Chris Pirillo » last-minute-christmas-gifts http://chris.pirillo.com News and Reviews! Geek, Internet Entrepreneur, Hardware Addict, Software Junkie, Book Author, Once TV Show Host, Technology Enthusiast, Shameless Self-Promoter, Tech Conference Coordinator, Early Adopter, Idea Evangelist, Tech Support Blogger, Bootstrapper, Media Personality, Technology Consultant, Thicker Quicker Picker Upper. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:06:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 en hourly 1 © chris@pirillo.com () chris@pirillo.com() Geek, Internet Entrepreneur, Hardware Addict, Software Junkie, Book Author, Once TV Show Host, Technology Enthusiast, Shameless Self-Promoter, Tech Conference Coordinator, Early Adopter, Idea Evangelist, Tech Support Blogger, Bootstrapper, Media Personality, Technology Consultant, Thicker Quicker Picker Upper. chris@pirillo.com No no http://chris.pirillo.com/wp-content/plugins/podpress/images/powered_by_podpress.jpgChris Pirillohttp://chris.pirillo.com 144 144 Cutting it Close? Here are Some Last Minute Gift Ideashttp://chris.pirillo.com/cutting-it-close-here-are-some-last-minute-gift-ideas/ http://chris.pirillo.com/cutting-it-close-here-are-some-last-minute-gift-ideas/#comments Wed, 24 Dec 2008 21:16:18 +0000 coupons http://chris.pirillo.com/?p=11546 Cutting it Close? Here are Some Last Minute Gift Ideas is a post from Chris Pirillo

Cutting it kinda close there, don’t you think? If you leave right now, you’ll have a lot of last-minute people just like you to fight over the last stocking stuffer or cheesy-last-minute-thing with. But, with any hope, you might just get lucky. Here are some ideas I found that might help you:

  • Netbooks – The Acer Aspire One is on sale at Best Buy for $299. These are on sale until Saturday.
  • Flowers – Say you decided not to exchange gifts this year. Flowers aren’t a gift, but you can show someone you love them anyway. Use FTD and they just might get them today, even if they are far away!
  • Gift cards – OK, if you’re out of ideas you might be out of options too. If you can figure out their favorite store, or a store they could at least find something useful in, get a gift card. Be sure to let them know they need to use it immediately to retain the original value placed on the card. Nearly any store you walk into will have gift cards for other places including their own.
  • MP3 players – be wary of the cheap ones; however, if you’re buying for an 8-year-old, a cheap one probably is a better idea than an iPod Classic. Use your best judgment – choose an age appropriate size and brand. Something like the iPod Shuffle is perfect for a stocking stuffer or a gift bag because of the size. The price doesn’t hurt, either.
  • Cell phones – you can use one as a stocking stuffer outside of the box, or wrap the box and put it under the tree. Either way, it’s a great gift. If you’re getting your teenager their first cell phone, you might want to double your minutes and your text limits preemptively – you will be unpleasantly surprised at how fast they run through limits of your calling plan, so be sure to set some limits with them so they do not rack up high overage charges on your bill.
  • Fruit baskets – you might be putting the basket together yourself this late in the game. Check your local grocery store to see if they have any – if not, choose appropriate fruit for your basket. You could even put a can of hot cocoa on the top with a bow. You don’t have to use fruit for just baskets – they are quite useful in stuffing stockings as well, especially if you are on a budget. Fruit is economical for the body and for the wallet, and will literally “fill” the stocking. If you’re lucky, your local Edible Arrangements might even be open.
  • Stuffed animals – any size animal would make a great gift for children or for your girlfriend. Your mom… not so much – I’d probably pick something else. Small stuffed animals are great as a stocking stuffer, too. Not only do they take up space in the stocking, but they also have the “aww” effect (being a cute and tiny thing).
  • Hot Wheels and Barbies – great choice for younger kids. The die cast cars are very inexpensive, and you can get smaller versions of Barbies or Bratz dolls (or other doll-type figure) that would be perfect for a stocking stuffer.
  • Card games – you should try to keep the receiver in mind when purchasing, as a 6-year-old girl would be much happier with Old Maid than your 36-year-old brother; likewise I’m sure you don’t want your 10-year-old daughter to begin hosting the weekly poker game.
  • Handheld electronic games – inexpensive and fun for everyone. Most of these you have a choice between stuffing them in the stocking or wrapping them up to place under the tree.

Did you remember to get gifts for your pets? Please remember the 4-legged family members too! Anything will do – treats, toys, sweaters – just be sure to show love to them as well. Pets are very perceptive to the things that go on around them and know when they are being left out.

Do you have other ideas? Quick, tell us – the time is running out!

]]> Cutting it Close? Here are Some Last Minute Gift Ideas is a post from Chris Pirillo

Cutting it kinda close there, don’t you think? If you leave right now, you’ll have a lot of last-minute people just like you to fight over the last stocking stuffer or cheesy-last-minute-thing with. But, with any hope, you might just get lucky. Here are some ideas I found that might help you:

  • Netbooks – The Acer Aspire One is on sale at Best Buy for $299. These are on sale until Saturday.
  • Flowers – Say you decided not to exchange gifts this year. Flowers aren’t a gift, but you can show someone you love them anyway. Use FTD and they just might get them today, even if they are far away!
  • Gift cards – OK, if you’re out of ideas you might be out of options too. If you can figure out their favorite store, or a store they could at least find something useful in, get a gift card. Be sure to let them know they need to use it immediately to retain the original value placed on the card. Nearly any store you walk into will have gift cards for other places including their own.
  • MP3 players – be wary of the cheap ones; however, if you’re buying for an 8-year-old, a cheap one probably is a better idea than an iPod Classic. Use your best judgment – choose an age appropriate size and brand. Something like the iPod Shuffle is perfect for a stocking stuffer or a gift bag because of the size. The price doesn’t hurt, either.
  • Cell phones – you can use one as a stocking stuffer outside of the box, or wrap the box and put it under the tree. Either way, it’s a great gift. If you’re getting your teenager their first cell phone, you might want to double your minutes and your text limits preemptively – you will be unpleasantly surprised at how fast they run through limits of your calling plan, so be sure to set some limits with them so they do not rack up high overage charges on your bill.
  • Fruit baskets – you might be putting the basket together yourself this late in the game. Check your local grocery store to see if they have any – if not, choose appropriate fruit for your basket. You could even put a can of hot cocoa on the top with a bow. You don’t have to use fruit for just baskets – they are quite useful in stuffing stockings as well, especially if you are on a budget. Fruit is economical for the body and for the wallet, and will literally “fill” the stocking. If you’re lucky, your local Edible Arrangements might even be open.
  • Stuffed animals – any size animal would make a great gift for children or for your girlfriend. Your mom… not so much – I’d probably pick something else. Small stuffed animals are great as a stocking stuffer, too. Not only do they take up space in the stocking, but they also have the “aww” effect (being a cute and tiny thing).
  • Hot Wheels and Barbies – great choice for younger kids. The die cast cars are very inexpensive, and you can get smaller versions of Barbies or Bratz dolls (or other doll-type figure) that would be perfect for a stocking stuffer.
  • Card games – you should try to keep the receiver in mind when purchasing, as a 6-year-old girl would be much happier with Old Maid than your 36-year-old brother; likewise I’m sure you don’t want your 10-year-old daughter to begin hosting the weekly poker game.
  • Handheld electronic games – inexpensive and fun for everyone. Most of these you have a choice between stuffing them in the stocking or wrapping them up to place under the tree.

Did you remember to get gifts for your pets? Please remember the 4-legged family members too! Anything will do – treats, toys, sweaters – just be sure to show love to them as well. Pets are very perceptive to the things that go on around them and know when they are being left out.

Do you have other ideas? Quick, tell us – the time is running out!

]]> http://chris.pirillo.com/cutting-it-close-here-are-some-last-minute-gift-ideas/feed/ 6 Gift Certificates – Last Minute Christmas Gift Idea #1http://chris.pirillo.com/gift-certificates-last-minute-christmas-gift-idea-1/ http://chris.pirillo.com/gift-certificates-last-minute-christmas-gift-idea-1/#comments Fri, 21 Dec 2007 01:02:56 +0000 Chris http://chris.pirillo.com/2007/12/20/gift-certificates-last-minute-christmas-gift-idea-1/ Gift Certificates – Last Minute Christmas Gift Idea #1 is a post from Chris Pirillo

Yep it’s time to bite the bullet and start buying Gift Certificates for those hard to buy people on your list. Here’s a listing of dozen of online merchants that offer gift certificates. My personal favorite are the ones that offer email delivery on their gift certificates. That way you can wait until Christmas Eve and still get all your shopping done in time for Christmas. I’ve included several coupons for gift certificates, because there’s no reason you can’t be lazy and save some money!

]]> Gift Certificates – Last Minute Christmas Gift Idea #1 is a post from Chris Pirillo

Yep it’s time to bite the bullet and start buying Gift Certificates for those hard to buy people on your list. Here’s a listing of dozen of online merchants that offer gift certificates. My personal favorite are the ones that offer email delivery on their gift certificates. That way you can wait until Christmas Eve and still get all your shopping done in time for Christmas. I’ve included several coupons for gift certificates, because there’s no reason you can’t be lazy and save some money!

]]> http://chris.pirillo.com/gift-certificates-last-minute-christmas-gift-idea-1/feed/ 6 How to Handle Remote Tech Support <em>Using <a href="http://www.gotoassist.com/chris">GoToAssist</a> is the easiest way to view and control another person's computer online. Use it to provide instant technical support to family, friends and customers. Start a session with just one click, and instantly connect with the other party. </em> chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) Partner Mon, 13 Jul 2009 06:30:00 GMThttp://gotoassist.com/chris/ http://gotoassist.com/chris/ Network Tools for Windows You need these network tools, no matter which operating systems and networks you have to support. <a href="http://support.solarwinds.com/updates/New-Customer.cfm?ProdID=568&campaign=ipmon_DL_lockergnome&CMP=BAC-ipmonDL_lockergnome">SolarWinds ipMonitor</a>: Affordable Network Monitoring for SMBs. Get turnkey network, server and application availability monitoring with SolarWinds ipMonitor v9.0. This easy-to-use, reliable solution for SMBs delivers out-of-the-box availability monitoring so you always know exactly what's up with Active Directory, DNS, Exchange, FTP, Web, IMAP, MS SQL Server, and SMTP. <a href="http://support.solarwinds.com/updates/New-Customer.cfm?ProdID=568&campaign=ipmon_DL_lockergnome&CMP=BAC-ipmonDL_lockergnome">Download your free trial today</a>. Or, try their <a href="http://www.solarwinds.com/products/freetools/">totally free tools</a>! And, through 2/29, save 20% when you purchase <a href="http://store.solarwinds.com/s.nl/sc.16/.f">ipMonitor 9.0</a>. chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) Partner Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:30:00 GMThttp://support.solarwinds.com/updates/New-Customer.cfm?ProdID=568&campaign=ipmon_DL_lockergnome&CMP=BAC-ipmonDL_lockergnome http://support.solarwinds.com/updates/New-Customer.cfm?ProdID=568&campaign=ipmon_DL_lockergnome&CMP=BAC-ipmonDL_lockergnome Get Your Own Web Site Starting at just $3.99/month, web hosting from <a href="http://www.godaddy.com/gdshop/default.asp?isc=cp2">GoDaddy</a> includes 99.9% uptime, 24/7 support and free access to GoDaddy Hosting Connection, THE place to install over 30 FREE applications sure to help you get the most from your hosting plan and Web site. Enter <a href="http://www.godaddy.com/gdshop/default.asp?isc=cp2">code CP2</a> at checkout, and save an additional 10% on any order. <p>Plus, as a friend of Chris Pirillo, enter code <a href="http://www.godaddy.com/gdshop/default.asp?isc=chris7">CHRIS7</a>, that's C-H-R-I-S and the number 7, when you check out, and save an additional 10% on any order. Get your piece of the internet at <a href="http://www.godaddy.com/gdshop/default.asp?isc=chris7">GoDaddy.com</a>.</p> chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) Partner Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:30:00 GMThttp://www.godaddy.com/gdshop/default.asp?isc=cp1 http://www.godaddy.com/gdshop/default.asp?isc=cp1 VMware and Parallels for Virtual Machines It doesn't matter if you're running on Windows or Mac OS X - every power user needs either <a href="http://send.onenetworkdirect.net/z/13766/rn_a32755/">Parallels</a> or <a href="http://send.onenetworkdirect.net/z/17081/rn_a32755/">VMware</a> (or both). There's never been an easier way to test software without destroying your primary operating system's stability. Think of how many times you wish you could press a 'reverse' button on your computer. Plus, there's no easier way to try new Linux distributions - see what all the fuss is about. Run Windows in OS X, run Linux in Windows, but the best way to do either is with <a href="http://send.onenetworkdirect.net/z/17081/rn_a32755/">VMware</a> and/or <a href="http://send.onenetworkdirect.net/z/13766/rn_a32755/">Parallels</a>. chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) Partner Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:30:00 GMThttp://chris.pirillo.com/2008/02/19/parallels-or-vmware/ http://chris.pirillo.com/2008/02/19/parallels-or-vmware/ Coupons for Online Shopping <p style="color: red">This feed is fueled by Lockergnome <a href="http://www.lockergnome.com/buy/">Online Shopping and Coupon Codes</a></p> <p> Before you shop next time, see if we have <a href="http://coupons.lockergnome.com/">a coupon</a> first. </p> chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) Partner Sat, 12 Jul 2008 07:56:13 GMThttp://coupons.lockergnome.com/ http://coupons.lockergnome.com/