How are we in the middle of November already? How?
Each year I put together a small gift guide post full of things that I think make great gifts and are a lot of fun to give or receive for the holidays. Everything on the list is something I’ve used, enjoyed, and recommend. I have recommendations posts for software, headphones, and miscellaneous stuff around the house, so the things on this list will be more focused on stuff not included in those posts and geared toward things I’ve come across in the past year or so and think would make good gifts.
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If you’d like to get me a gift, becoming a supporting member or gifting another user a supporting membership for a year would mean the world to me. And, if you’re looking for something in just about any price range with a Chorus.fm or AbsolutePunk.net logo on it, check our merch shop.
Under $25
Walking Disaster: My Life Through Heaven and Hell by Deryck Whibley
Deryck of Sum 41 walks through his life and time in the band; a must for any fan.
HIWARE All-Purpose Shower Squeegee
A little silly, sure, but seriously, this is a fantastic shower squeegee.
Custom Return Address Stamp
We recently moved and one of the first things I bought was a new one of these. It makes it much easier to send mail, pay bills, or send thank you cards (is my generation the last that does this?).
Vinyl Record Wall Mount Shelves
Those “wall picks” I post on my Instagram story every week? These hold up the records on the back of my office wall. It makes me happy to choose new things each week to reflect what I’m listening to or a specific mood, and I get a kick out of how many people ask about them on Zoom calls.
Prepared Hero Emergency Fire Blanket
I feel like a grandparent recommending this, but buy one and put it in your kitchen. You’ll feel better having done it.
King Arthur Better Cheddar Cheese Powder
This shit rules. Put it on popcorn.
Really Useful Boxes Small Stackable Vinyl Record Storage Box
I could not recommend these more for anyone with a vinyl collection that either needs to store some extra records or wants to move them from one place to another. These are great.
Under $50
Kappa Quick Release Keychain
Simple, well made, and I love how it looks. Of course there are cheaper options, but it makes a great gift for an everyday carry item.
Crocs Clogs
I’ve just accepted that these are my favorite home shoes. They’re insanely comfortable, and I think the Dylan clog looks a little less silly than the famous hole version. And yeah, their slides are great, too.
Home Sensors
One of the first things I put in our new home were front door sensors, and a couple temperature/humidity sensors in a couple locations. And then I put a couple water sensors in the laundry room and kitchen. They all have worked perfectly and give me peace of mind.1
Coffee Table Books
Always a good gift! Some favorites of mine include: Barbie: The World Tour, Batman: The Definitive History, and Negatives: A Photographic History of Emo.
Three Chord Bourbon
They recently sent me their Underoath and Taking Back Sunday bottles, and they look amazing. I have yet to make a drink with them, but just seeing them on our bar shelf makes me smile.
Under $100
Amazon Echo Spot
While I will continue complaining about how chatty the Amazon Alexa serious of devices have become2, I still get a lot of value out of having these around the house to ask questions to, set timers, and quickly add things to lists. The Spot also makes for a great kitchen clock, and because it has a little mini-screen, it is perfect for timers when cooking.
Website Subscriptions
These days there are many websites and newsletters with membership programs. The holidays are a great time to gift one of these memberships to a friend or family member, and trust me, as someone who runs one, it goes a long way to helping your favorite website as well. Some of the websites I recommend checking out their membership packages include: MacStories, Relay.fm, SixColors, Last.fm, and ATP.
Raycast Pro Subscription
This has become my favorite and most used app over the last year. It’s replaced my clipboard manager and my launcher, and it’s how I interact with all my Shortcuts (like the one that creates all the affiliate URLs for this very post), and their extension system is second to none.
Over $100
Google Nest Doorbell
You may notice a trend on this year’s list: home improvement items. That’s what moving will do. The research said this was the best one, and because I already have other Nest products, it seemed like a no brainer. So far, I’m very happy with it. (Added to HomeKit with the Starling hub, which I also highly recommend.)
Fellow Kettles
Expensive, yes, but also very well made and one of the few things I’m happy to have out on our kitchen counters.
Sonos Speakers
Yes, their new app update sucks, but they still sound incredible. The Era 100 and 300s come highly recommended.
Any Amount
Ask your friends and family to donate to any of the GoFundMe’s for people trying to evacuate Gaza (a forum member recently shared this one), ACLU, National Bail Fund Network, EFF, or other non-profits of your choice.
Subscribers to the weekly newsletter will probably recognize some of these items because I write about them throughout the year when I find something I like and enjoy. So, if you like reading things like this, plus getting my weekly thoughts on music and entertainment, you should signup.
Archive
- 2023 Gift Guide
- 2022 Gift Guide
- 2021 Gift Guide
- 2020 Gift Guide
- 2019 Gift Guide
- 2018 Gift Guide
- 2017 Gift Guide
- 2016 Gift Guide
My sister had massive floor damage due to a leaking dishwasher a few years back, which freaked me out. So having one of these in the kitchen that not only sounds a loud alarm but also sends a notification to my phone if it detects water helps calm those nerves.↩
No, I do not ever want whatever you are trying to tell me after you answer my question.↩