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Enlarge ImageHead not included.
Mpow
There’s a gift-giving occasion rapidly approaching. Perhaps you’ve heard of it?
Ah, but what to give, what to give… My very own Cheapskate Jr. recently informed me that he’s all good, doesn’t need anything, which just made me want to buy him several thousand presents. Smart kid.
Personally, I’m a fan of gifts with low prices but huge practical value. Like these!
1. Obligatory Bluetooth headphones
A few of my colleagues want nothing to do with cheap headphones, which I can understand, but when you’re out walking, running, biking, gardening or whatever, you don’t need a high-end set of cans. What you need is a pair of sweatproof Bluetooth earbuds with good battery life, a comfy fit and a built-in mic for phone calls.
Done and done! Mpow (via Amazon) has the Cheetah Bluetooth Sport Headphones for $20.99 shipped when you apply coupon code 4BWUXXY7 at checkout. Regular price: $27.99. User reviews are very positive, and I believe the code is good for all three color options.
2. Lazy-Hands across America
Enlarge ImageLazy-Hands
If you’ve ever spent more than a few minutes holding your phone, tablet or e-reader, you know that your usual claw-grip gets uncomfortable.
That’s why I’m a big, big fan of Lazy-Hands, a stick-on grip thingie that lets you hold your device from the rear using two, three or four fingers.
I use one of these on my Kindle Paperwhite and have no intention of ever taking it off. It looks a little goofy, yes, but it also makes long stretches of reading way more comfortable.
For a limited time, you can get 25 percent off all Lazy-Hands products when you apply coupon code LAZYCHEAPSKATE (hey!) at checkout. Hit the $30 mark and you’ll bag free shipping as well. They’re available in a variety of different sizes, colors and patterns.
3. You know how to whistle, don’t you?
Enlarge ImageBlow before you go.
BACtrack
Just put your lips together and blow. That’s also a really good way to check your blood alcohol level, provided you’re blowing into a breathalyzer.
Like this one: Today only, Meh has the BACtrack Go Keychain Breathalyzer for just $10, plus $5 for shipping. (Buy a few more and shipping is still just $5.) Its listed retail price is $40 and it sells for about $27 at Amazon.
This isn’t the silly app-based version of the BACtrack Go. You just blow into it and instantly get a reading on its backlit LCD. With holiday parties fast approaching, it’s all too easy to misjudge how much you’ve had to drink. This might be perceived as a rather sober (sorry) gift, but it’s an important one.
Bonus deal: I said it before, I’ll say it again: The Apple Watch is grossly overpriced. Or, at least, it was, until Best Buy knocked $100 off. Now you can get the 38mm Sport model for $249, or the 42mm version for $299. To put that in perspective, the Pebble Time Steel runs $250, or $300 with a metal band. The latter offers far better battery life, but the Apple Watch has a vastly superior display and tons more features. Thinking seriously about giving it a try. Happy Chanukah to me!
Bonus deal 2: This isn’t a tech item, but it’s still a fantastic gift that’s near and dear to my heart. StackSocial has the Penguin Magic Starter Kit for $19.99. It’s a collection of five really solid tricks, all of which you can download instantly and learn by watching an instructional video. The same kit is listed for $50 and would cost you $40 if you bought it directly from Penguin. I did magic in my youth — and still do a mean Rubber Band Cuffs. It’s an excellent way to build confidence and, ahem, impress the ladies.
