With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season starting up, you may want to start considering which techie gifts you’ll be after this year. Technology is one of the most purchased gifts of the season, which can be a bit of a burden on your holiday budget. However, there are some gifts that will actually save you quite a bit of money when it comes to initial shopping as well as long term use. These items not only make life a lot easier for the recipient, but will help you live a greener and more frugal lifestyle. So, this holiday season, don’t forget to keep long term rewards in mind when you’re doing all of your tech shopping!
1. Energy Star
If you’re looking to make a bold statement this holiday season, then you may want to shop Energy Star products. It doesn’t matter who the recipient is, Energy Star will make life a lot more frugal and efficient. In short, Energy Star items are designed to use less power, which means they’re much better for the environment. Of course, this also means that they’re much better for the power bill too. Luckily, you can find Energy Star just about anywhere these days, so you won’t have to go out of your way to find them. Plus, most new products are designed with it to make them more frugal, efficient and environmentally savvy. Energy Star also doesn’t cost any extra, so you should be able to get laptops, TVs and appliances at a great price with this amazing technology.
2. Solar Charger
Let’s face it, in today’s world we’re always charging something. From our smartphones to tablets, it almost seems like there’s always something to plug into the wall. Although chargers really don’t take up a whole lot of energy, you may be surprised by how much it saves you each year if you don’t have to plug in your devices. Not to mention, if you can avoid using power, it’ll help the environment out quite a bit. A solar powered charger is one of the best ways to avoid using power while using the planet’s natural resources to charge all of your must-have devices. Generally, solar chargers can be pretty pricey, but it also depends on the size of the charger you want. For instance, if you’re looking for a charger that simply gives your devices a boost then it won’t be too pricey. These chargers often hook to the window so the charger can harness as much power as possible. You can also buy larger chargers for camping, but these can be used around the home too.
3. E-Reader
If you love to read then there’s no better way to enjoy a story then on an e-reader. Although many people prefer to read the old fashioned way, it’s actually more cost efficient to use an e-reader. You can choose from a wide range of options here too and many e-readers are more affordable than ever, so you won’t have to worry about spending a pretty penny. One of the best things about e-readers is you can buy books for less money when you buy them in digital form. There’s actually a wide collection of free books online, so if you’re desperate for something to read then you won’t have to search far. Most e-books are also a discounted price, so you’ll save money on new releases too. There are also many apps that can convert your personal book library into free or reduced priced e-books too, so you won’t have to worry about losing out on your favorite titles when you’re on the go. Another great thing about e-readers is they can be better for your eyes then reading on a phone or laptop. You can also consider the energy the e-reader will save. Since the device has a built in light, you’ll never have to us a lamp to stay up late reading.
4. Rechargeable Batteries
There’s a good chance that many of the items on your holiday list are going to require some form of battery to use. From kids’ toys to gaming controllers and emergency technology, batteries are a huge part of the season. Thus, you may want to consider spending a little extra on the batteries and simply buy a battert recharger. Usually, these come with a few batteries, so you’ll already have a small collection of batteries to help keep the household functions going. These rechargers usually only charge AA and AAA batteries though, so you may want to do some shopping around to find a charger for larger batteries. Although it may cost more for these chargers, it’ll be worth it when you don’t have to worry about throwing money away when it comes to the batteries. Rechargeable batteries usually only cost a bit more than the one use batteries too, so you should be able to build up a collection in no time. Having these batteries will help reduce your carbon footprint and will prevent you from having to add batteries to your shopping list every week.
5. Charging Hub
Again, devices seem to be everywhere in the home, which can often mean there’s many different devices plugged in at once. Apart from drawing a lot of power, this can also be very inconvenient when it comes to waiting for a plug to charge your item. Rather than having many chargers do the job, you can transform the way you charge items with a simple charging hub. This hub allows you to use only one plug while charging several different devices at once. These hubs come in many sizes, so you can easily find one that fits your budget or your charging needs. Some of these hubs even double as other items, such as an alarm clock, which is perfect for saving even more power. These hubs are great for families too, so they may be a great gift for everyone you know.
6. Smart Phone
Although smart phones aren’t exactly on the low budget list, they are one of the best tech devices on the market to save you a bit money. A lot of phones these days allow you to make Wi-Fi calls, which means you can lower your minutes on your phone bill, or you can skip the service altogether. You can also download apps that allow you to text via Wi-Fi. Of course, there’s also many apps that allow you to call, text and message internationally, which will help you save even more money if you have family or friends abroad. Apart from helping you keep in touch, you can easily keep track of your fitness thanks to the built in pedometer that will allow you to manage your health with ease. Some even have health trackers that allow you to input your diet and exercise routine to help you stay on track. If you don’t have a GPS then your smart phone can lend a helping hand at no extra cost. There’s also a wide variety of apps, such as gas and shopping apps that help you find the best deals around.
7. Game Console
Game consoles also aren’t exactly the cheapest item on the market, but they can work to help you save money in many other ways. For starters, they allow you to stream videos which means you can ditch the cable channels that you never watch. You can download apps for most of the basic channels, which means you won’t have to give up your favorite shows. Also, with streaming networks you should be able stay entertained without surrendering to the over-priced cable company. If you do love the option of cable then PlayStation actually has their own form of cable, which is competitive with cable prices. Apart from keeping up with shows and movies, gaming consoles allow you to buy games for cheaper which is a huge bonus if you love to keep up with the latest releases. Not to mention, you can share these games with friends on some of the devices, which can help you save money if you work out a way to split the costs or take turns buying the titles. You can even use your console to workout, which means you won’t need to pay a personal trainer or a gym to keep fit.
8. Fitness Tracker
If you like to have a bit more control over your health then you may want to try out a Fitness Tracker. These devices can be worn as watches and look like fashionable accessories, so you can spend less on bracelets. The trackers come with many different options, so you can choose one that fits your fitness needs or budget. All of the trackers keep track of your footsteps and often give a more accurate reading than your smart phone can. Some will monitor your sleep to offer you suggestions to help you get a better night sleep. You can also input calories and other important information to ensure you’re on the right track. If you’re willing to spend a bit more then you can choose tracker that doubles as a watch. The more expensive trackers will even alert you of phone calls and text messages, so you can skip out on overpriced devices like the iWatch.
9. Smart Power Strip
One of the biggest problems with leaving items plugged in is they continue to draw power even when they’re off. This can be a huge burden on the environment as well as your power bill because most items need to remain plugged in. There is a great solution to this problem though. That is, the smart power strip. This special power strip detects phantom energy draws and cuts them off, so when your item is off it is actually off. This can shave a lot of money off of your power bill. Of course, the power strip will also work to protect your devices from power surges that could otherwise destroy the item.
10. Smart Thermostats
If you have trouble keeping your home the right temperature, then you may want to check out the smart thermostat. These thermostats work hard to keep the home comfortable, while saving the amount of power the home draws for heating and cooling. Smart thermostats learn your habits, so it knows when it needs to heat or cool the home and how much. The device and be programmed, but it also works based on the changes of the household, which will help keep your costs down. These are perfect gifts for students moving into their first apartment or newlyweds, but will also make just about anyone a happy camper.
Technology is a great way to keep those on your gift list happy this holiday season, but it can also be a great way to help you and the recipient save a bit of money. With these tips you should be able to find the perfect gift for everyone on your list and maybe even a little something for yourself. With all of the long term savings, your budget should be thriving again in no time.
