November 25, 2007 8:44 AM
Great gift idea - digital photo key chain
We are pretty broke this Christmas - which I'm actually grateful for. For the past five years, I've just been feeling less and less connection to the materialistic holiday spirit. I mean, I know for years I professed not to enjoy it, but I still was given to overindulgence when it came to buying stuff for my family.
So I'm really grateful when I come across something inexpensive that makes me say. "Wow! What a great gift! Anyone would love this!"
While my amazon associates account doesn't show me who ordered what, I can see the stuff that was ordered - which is how I discovered this Digital Photo Key Chain that someone ordered there.
It seems like such a perfect gift, I not only wanted to share it here, but also to start a new category under Barbara's Picks to round up some inexpensive presents for people in your life. I'm really hoping readers can suggest some other things under $25. (I especially need ideas for teachers and bus drivers and all the people who work with my special needs kids.)
Check out this item and see what you think:
Digital Photo Key Chain - stores 64 photos which can be uploaded through a USB port. I always read the Amazon user reviews before buying stuff there or anywhere else - it's become my new Consumer Reports. there appear to be people who've had a not-so-great experience with this item. But the favorables say it's friendly, easy to use and compatible with Windows XP. I'm going to give it a try.
SShhh! don't tell anyone!
And please send in your ideas for amazon gifts under $25 to add to the list.
Posted in Christmas | Permalink
Comments
I think this is a great gift for the non-tech savvy people on the list as well. For example, my mother very rarely uses a computer (even though my dad is a technology manager and they own more computers than there are people in the house!).
But almost all of the pictures I take of the kids are digital, as well as most of my siblings. We e-mail back and forth, but she only sees them if we print them out and mail them. If she had the keychain (or the digital picture frames) she could see them all.
Posted by: Milehimama | November 25, 2007 9:35 AM
I love how you captured this: "I've just been feeling less and less connection to the materialistic holiday spirit."
AMEN!!
This year, we're broke, too. It's more important for us to get out of debt this year.
But we are RICH in the Spirit. And the love of the Season....
Posted by: suzanne | November 25, 2007 1:45 PM
I think an excellent gift for teachers and other service type people is a small but usable gift card. $5 at Starbucks will buy a coffee and treat--or if there's a particular fast food restaurant near the school, a quick bite to eat when someone is working late. I also like to purchase gift certificates for the local teacher store. Even a small amount can buy a material that will benefit the whole class.
My husband has brought home teacher gifts for many years. How many times we wished that the $5 spent on a mug-and-cocoa gift-set could be translated into something for the classroom instead!
And Barbara, this should be a natural for you, but everyone can do it, too: take the time to write a short personal letter thanking the teacher, using specific examples and strengths. THEN copy that letter and send it on to the principal and/or supervisor. Free, meaningful, and significant in a way that no gift-in-a-jar can duplicate.
Posted by: Meredith from Merchant Ships | November 25, 2007 2:56 PM
I think $25 is a lot to spend for one gift! Here are some gifts that work well for us: gift certificates (even a $5 or $10 gift certificate is appreciated!), magazine subscriptions (go to eBay to find the best prices, then print out a little card on your computer with the magazine cover and something about how the recipient will be receiving a year - or more - of it), books, home baked goods wrapped prettily, letters (which can be some of the most treasured gifts ever!), inexpensive art supplies (for children), hobby supplies (especially consumables, which are often inexpensive, but always needed), home made gift certificates for helpful services (like babysitting or housecleaning), costume jewelry, inexpensive bath products (for women), framed photographs, homemade scrapbooks with the photos already in them (for example: A scrapbook of a birthday party).
Posted by: Kristina | November 27, 2007 1:36 PM
