins for gadgets. Any ipod or Macbook owner will love these and they are priced affordably around $24.95.
Does your loved one have a laptop? Pick them up one of Kensington’s stylish notebook mice, or perhaps an a stylish laptop case will do the trick.

In the digital photography area we’re particularly fond of the Fujifilm Finepix Z10. It’s not a camera designed for professionals but its ultracompact and stylish design will win the hearts of many. That and the $170 price. In the printer’s realm we recommend the Canon MX700. For $170 you get a photo printer, scanner, copier and a fax all in one. Sure, there are a lot of all in ones out there but the Canon MX700 is pretty unique in that it includes a fax and can produce photos as well.

In the digital music realm, the iPod is of course the Mp3 player that can’t be beat but if you’re looking for a sub $99 gift, scrap the shuffle and get a Samsung u3 for just $66. You’ll get double the 1G of storage you get in the Shuffle, an actual display, high quality sound, a voice recorder and a great FM radio.

Perhaps you’re looking for a new GPS system? Tom Tom is the king, but if you’re looking for a well rounded and affordable navigator, check out Mio’s line. We’re especially fond of the $169 Mio C230 because it has a killer feature that usually costs a lot more with other companies’ models - Text to speech. That means that the little voice coming out of the box will read you the street and exit name a long with the directions, instead of just saying “turn left in 300 yards”. Turn left in 300 yards on to where?! If you’re going to get a GPS system, make sure it says Text to speech on the box, or the device is almost useless if you plan on driving alone. That’s just our two cents.

We hope that these tips help you out in the coming weeks. Happy Holidays and we hope that you’re lucky enough to get some of the gadgets you’ve been dreaming about as well!

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