Practical Gift Ideas For Anytime

This is not your typical gift-giving guide. Those tend to be centered around specific holidays or events. Instead, I wanted a date-agnostic version that people could use throughout the year. Also, keep in mind that these prices may fluctuate during the year. In other words, when I bought the gift, it might have been at a different price.

My Gift Selection Criteria

For these ideas, I was looking for items that met these criteria:

• I’ve tried the product. This isn’t to say I’m an expert on gift-giving. Instead, I just thought it important to have bought and used the item.
• The gift has to enhance your life in some way. It either makes you more productive, organized, healthier, or removes some pain points.
• It shouldn’t have a big learning curve.
• It can be easily purchased online. However, if an item is carried by a local retailer in your neighborhood, I’d go there first. Local businesses need our support.

I also wanted to mix things up a bit by breaking the recommendations into categories. I also explain what type of person might appreciate the gift.

And don’t forget that if you can’t find the perfect gift for someone or it won’t arrive in time, you can always make gift certificates with Word and Excel.

Why I’m Using Amazon

You’ll notice below that the link to the items goes to the Amazon website, but sometimes you can find these products elsewhere. There were multiple reasons I chose Amazon.

1. Because I’m an “affiliate,” I can get access to the Amazon API. This allows me to pull in prices, review counts, and images. This makes for a more standard format across products.
2. The API should dynamically update info,  so I don’t have to check and change prices.
3. You can read other peoples reviews and questions.
4. I find it very easy to return items to Amazon.
5. They offer gift receipts and gift wrapping on most items.
6. The readers here are from different countries and Amazon usually has a presence.

If you’re not familiar with the term “affiliate,” it means that I may make a small commission if you purchase from a link on this page. This doesn’t impact your price. It helps offset the cost of running this site. Trust me, I’m not going to get Jeff Bezos type rich off of the commission.

If you’re not familiar with Amazon, I did an article that has some of my favorite Amazon shopping tips.

Use Caution with Amazon Lockers

In some areas, Amazon has something called “Amazon lockers.” These are storage lockers in various locations where you can have your packages delivered. For example, your local supermarket. While this might be great for gift delivery, it can pose a problem.

On several occasions, Amazon hasn’t been able to deliver to the lockers because they were full. Other users didn’t always pick up their packages in a timely fashion so no new package deliveries could get in.

The problem is that you don’t know when your package will get back into a locker. I’ve had to cancel my orders and place new ones at my home address. Pain in the butt. Just something to consider if time is an issue or you’re a last-minute shopper.

Subscriptions & Online Options

Anyone who has been shopping lately has noticed that some items are unavailable or have long shipping delays. So, I decided to add some gifts you can buy that won’t have these issues.

Audible

Best for: Book and podcast lovers

Gift Description

Audible is a service that offers narrated books and original content ranging from bestsellers to the Wall St. Journal. You can access the content via an app or through the web. Gift subscriptions are available in various durations even as short as a month.

Why I like it

I’ve been a fan of Audible long before Amazon bought them. It was at a time when they had a dedicated audio player. Yes, that was before iPods and MP3 players too. Since then, the catalog has grown immensely and includes original material. And if you don’t like your book selection, the company has a generous return policy.

Inspiration & Creativity

Thinkpak: A Brainstorming Card Deck

Best for: Creative thinkers, tinkerers, & lifelong learners

Gift Description

Like the Creative Whack Pack from previous years, this card deck also spawns ideas. The idea is to take an existing idea and change it to make a new one. Each of the 56 cards has a specific strategy based on one of the nine themes.

Why I like It

It’s too easy to get stuck in our thinking and not see other possibilities and perspectives. This may happen as we get older and lose our sense of creativity that we had as kids. I love to stick this deck into a travel bag and get away for “idea” days. Or, if I’m in a rut, I’ll pull random cards out and see what pops to mind. These cards are also a good tool for engaging others.

The author of this deck, Michael Michaolko, has written several books on creativity. My favorite is called Thinkertoys. The book and card deck work well together.

Rocketbook Beacons – Reusable Whiteboard Stickers

Best for: Brainstormers, Teachers, Meeting Leaders

Gift Description

These are a small set of 4 reusable plastic stickers that you apply to the corners of a whiteboard. Using your smartphone and the Rocketbook app, you convert the whiteboard content to searchable PDFs. You can direct where you want the content to go, such as Google Drive, DropBox, Slack, Email, and so on.

Why I like It

Whiteboards are a great tool for capturing ideas. But what if you need to share those ideas with a colleague or wish to save them? It’s not like you can put a “Do Not Erase” sign and hope it’s honored. And simple photos rarely work. Instead, you can use this app and be assured that your notes and images are retained. There is also a feature where you can “cast” your notes. It’s not a streaming service, but you do get a shareable URL that periodically updates.

I should also mention that I don’t have a typical whiteboard. Instead of being hard, it’s a 6′ x 4′ vinyl sheet that clings to my wall. These are less expensive than the ones you secure to a wall. However, they take patience to apply, so you get the air bubbles out without tearing. This is especially true of large ones like mine.

Logitech Crayon Digital Pencil

Best for: People who have iPads

Gift Description

Basically, this is an electronic or digital pencil you can easily pair with your iPad. And it’s less expensive than the Apple Pencil.

Why I like It

Sorry, but doing mindmaps, process flows, or drawings with your fingers is not fun. And then you end up with smudges on the screen. The pencil adds another layer of precision especially if you use Paperlike screen protectors.

Just remember that with all iPad accessories, you need to make sure you get the correct one for your device.

Paperlike Screen Protectors – iPad

Best for: iPad owners who don’t like the glass feel & digital pencil users

Gift Description

These are high-end screen protectors for your iPad that have a textured background with a paper-like feel.

Why I like it

Yes, I get it. Screen protectors don’t sound like a wonderful gift. I bought these after I bought my Logitech Crayon and the difference is amazing. The protectors take away that glass feel, that I don’t like. It makes using the digital pencil and swiping more enjoyable. These will make you use your iPad more.

Just remember that with all iPad accessories, you need to make sure you get the correct ones for your device.

Great Gadgets

OXO Good Grips Sweep & Swipe Laptop Cleaner

Best for: Laptop owners

Gift Description

This is a combination device that has just 2 purposes. The first is to get crumbs and debris out of your keyboard. The second is to clean your screen.

Why I Like It

For starters, I’m an OXO fan and have used many of their kitchen gadgets. These tend to be well designed and long lasting. Secondly, I eat way too often in from of my keyboard which results in lots of crumbs. And on one occasion, I couldn’t use my k key until I figured out the crumbs were stopping the key from depressing.

The sweep works best on laptops. While you could use it on a desktop keyboard, it won’t be as effective. However, OXO does have a deep clean keyboard kit.

Tile Sticker or Tile Mate

Best for: People who lose things, people with valuables

Gift Description

Tiles are small tracking devices that allow you to locate items. The items can be anything from keys to bikes. You attach the item to your device and link it via an app for your smartphone. It works with either iPhones or Android phones, but you’ll want to check for compatibility. Most newer phones should work fine. And these devices can also be used to find your phone. What’s appealing is that even if the lost item isn’t near you, the tracker leverages the other Tile users’ signal to find your device.

Why I like It

I’ve been a Tile user for a long time and did a product review on the first & second generations. During this time, Tile has continually improved the hardware and software. Last year I bought a combo pack that included a slim Tile I put in my wallet.

Over the years, they’ve introduced models with replaceable batteries and louder tones. They’ve also managed to maintain a huge user base that can help you locate your lost article. Even though I have a routine where I hang up my keys, I’ve still misplaced them. On occasion, I’ve put my keys in a fleece vest only to open the door and realize I should add another layer as it’s cold. Upon coming home, I realize my keys aren’t in the outer pocket and the Tile clues me in that they are one layer underneath in the vest.

I also remember being at my bank ATM, and someone left their keys on the top ledge. Because I’m a Tile user, my app reported to the owner the keys had been seen. The nice part is this is transparent as I don’t know the owner and vice versa.

There are many Tiles, but I like the two below. My preference is the Tile Mate as it’s smaller and has a replaceable battery. Sometimes there are bundle sales, too, on Tile’s site. And that bundle I bought, was a discontinued design for a very good discount from their site.

VRURC Portable Charger with Wall Charger

Best For: People who need a large but compact portable power bank

Gift Description

This isn’t your typical battery pack. It combines flexibility and capacity. For starters, its capacity is 20000 mAh, probably a multiple of the small portable ones you own. This size is still quite compact, even with the built-in connector cables.

Why I like It

Previous readers will note that I’ve swapped out Anker. The VRURC capacity is about 75% of the Anker Power Core 26800 unit. Yet, I think it’s more versatile and charges faster. It also has a nice LED window that shows the percent charge.

Obviously, I still plan on using the Anker. However, I see a recent Amazon trend regarding Anker and failures. This is disappointing as a long-time Anker user, but I hope it’s an anomaly. Maybe they got caught up in some supply chain issues like other tech companies. All the same, check verified reviews, as things can change.

I’ve mentioned my power situation can be unstable. It’s nice to know I have enough juice to keep my devices running when the power goes out. I always have this charged and ready to go. And this unit can be charged from the wall or USB cable. I’ve been impressed with how fast it charges compared to the Anker. However, battery technology has changed since 2019.

Things to Consider

The built-in connectors are a great addition but are rigid and short – like 6 inches. Fortunately, a USB outlet is also at the top of the unit if you need to use a longer cable. And it seems the cost can vary based on your color selection. I opted for white. The cover is also textured, which makes it easier to grip.

This company wasn’t even on my radar until I saw an online reference. I clicked through to the product page but wasn’t impressed, so I clicked into their other power banks. I found this one, and it was on sale. And since the company was new to me, I checked the reviews.

My unit arrived with a 70% charge and took about 3 hours to bring to 100% using the top USB-C port. And while the unit was charging, I could still power my phone.

Planners

The High Performance Planner

Best For: Goal setters, planners

Gift Description

This planner was developed by Brendon Burchard and is based on science and his testing. Each journal lasts 60 days or 2 months. You can also buy a yearly bundle with 6 books. The planner comes in multiple colors, so be careful when making your selection. I thought I ordered green. Oops.

The product image below reminds me of those boring black yearly planners. The good news is the inside is radically different. Each day has two sections: “Morning Mindset” and the other “Evening Journal.” Within each section, you have a list of prompts or questions that help you structure and evaluate your day. It’s unique.

Practical Gifts

Matein Electronics Organizer Case

Best for: Everyone, but more so for travelers

Gift Description

This black zippered soft case offers an easy way to organize your power cables, battery packs, cords, and more.

Why I Like It

I’ll be the first to admit this might be a boring gift. However, what it lacks in style, it makes up for in practicality. Recently, I had to do some house-sitting and in my haste, I forgot to pack a needed USB-C cable. It wasn’t until I got to the destination and started working did I realize, I missed one. Nor did the owners who had 10x more lightning cables than kitchen knives. Fortunately, Amazon was able to deliver a replacement cable the next day since I’m an Amazon Prime customer.

My problem was I had plenty of cables, but I didn’t have them organized in a way I could easily find what I needed. When I got back, I got one of these bags. It has plenty of storage space which is good as many of us have more cables than we need. Maybe I can trade my extras for kitchen knives.

Vornado 460 – Whole Room Fan

Best for: Home Office and people who don’t like air-conditioning

Gift Description

This is a compact 3-speed fan that can cool your home office in no time. The design pushes more air than any other fan I’ve bought. It’s also extremely light and relatively quiet.

Why I Like It

I realize a fan doesn’t sound like an exciting gift. But when you’re sitting in a home office or bedroom with one, you’ll consider it a luxury item. I’ve bought 3 of these in the past year for friends and family. They are extremely efficient and well-made. There is also a slider that allows you to adjust the angle.

Philips Wake-Up Light

Best For: People who don’t like to wake up to alarms.

Gift Description

This is a popular “go-to” gift for friends and family. I have a previous model. At first, I’m greeted with the usual skepticism because people don’t think they can wake up to a gradual light queue. You can see their gears spinning and thinking, “who can I regift this gizmo to”? They’ve been conditioned to use artificial sound. However, in all but one case, people have raved about the gift and how it has helped their sleep.

Why I Like It

Well, because I’m not fond of alarm clocks or watches that vibrate. This is much more civilized because the light gradually gets brighter as it simulates a sunrise. And you can do the reverse and have it simulate dusk as you go to bed.

Anova Sous Vide Cookers

Best For: People who like to cook, perfectionists, and people who believe they can multi-task.

Gift Description

Sous vide is a French term for “under vacuum,” but that doesn’t fully explain this kitchen tool. It’s basically a cylindrical water circulator that controls the temperature of a water bath. The device lets you cook food in a precise and consistent manner. The food is sealed in a container, like a Ziploc bag, or maybe a mason jar. You don’t need a vacuum sealer. And because the water is at a constant temperature, it’s difficult to ruin the food.

Why I like It

I could make an economic argument for buying this device. I have overcooked items through poor planning (multi-tasking) or been interrupted at the wrong time. The results were inedible and wasted food. When I first saw these devices, they were in the $300 range,  which was cheap compared to commercial ones. All the same, I waited until the prices dropped to the $100 range.

Since buying one, I’ve experimented more with recipes. There are countless ones out there, and even YouTube has channels dedicated to sous-vide. Regardless of your cooking skills, you can cook plenty of things with these devices, ranging from proteins to liquifying honey.

And while I didn’t buy the Joule (works only with an app), I do love the videos the folks at ChefSteps produce. They are as informative as they are entertaining.

Kindle Paperwhite

Best For: Readers

Gift Description

This is NOT the latest edition of the Kindle Paperwhite, but I think it’s fine. It is also slightly smaller than the latest generation, but it’s a size I prefer.

I like the form factor. I also have a Kindle Fire HDX, but something about this makes reading easier. So far, the only issue I’ve encountered was a Kindle Unlimited book that was a “print replica.” That book worked fine on the Kindle Fire HDX, but not on this device. It shows in my library, but it fails when downloading. However, I think this is a rare format caused by someone who self-published their book. After calling support, they pointed me to an area to see if the book would work on a specific device.

Another tip is that your local library may have Kindle books. I subscribe to a free newsletter at https://www.wowbrary.org/ that alerts me to new books, movies, and music.

Even though I own a Kindle, there are some books I prefer to read on the Kindle for PC. This is a free reader for PC, Mac, or phones.

Office & Home

Anti-Fatigue Floor Mat

Best For: People standing in front of PC for long periods

Gift Description

I know this sounds like something for yoga or exercise sessions. Instead, it complements my standing desk. While I like my standing desk, I did find my feet getting tired even though I was on the carpet. My upstairs neighbor said his company bought these mats for everyone.

These mats come in many colors, thicknesses, and lengths. I opted for the largest size. I’ve enjoyed it so much, I bought one for the kitchen.

Portable Power Station

Best For: Everyone, including campers, drone enthusiasts

Gift Description

This is a compact power station that has multiple ways to charge as well as plenty of USB ports and 2 AC ports. You can use this station for times when your power goes out, or you wish to go outside.

Why I like It

Power outages are rarely predictable and tend to arrive at inconvenient times. It’s nice to be able to tuck this into my closet until I need it. And, this particular unit is light. It’s just over 8 pounds and has a great handle. Mine arrived precharged at the 30% level, so top it off before you need it. You can also charge this unit with portable solar panels.

If you get solar panels, ensure you get the correct barrel connector. Ideally, it helps to use the same brand. Sadly, Anker support never responded to my solar panel inquiry.

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Coway Airmega 200M True HEPA and Activated-Carbon Air Purifier

Best For: People who worry about air quality

Gift Description

This is a very powerful and configurable HEPA purifier that can handle a good-sized room or office. It’s not the smallest unit, but very efficient.

Why I like It

My heart goes out to folks who are suffering from wildfire smoke. Living in California, I experienced that several years ago. And that’s when I bought my second one. I think I bought my first one also because of wildfire smoke. I keep these units on in ECO mode, but there are other options, including an auto setting. The units also come with lights indicating when to replace the filters. There are two filter sets as well as a mesh screen which is washable. And speaking of lights, there is an option to turn off the blue light.

For the vast majority of the time, the unit is quiet. However, if you’re on auto mode and it kicks into the “red zone”, you will hear it start up. This might bother some folks who are used to units running at the same sound level. I find it reassuring as I know the unit is working.

You probably want to put this item on your “watch list” as the price routinely fluctuates. I’ve seen $50 price swings.

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Disclaimer: Images from Amazon Product Advertising API. I may receive an affiliate commission on these products if you buy. Updated: 2023-10-02