15 Gift Ideas That Keep on Giving

Dec 07 2010

15 Gift Ideas That Keep on Giving

Posted by Thomas Taylor in Finance News

The years hottest gift (remember Big Mouth Billy Bass, the singing fish and pinnacle of kitsch décor in the late ’90s?) rarely is the most gratifying item to give or receive for the holidays. Instead, consider our annual list of thoughtful, personal gifts that will save the recipients money in the long run — either by eliminating some of their recurring expenses or boosting their earning power.

Theyll be sure to remember your sentiment all year long as the savings keep rolling in.

SEE THIS STORY IN SLIDES: 15 GIFTS THAT KEEP GIVING

1) Adopt an Olive Tree

Nudo is an olive-tree adoption program: You pay to adopt one tree in an olive orchard, and the person who receives your gift will be shipped the fruits of that tree throughout the year. The recipient will get an adoption certificate and information about the grove where their tree grows in Le Marche, in central Italy. In the spring, Nudo sends approximately two liters of organic extra virgin olive oil from the orchard; in the fall, it ships three flavored olive oils. Its a years supply of olive oil and a taste of Italy — without the airfare. Visit Nudo-Italia.com for info on the individual olive farmers, groves and products. Cost to you: $109, plus shipping.

2) Battery Charger

More than three billion single-use batteries are sold every year. Your kids Wii controllers, for instance, require two AA batteries each. With two kids and countless hours of Mario Kart, the family will burn through batteries like Yoshi on Rainbow Road. By gifting a battery charger (with rechargeable batteries), you will eliminate the expense of batteries and make sure that no remote control goes unpowered. Consider a charger that can re-power more than just one type of cell.Cost to you: $29.97 for the Energizer NiMH Rechargeable Family Battery Charger, which charges AAA, AA, C, D and 9V batteries.

3) Water Purifier and Bottler

The eggnog won’t last forever. For the friend or family member on your list who has an expensive bottled-water addiction, a water purifier will help them save at the grocery store. The Filtrete Water Station, for example, filters the water into reusable bottles to preserve the convenience of bottled water. Replacement filters, which cost $10 each, only have to be replaced every three months or every 100 gallons. Cost to you: $36.98.

4) Make a Charitable Donation in Their Name

Maybe their budgets dont leave much room for giving this year; after all, charitable giving in the U.S. decreased by 3.6% from 2008 to 2009. By making a donation in their names, you show that you care about their beliefs and you relieve some of the responsibility they feel to support specific organizations or groups. Before you donate, research charities with www.charitynavigator.org to be sure that the group you choose is operating efficiently and putting the gifts it receives to work (see Is Your Charitable Giving Getting Results?). And remember to keep the receipt — this gift comes with a tax deduction as long as you itemize your taxes.Cost to you: entirely up to your discretion, minus the tax deduction.

5) Energy-Saving Eco Button

Know any computer geeks? Or anyone else with a computer, for that matter? This little gadget plugs into the USB port of any PC (a version for Macs is in the works); press the button, and it sends the machine to sleep or to its most energy-efficient mode. The button serves as a handy reminder to power down, saving on energy use and the cost of keeping the computer kicking. Visit ecobutton.com, or find it on Amazon.com. Cost to you: $19.99, plus shipping.

6) Community-College Gift Card

Many community colleges offer gift cards that can be used on books, merchandise and — here’s the potential for payback — credit hours. If your friend or loved one is looking to dust off her professional skills, or brush up on her French before a trip to Paris, a community-college course can be fun and functional. Mesa Community College in Arizona, for example, offers gift cards in denominations of $50, $100 and $250 — and courses are $71 per credit hour. Contact your local institution for a course catalog to include with your gift. Another idea for the gift of education? Computer software, such as a course from Rosetta Stone, can offer similar benefits. Cost to you: up to your discretion, and based on the colleges cost per credit hour.

7) Appointment with a Career Coach

Connect a family member with a career coach, and pay for the program or at least the first session. Look to the International Coach Federation (ICF), the only organization that awards a global credential for career coaches. For the unemployed or a recent grad, the session could be a way for them to create or polish a résumé and land a job. Or, for those perhaps mired in a professional rut, the sessions could help them win a promotion (and the raise that comes with it). In the 2009 ICF Global Coaching Client Study, which surveyed more than 2,100 coaching consumers, more than 80 percent of respondents reported a positive change in their goal areas. Cost to you: several hundred dollars in most cases, depending on the coach and the level of services. Seek a free consultation at the outset.

Reusable Shopping Bags

Many retailers offer incentives, albeit small ones, for customers to haul their groceries in their own reusable bags. Target and Whole Foods Market, for instance, offer 5 cents off per reusable bag presented at checkout. CVS has rolled out a program called GreenBagTag, which lets CVS ExtraCare members (there are more than 62 million in the U.S.) save $1 for every four times they present their GreenBagTag card along with their reusable bags at checkout (cards are available in stores for 99 cents). The most user-friendly variety of reusable bags can be compacted into a small pouch and carried easily. Cost to you: $20 for four bags from Waste-Less Bags (found on Amazon).

9) Beverage Carbonator

If New Years Eve isnt the only time your friends enjoy a fizzy drink, a carbonator can help them save on supplies by allowing them to make their own drinks. Appliances such as the SodaStream carbonate water with CO2 in less than one minute. Flavors and juices can be added to the carbonated water to replace soft drinks. CO2 canisters come in different sizes that last for about 60 or 130 liters of water. Used CO2 cartridges can be traded in for full ones for about $30 for the 130-liter model and $30 for two canisters from the 60-liter model.Cost to you: $80 to $200 for the appliance, which should come with reusable bottles and one or two CO2 cartridges depending on the model you choose.

10) Movie-Rental Subscription

If there are movie buffs on your nice list, save them from DVD rentals and late fees — or allow them to spend the night in with a new release rather than spending a fortune at the box office. A movie-rental subscription lets them make a list, or queue, of the movies theyd like to see. Netflix then mails the DVDs one at a time. As each movie is returned, Netflix sends out the next one on the list. Theres no limit on the number of movies subscribers can watch each month, and there are no late fees. Plus, Netflix lets you pull up additional movies on your TV (using a game console, such as the Wii) or on your computer, through your online account, to watch instantly — for free.Cost to you: $9.99/month or $119.88/year for DVD and streaming capabilities.

11) AAA Membership

In addition to offering a little extra peace of mind on the roads over the hills and through the woods, a AAA membership offers countless savings. On the road, a member is entitled to free tire changes and free delivery of gasoline if they are on empty (paying only the price of the fuel). The AAA member card can be presented for discounts off the road, too — deals such as 10% to 20% off car rentals at Hertz, 5% off at Marriott hotels, and 10% off select items at Barnes & Noble.Cost to you: $65 a year.

12) Start a Savings or Investment Account

If you want to help somebody sock away some cash for the future, do the dirty work of opening an account on his behalf. For a youngster, a 529 college-savings plan is a good choice. Or, for a recent graduate, a Roth IRA can provide a jump-start on tax-free retirement savings. For someone who is saving up for a new house or a new car, consider seeding an online savings account with low fees and a high interest rate. See Kiplingers map to Find the Best 529 Plan and 5 Stocks Kids Would Love for the Holidays.Cost to you: entirely up to you.

13) Cooking Classes

Cooking classes or seminars can be a great way to cut your recipients restaurant budget. Check community calendars for seminars or look to chains, such as Williams-Sonoma and Sur la Table, for a schedule of seminars — for example, the Indian Restaurant Favorites class teaches cooking skills for a six-course meal with mango-and-red-pepper chutney and curried vegetable samosas for $69. Cost to you: various prices.

14) Membership at a Big-Box Store

Its hard to fit a years supply of paper towels into a gift bag, but that doesnt mean you cant give it. By giving a membership to a big-box store such as BJs, Costco or Sams Club, youll save the recipient money on groceries, electronics, household wares and office supplies year-round. Cost to you: about $50 for a years membership.

15) Magazine

Personal-finance wisdom, actionable advice and clear explanations — these are a few of our favorite things. And, hey, were proud of what we do. A years subscription to for your friends and family members of any age will give them both money-saving and money-making strategies.Cost to you: $12 a year for 12 issues. Give a gift subscription.

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