Tis the season for shopping! Bookmark this page as I’ll update it with products I like, stuff on sale, and any promo codes that come my way!
Post may contain affiliate and or referral links.
I’m continuing to update my picks, but you can also check out my tried-and-true favorites here. Also, check my referrals page to see if there are any products you are interested in signing up for; they often have a slightly better deal than what’s public.
Amazon Echo Spot - A smart speaker with a small screen perfect for the desk or a bedside table. It has a tiny display so you can see the time, date, weather, music playing, and more. $45
Anker MagGo Power Bank—This is my current favorite portable power bank for various reasons. Two things I love: It has a built-in screen, so you can see how much charge it has left and how fast it’s charging other devices. Plus, there’s a built-in Apple Watch charger, so there's one less cable to carry around. $55 on sale!
ASUS ZenBook - If you’re looking for a thin, light, and capable Windows laptop, look no further than this slick PC. $500
Aura Digital Picture Frame - Makes the perfect gift for the parent or grandparent in your life. This WiFi picture frame lets you send photos straight from your phone and others can be invited to do the same. Aura’s software and simplicity is a step above the rest. No monthly fees and add as many photos as you want. $140
Below 60 Air Freshener—Sure, you can get a ton of air fresheners at the grocery store, but this one looks cooler, and it’s promoted by Hilary Duff. The scents are excellent and have fun names like “vanilla buys a timeshare in paradise.” A starter pack with three scent cartridges that last 30 days each costs $41.
CLCKR MagSafe Phone Grip and Kickstand - This genius gadget is perfect for the plane. Magnetically attach it to the back of your phone, and you can watch movies hands-free. It’s perfect for the frequent flier. $20
CMF Buds Pro 2 - Excellent sounding earbuds at an incredible price of just $56.
CordBrick - The best way to keep your cables organized and from falling back behind your desk. It’s a weighted rubber brick with several grooves to hold your cables and works better than similar solutions. $12
Groove Smart Wallet Trace—There’s just something about this wallet that I really like. It’s got a sturdy metal design that hides a thin tracker inside that lets you see where your wallet is on Apple’s Find My app. Plus, the way it slides your cards out is addictingly fun. It’s pricey, but it's one of my favorite wallets in a long time. It costs $125 (it might be cheaper on sale). Did I mention it comes with a 94-year, no-nonsense warranty?
GatorGrip Phone Stand - A universal phone stand clips to your phone to let you watch TV shows and movies hands-free. It comes in various colors and is excellent for travel. $20
Google Fitbit ACE LTE is a simple but fun smartwatch for kids. There is no need to add an extra phone line to your plan and no complicated setup. Just activate it in minutes, and you can call and message your kid from your phone, whether on your iPhone or Android. The main thing to know is that this doesn’t get assigned an acutal phone number, friends and family must download an app to message it and be pre-approved, so there won’t be any spam. $180 for the watch, $10 a month for data.
Google Pixel 9 - This is the best basic Android phone. You get clean software with zero bloat, an incredible camera and software updates for 7 years. Plus, this year's design fits in your hand perfectly and this phone feels smart. $650
HiSense U8 TV—I bought this TV this year, and I have zero regrets about it. The picture is excellent, and people who come to watch sports at our house always ask which model it is because it looks great. It also has built-in Google TV software, which is great if you want to show off your Google Photos collection while you’re not watching.
Jura Anchor for AirPods - A clip to keep your AirPods close at hand and save them from getting lost in the depths of your backpack or gym bag. $20
MagMoji—This is a fun little stuffed animal that holds stuff inside and magnetically attaches to the back of a MagSafe-compatible phone. It is super cute and was spotted at a Verizon holiday event, so Verizon might have them in their stores, too. They start at $15.
Mila Air Purifier - An air purifier with a personality. It will display fun messages about the air quality in your home on the built-in screen, and it will manage everything on its own. Plus, the app has many details about your air quality and what you can do to improve it. Put it on auto and set it, and forget it. 350
Mophie 3-in-1 Travel Charger—Got an iPhone, Apple Watch, or AirPods? You need this for your hotel room! It folds up into an easy-to-pack fabric case, and just one plug powers it all. It's a steal at $75, which is half the retail price!
Neakasa M1 Self-Cleaning Kitty Litter Box—Never scoop litter again. This automated machine will clear away waste after your cat goes. You just have to add some extra litter when it tells you to and clear out the waste bin every other week. Usually over $600, it is on sale for $400.
Peacock - Get a year of Peacock for just $20. Sure, it has ads, but this is a great value. Universal owns Peacock, so they usually have a few good new movies on the service throughout the year. You’ll get your money’s worth by streaming them. I did this deal last year, and the renewal is $80; just be sure to cancel right away if you don’t want to be charged or set a reminder to cancel later.
Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses ($320) They look like regular sunglasses but take photos and videos and let you listen to music and make phone calls. Plus, Meta AI can help with just about anything instantly.
Samsung Galaxy Smart Ring—It's Still $400, but you get a $50 gift card with purchase. If you have a Samsung phone and want a smart ring to track your sleep and fitness, this is a great way to do it with no subscription fees and up to seven days of battery life.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra—Usually $650, it's on sale for $490 or less. It's big and rugged, has a long battery life, and has built-in cellular connectivity.
SHOKZ OpenRun Headphones - I love to run but hate how most earbuds block out the rest of the world. These use bone conducting technology to sit near your ears but leave them open so you can hear the world around you and your tunes. They don’t get as loud as in-ear buds but they are fantastic for running. $90
Speck Tagimals are a super cute way to put an AirTag on your child's shoes or backpack. They cost $35 for a four-pack.
Spigen Screen Protector—It's super easy to install without any bubbles and does the job at an extremely reasonable price—just $16 for a two-pack. I hate seeing cracked screens, and at this price, there’s no reason not to have the added protection.
Spigen Ultra Hybrid Case - The best simple, inexpensive case for your phone. It comes in various styles (my favorite is the clear) and also adds MagSafe functionality to phones that don’t have it. $19
SWAY Minoke - You’ll be the life of the party with this tiny Karaoke machine. It has a mic and lights that react to the music. Pair it with Sing mode on Apple Music or your favorite karaoke YouTube music video. Usually $70, it’s just $30!
Tile Tracker Pro by Life360 - Before AirTag, there was Tile. Now they’re back with brand new products and although they don’t work on the Apple or Google Find My network, they use their own, which is still pretty robust. Plus, they work with iPhones and Androids, which is great if your family uses a mix of devices. $28
TIZAG Customizable Phone Case—This is a phone case with a display on the back that you can customize instantly with any photo you want! It’s actually kind of magical how this thing works—there are no cables, no battery. Your photo is instantly sent to the back picture frame via NFC, and it stays there until you change it again. [video]
Travel Adapter—This is essential for international travel. It includes both USB-C and A-style ports, along with a place for regular plugs. I use this one, and it’s been around the world with me.
UGREEN USB-C Plug—Do you need a fast charger for your USB-C cable? Look no further than this 30-watt plug, which costs just $12.
UAG (Urban Armor Gear) - Makes cases and accessories that are on the more rugged side of things. I currently love their Rugged 10K Wireless Power Bank and Stand. 30% off sitewide with code UAGFRIDAY from 11/27 - 12/1.
Visible: A virtual wireless carrier that runs on Verizon’s network (and is owned by them). There are no stores, so everything is done online, including customer service, mostly through chat or phone calls. New customers can get 2 years of service at $20 a month plus a $25 gift card with code SAVE24
Wall Crawler Gecko—I can’t take credit for finding this one (Thanks, BestReviews!), but I saw it for exactly one minute before I ordered it. Clearly, I’m not alone, as Amazon says there have been 40,000 orders in the past month! It’s a fun toy for kids—a remote-controlled gecko that can climb walls. It's under $30.
WHOOSH Screen Cleaner - Rumor has it that Apple stores used this cleaning solution to keep their gadgets sparkling. I’ve used it for years, and it works great and is non-toxic. Yes, I’ve sprayed it in my mouth to prove that, but I don’t recommend you do that. $15
WONDERBOOM 4 Bluetooth Speaker - Fantastic sound at an excellent price and the latest model now has USB-C. You’ll love the fabric exterior in fun colors, the battery lasts forever, and it’s small enough to toss into a suitcase for travel. It also floats in case it finds its way into the pool or lake. $80
Wyze Products—This company makes great smart home gadgets at super reasonable prices. I love their $33 smart scale and the $17 security camera that made them famous, which is now on sale.
XGIMI makes some of the best portable projectors. They work well indoors and outdoors, and they have features that automatically adjust size and focus to the screen. The MoGo 2, the previous model, is on sale this year, while the MoGo 3, the latest model, is more powerful. Both are excellent choices. [video]