Black Friday, the official start of the 2009 holiday shopping season, is a mere three weeks away, meaning it’s definitely time to start thinking about holiday gifts for your friends and family. We’ve said it before, but starting your shopping research early and utilizing the internet is a great way to save money and lower the stress of holiday gift-giving. To give you a helping hand, we’ve compiled a handful of unusual gift ideas for 2009 that might be perfect for the person on your list who is annually difficult to please.
Icy treats may not seem like a great idea in the middle of December, but think of how much fun having your own Sno-Cone Maker will be once the weather warms up again. Simple to use and offering plenty of flavorful possibilities, these make a great gift.
Another fun food gift idea, and definitely more suited to the winter months, are these deluxe S’mores kits which bring the campfire classic indoors with a gourmet twist. And for a great conversation piece either at home or at the office, check out these awesome mini gumball machines.
Games are always a nice gift choice for your friends, particularly those who entertain frequently. If you’re a musical bunch, we’d recommend a Home Karaoke System, which is sure to lead to many fun nights of singing classic songs (sometimes out of key), or one of these challenging 3-D Jigsaw Puzzles, which can double as a piece of home décor when completed. Or just pick up a classic game, like Twister.
Maybe you have someone in your life who has been saying for months/years how they’d like to learn Spanish or a second language. There’s no better way to do so than with software from Rosetta Stone, which offers instructional programs on dozens of foreign languages and has a proven track record of success.
Finally, we stumbled across this “crime scene” scarf, which is simply brilliant (and cheap!). This is a nice gift for someone you don’t need to spend too much money on (like a coworker in an office Secret Santa) or anyone else on your list who doesn’t mind a blaring yellow accessory with their winter coat!
Got more fun, off-the-wall, or unusual gift ideas? Leave us a comment!
