You Should Consider These Holiday Gifts

Christmas present

Holiday gifts seem to fade in and out of style each year, making it difficult to keep track of what's hot and what's not. While there are some timeless gifts like watches, diamonds or fragrances, the gifts most sought after time and time again are gadgets and consumer electronics. The good news is that these items have come down in price quite a bit and there are no real items that are over-inflated or extremely competitive, like the Xbox 360 was last year. For 2008-2009, you'll find a variety of Christmas gifts from digital cameras to laptops that are reasonably priced and desirable.

Electronics are big for Christmas gifts, making up 4/10 of the top wish list items for 2008 (Consumer Electronics Holiday Purchase Patterns Study). Nearly 80% of adults and 84% of kids said they'd like an electronic gift this year. So what's hot for this Christmas season? Computers, video game consoles, portable MP3 players, mobile phones and digital cameras topped this year's Christmas wish list. For computers, check out laptops at www.dell.com, where you can find products for as low as $376.

The Nintendo Wii is still the game console of choice this year, with its wide array of fun virtual-reality-type games. The price has come down a lot over the years, retailing for around $300. The X-Box 360 is another good option for the gamer. In the world of portable MP3 players, iPods still reign supreme, retailing between $149 and $300. The iTouch is the most coveted mobile phone on the market for 2008, known for its touchscreen, application support and versatility. For cameras, check out the Canon PowerShot series, where you can find great value for under $300. The Nikon SLR cameras have come down in price a lot and the Sony CyberShot is said to be a good buy as well for that perfect Christmas gift.

Choosing holiday gifts for in-laws can be nerve wracking, especially if you're a little strapped for cash this holiday season. You can try a magazine subscription like Readers Digest, GQ, Esquire, Cosmo, Vanity Fair, National Geographic, Newsweek or The New Yorker. Music CDs are another Christmas present idea for under $25 that could show thoughtfulness. You can try opera, holiday albums, ancestral folk music or oldies, to play it safe. Audiobooks could be a safer bet if you're really not sure what your in-laws' interests are. If they're particularly computer savvy, sites like www.audible.com offer monthly subscriptions and unlimited downloads. Gourmet coffees, gift baskets, Christmas plants or edible arrangements also make a nice treat. Spa certificates can pamper your in-laws and are something they wouldn't usually buy for themselves. At www.amazingclubs.com, you can send monthly wines, cheeses, ice creams, beers and a number of other goodies in the mail, although this is a little more expensive.

A 2008 study by Home Electronics Journal found surprising similarities in affluent holiday gifts lists and the under $100,000 income bracket lists. A quarter of those making more than $100,000/year are hoping to receive flat panel plasma TVs this Christmas season. Another quarter would like a laptop and 25.1% would like a DVR/TiVo. For those making less than $100,000, the preferred gifts are flat panel LCD TVs (31.4%), laptops (27.2%) and flat panel plasma TVs (23.9%). "Consumers have more interest than dollars to spend," says Roy Weiss, publisher of Home Electronics Journal.