The holiday chaos has finally settled, which means it’s time to tackle another important aspect of the gifting process: What do you do with the gift cards you just received for Christmas? If yours are through Amazon, the options for what to buy next are virtually limitless, as the retailer offers thousands of products across almost every shopping category. In fact, the only real boundary is your card’s total spending limit.
To help you make the most of your Amazon gift cards this year, we put together this list of things worth grabbing now, including cast-iron skillets, wireless earbuds, and other big-ticket items you might normally be hesitant to splurge on otherwise. Because ultimately, that’s the upside of getting a gift card: Even if you don’t get exactly what you want for Christmas, you still have a chance to get it for yourself by the new year. Below are some of the most worthwhile products to consider grabbing before that gift card burns a hole in your pocket.
If you’re all about nostalgic vibes, then you’ll probably appreciate this Victrola Nostalgic Jukebox. This '50s-style jukebox is actually a wireless Bluetooth speaker and will make a great addition to any room in your home. Not only does it allow you to play music directly from devices within 33 feet, but it also has gorgeous color-changing LED tubes, a built-in FM radio, and an AUX input.
If you're a coffee lover, you absolutely can’t go wrong with a Nespresso machine. With so many flavor capsules to choose from, you’ll be able to find the combination of your dreams. The machine makes coffee and espresso in several sizes: 5-, 8-, and 18-ounce coffees, and single and double espresso. The “revolutionary one-touch brewing system” utilizes barcode-scanning technology to guarantee the perfect brew in every single cup. This bundle comes with an Aeroccino for milk frothing, but you can totally skip it if your Amazon gift card won’t cover the bundle. And while you’re there, grab a bottle of Monin lavender syrup for your first brew—it’s life-changing.
If you prefer a cuppa (tea, not coffee) then consider spending your gift card bounty on this classic British royal-style teapot. The pumpkin-shaped pot is made of beautiful porcelain, plus it's dishwasher safe and holds around 28 ounces of liquid. It even comes with a removable stainless-steel infuser, which makes it perfect for loose-leaf and blooming teas. If you’re a color enthusiast, you’ll appreciate that this classy teapot matches Very Peri, the Pantone Color of the Year for 2022.
The winter months bring cozy nights and cuffing season, but they also bring seasonal affective disorder—a.k.a., SAD. If the shorter days and decreased sunlight have been messing with your mood, then consider a sun lamp. This Wake-Up Light sunrise alarm clock is a dupe of the more expensive Philips SmartSleep wake-up light, which retails for $100, but you're getting virtually the same thing here (and at a significant discount). This model offers seven colors, adjustable brightness, FM radio, and of course, an alarm. As the alarm goes off, the lamp lights up, simulating the rising sun and offering you a bright start to your day. It also doubles as a night light and plays up to seven nature sounds.
Wireless earbuds are everywhere because they’re wonderful. If you’ve got the gift card budget for it and you need a new pair, grab the Beats Studio Buds. The buds work with both iOS and Android devices and offer up to eight hours of playback time off a single charge. The buds are sweat- and water-resistant; they come with three soft ear-tips to ensure you find your perfect fit, and offer crisp call quality and voice-assistant interaction. You also have Active Noise Canceling (ANC) and Transparency modes for those moments you want to tune out the world around you. While Beats Studio Buds are technically from Apple, if you’d prefer to stay rooted in the ecosystem then there is always the AirPods lineup, too.
Buy them: Beats Studio Buds; Apple AirPods Pro
Because why wouldn’t you want chopsticks that light up and look like lightsabers? When you buy these, you’ll get four pairs, each a different color. Whether you keep them all for yourself or share them with family and friends, one thing is for sure: Sushi night will never be the same.
No kitchen is complete without a cast-iron skillet, and if you can then you should absolutely splurge on this beauty from Le Creuset. This heavyweight fry pan requires very little oil, which makes it an excellent choice for healthier cooking. The brand boasts that its enamel cast-iron skillet will heat evenly and resists stains and color fade. It also comes seasoned and ready to use right out of the box, so it's a great choice for cast-iron cooking novices.
You may have seen countless tarot readers on Twitter and TikTok and maybe you’ve been wanting to learn more. Do some research, learn about the origins of tarot, and then pick up your first pack. A tarot deck consists of 78 cards with images used as a tool for introspection. The Modern Witch Tarot Deck is brought to you by acclaimed artist Lisa Sterle, who takes “these symbols into contemporary life with vibrant art that celebrates the diversity, excitement, and energy of the new kind of magic that is happening in this world.” The Modern Witch Tarot Deck may bring answers to your questions about your past, present, and whatever else 2022 might have in store for you. Additionally, if you’d prefer a more pop culture-centric deck, this cute The Nightmare Before Christmas set could be a fun selection.
Buy Them: The Modern Witch Tarot Deck; The Nightmare Before Christmas Deck
Listen, life gets busy and sometimes, you only have time for one glass of wine. But what if you had a glass that fits an entire bottle? That’s where the XL wine glass comes in: It’s dishwasher safe, made of hand-blown glass, and best of all, it's cheap enough for you to get one for you and everyone in your squad.
Whether you’re already an avid reader or trying to build a habit, books are a great way to treat yourself. If one of your resolutions for the new year is to live more mindfully, self-help books could be worth grabbing with your gift card. Tabitha Brown's book, Feeding the Soul (Because It's My Business): Finding Our Way to Joy, Love, and Freedom, offers inspirational quotes, encouragement, and easy vegan recipes that could help you get 2022 off to a stellar start. After you’ve read that, consider Get Untamed: The Journal from Glennon Doyle and follow along with the writing exercises to learn how to stop people pleasing and start living more consciously. You may even want to check out James Clear’s Atomic Habits, which is all about breaking toxic cycles and developing goal-oriented strategies. Resolutions can be hard and this is a great way to keep stay on track.
Buy Them: Feeding the Soul (Because It’s My Business): Finding Our Way to Joy, Love, and Freedom by Tabitha Brown; Get Untamed: The Journal by Glennon Doyle; Atomic Habits by James Clear
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