Outside the Box
Personalized Presents Extend Gift-Giving Beyond Holidays
Looking for that gift that keeps on giving long after they’ve tossed the wrapping paper and bows? With a little online exploration, a nontraditional gift is out there for just about everyone on your list.
Gaming Subscriptions
Just like movie and music services, game subscriptions offer unlimited access to huge catalogs of titles for players who would rather not put up the $70 to $80 average price for each individual game. Paying a part of the most popular subscriptions— Xbox Game Pass at $9.99-$19.99 per month, PlayStation Plus at $17.99, or Apple Arcade at $6.99—is a great way to show your gamers some love.
Watch ‘Em Play
Video game streaming involves broadcasting live gameplay over the internet, allowing viewers to engage with and watch other players in real time. Like livestreaming on Facebook and TikTok, game streamers provide content for viewers worldwide, playing video games and offering commentary.
Twitch is by far the most popular service, with more than 240 million monthly subscribers who play, watch, create content, and follow other gamers. 3 subscription tiers with different levels of perks range from $4.99 to $24.99 per month. Steam is also huge. Discord, Kick, Caffeine, and DLive are other popular choices for gifting your interactive gamers. Just confirm the platform they prefer so you’re sure to get them a gift they can use.
‘Of The Month’ Clubs
With a quick internet search, you can set up a monthly delivery of everything from pickles to pet chews to bath gels, bacon, and beyond. Look at sites like Amazing Clubs or Month Club Store to find multiple choices in 1 spot.
A monthly themed box or crate can satisfy all ages, from educational toys at Crunchlabs and a monthly Lego set through Brick Loot to a spa-in-a-box from Therabox. Visit Cratejoy for a wide selection.
Consider a gift subscription to Dear Holmes, which mails weekly clues on fancy stationery for solving a Victorian-era crime. For $50, 6 months’ worth of mysteries will turn your person into a solo Sherlock or the leader of a team of Watsons who share stories on YouTube.
Gift Cards
You’ve no doubt noticed the columns of gift cards at your supermarket or drugstore. They look like colorful credit cards, and that’s exactly what they are. These pieces of plastic can be applied to almost anything, from cash to food delivery services. The easiest way to give something everyone wants and by far the simplest to ship, gift cards are expected to generate $447.1 billion in revenue this year.
You can grab gift cards toward recurring subscriptions, like a movie or music streaming service. You’re sure to earn points by gifting a portion of the monthly Netflix or Hulu charges. Or find a Spotify, Apple Music, or SiriusXM gift card and keep the happy tunes flowing all year.