Yet another holiday season has passed and many Americans have a new stack of gift cards to spend during post-holiday sales or throughout the year. For 2021, the average shopper spent about $200 on gift cards over the holiday season. that’s roughly a  five percent increase from 2020.

But what do you do with all those gift cards? Read on to find out:

Gift Card Basics

According to a Ben’s Bargains Gift Card Study of approximately 2,300 online shoppers, over 70 percent of the respondents received at least one gift card during the holiday season. In addition, more than a third of respondents received three or more gift cards during the holiday season.

After you receive a gift card, there are a number of simple steps you should take in order to properly manage your newly received gift.

1. Make a copy. If you are prone to misplacing gift cards, make a copy if you have a scanner / printer. If you do not have that hardware on hand, simply write down the gift card number and issuer’s toll-free number on a piece of paper. You could also take a photo of the card if you have a digital camera or smartphone. If for any reason that the card is lost, you will have a record in order to complete a purchase.
2. Read the terms and conditions. Not always found on the actual gift card, the terms and conditions outline restrictions, usage fees, expiration dates and time decay rate on the card. While many major retailers are lenient on these restrictions, major issuers of cash cards (American Express, Discover, MasterCard and Visa) can charge a fee for use after an expiration date on the actual card.
3. Check the balance before going shopping. The vast majority of retailers have online tools that allow gift card owners to check the balance of their card. In addition, the company will include a toll free number to check the same information. I like to check balances every few months, mostly because it acts as a reminder to utilize the card for purchases.

Managing Several Gift Cards

Another interesting fact from our recent study: over 45 percent of the respondents have lost a gift card at least once and nearly one fourth of all respondents have lost gift cards on multiple occasions. Regarding monetary value, approximately 40 percent of the respondents received gift cards this year totaling at least $100 and 10 percent breaking $250 in total value.

With such a large volume of cards being given each year, here are a few tips to help you better manage large quantities of gift cards:

1. Register your gift card. Usually a feature found on an online retail site, you can log into your account and apply the gift card immediately instead of waiting for a purchase. This is an ideal way to get the gift card ready for use without actually using it. If the card is limited to a brick & mortar location, it’s possible that the retailer could still allow you to register the card in case of theft or loss.
2. Turn multiple cards into one card. Some retailers offer gift card transfer options, specifically those that are limited to brick & mortar locations like restaurants. Starbucks, for instance, will allow you to transfer balances between gift cards as long as you have the gift card number and the security number (usually has to be scratched to be viewed). This is ideal if you received multiple gift cards for the same store, but don’t want to carry around all of them.
3. Look into smartphone app storage. There is an app available for both iOS and Android called Gyft. This application will allow you to store all your gift cards in one place, your smartphone. Rather than carrying all those cards around in your wallet or purse, the card information will be brought up on screen for use in a store. In turn, cards uploaded to Gyft can be added to Apple’s Passbook application for easy access with other cards like rewards cards.

What to do with Unwanted Gift Cards

When we asked our users about what gifts they dislike receiving each year, over 20 percent of respondents said that they do not like receiving gift cards. It’s likely that some people simply don’t like the impersonal nature of gift cards and others aren’t interested in the retailer. Of course, there are plenty of ways to get rid of gift cards in order to get something you actually want. Here are some ideas:

1. Sell your gift cards. In addition to auction sites like eBay, there are sites specifically dedicated to purchasing gift cards and are somewhat easier to deal with than the auction process. Utilizing sites like Raise and GiftCardGranny, you can sell your gift card for 50 to 90 percent of the total gift card value very quickly. People that use these services are typically paid cash through a Paypal transaction. However, be aware that eBay auctions are typically between 80 to 95 percent of the value of the card, but you will have to deal with additional eBay fees.
2. Donate your gift cards. If you simply don’t need the gift cards or the cash value, consider donating the cards through a service like DonorsChoose or your favorite local charity. Many nonprofits will accept gift cards in order to pay for needed items, like clothing or food for a homeless shelter. Think of it as a more honorable form of regifting. These donations are also tax-deductible, assuming you itemize those deductions during tax time.
3. Convert your gift cards. Interestingly, some retail establishments will allow you to convert your unwanted gift cards into reward points, airline miles or other gift cards. For instance, CVS allows you to convert another retailer’s gift card into a CVS gift card. The same goes for United airline miles and Best Buy reward points. If you received one of those prepaid Visa or MasterCard gift cards, a Reddit user discovered you can convert it into Google Wallet funds and use a physical Google Wallet card to withdraw those funds from an ATM.

The Complete Guide for Managing Your Gift Cards (so you don’t lose them)

I read a comment recently that “books are making a comeback.” The English major book lover in me was a little defensive at first, like “uh, when did they ever go away?” But I have to admit there might be some truth to that statement. There was such a race to make everything digital, and now that we’re basically there, maybe the pendulum has started to swing the other way just a little.

For the person that appreciates the weight of an actual book in their hands, the smell of that first crack open, the sound it makes when you quickly thumb through the pages, here are the best new(ish) giftable books of the 2021 holiday season.

Cooking & Entertaining Books

Best New Cookbook

Mister Jiu’s in Chinatown: Recipes and Stories from the Birthplace of Chinese American Food by Brandon Jew is much more than another Chinese food cookbook. This beautifully designed book interweaves recipes and cooking techniques with stories about Jew’s life growing up and starting a restaurant (now Michelin-starred!) in San Francisco’s Chinatown.

It features 90 recipes that are influenced by the melding of Chinese and American cultures, including Orange Chicken Wings, Sizzling Rice Soup, Spicy Crispy Peanuts, and Dutch Crunch BBQ Pork Buns.

MSRP: $40 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

Check Price on Amazon

Best Cookbook That Doubles as a Coffee Table Book

Black Food: Stories, Art, and Recipes from Across the African Diaspora by Bryant Terry is another cookbook that aims (and brilliantly succeeds at!) being much more than just a collection of recipes. Over 100 Black “cultural luminaires” from all over the world have contributed original poetry, essays, and yes, recipes for this visually stunning 320-pager.

As Bon Appétit writes in a review, “it’s almost hard to call it a cookbook, because you’ll be gaining more than a few recipes from it.”

MSRP: $40 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

Check Price on Amazon

Best Cookbook for Entertainers

Charcuterie (I still don’t know how to actually pronounce that) is having a moment right now. The kids who grew up begging their parents for Lunchables are real grown up adults now, but there’s still a part of us that desires to eat cheese and crackers for every meal.

Beautiful Boards: 50 Amazing Snack Boards for Any Occasion is cheese and crackers, but make it fancy. Okay, there’s a bit more than that here–it includes dinner boards, breakfast/brunch boards, dessert boards and even holiday themed boards. A fun one to have around now that in-person hangouts are a thing again!

MSRP: $25 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

Check Price on Amazon

Best Quirky Cookbook

Let’s Make Ramen!: A Comic Book Cookbook is described as a “hybrid cookbook/graphic novel” with 40 illustrated recipes/stories. A unique take on the standard cookbook format that reinforces that idea that cooking (and eating) should be fun. Also a great way to subtly “encourage” your teenager to start making their own gosh darn food!

The follow-up, Let’s Make Dumplings! was also released this year.

MSRP: $20 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

Check Price on Amazon

Best Cocktail Book

I mean, you’re gonna need drinks to go along with your The Batman viewing (out March 2022), and Gotham City Cocktails: Official Handcrafted Food & Drinks From the World of Batman is here to “save the day”.

It includes 70 drink and appetizer recipes based on characters and places from the Batman universe, including the Dark Nightcap (inspired by Batman) and The Full Deck (inspired by The Joker).

The runner-up in this category is clearly Can I Mix You a Drink? by T-Pain.

MSRP: $25 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

Check Price on Amazon

Travel, Pop Culture & Other Giftable Books for Adults

Best Travel Book

The Art of the National Parks is described by one Amazon reviewer as “The most beautiful thing I own.” It includes write-ups and really awesome art posters for 59 parks like Death Valley, Big Bend, and Grand Teton.

The Rainbow Atlas: A Guide to the World’s 500 Most Colorful Places also looks really cool.

MSRP: $45 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

Check Price on Amazon

Best Actual Coffee Table Book

Father/son duo Dan Levy and Eugene Levy are so wonderfully wholesome and adorable that I’d blindly buy whatever they decided to sell me. Thank goodness Best Wishes, Warmest Regards: The Story of Schitt’s Creek actually looks like it’s “simply the best”! This massive (368 page) book includes multiple pages of behind the scenes stories and commentary for every single episode.

If you somehow haven’t watched Schitt’s Creek yet, go do it now and don’t come back until you’ve finished. Then immediately watch it again with this book in hand. I love this journey for you.

MSRP: $40 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

Check Price on Amazon

Best New Memoir

Dave Grohl has done everything else, so he might as well write a book. In The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music, the self-proclaimed “guy from Nirvana” turned leader of the Foo Fighters turned Emmy-winning director, shares the lessons he’s learned from 30 years in the entertainment business.

I’m really hoping he also shares what was going through his mind when he went against Animal from the Muppets in this epic drum-off!

MSRP: $30 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

Check Price on Amazon

Best New Humor Book

It seems you really love Seth Rogen or you really hate Seth Rogen. I happen to be in the first camp so sorry/not sorry, Yearbook has made the list. In his debut book, the writer of true masterpieces like Superbad and Pineapple Express shares a collection of personal essays sure to make you laugh.

And if don’t, no need to worry, it comes with a guarantee of sorts: “I hope you enjoy the book should you buy it, and if you don’t enjoy it, I’m sorry. If you ever see me on the street and explain the situation, I’ll do my best to make it up to you.”

MSRP: $28 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

Check Price on Amazon

Best Gift for the Tolkien Fan

Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien comes out on 12/14, right in time for gifting! Includes original watercolor paintings, sketches and drawings of places and events from The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion. J.R.R. Tolkien’s son, Christopher Tolkien, selected the pieces that are included in this collection.

The Hobbit & The Lord of the Rings Boxed Set: Illustrated Edition is another gorgeous (and expensive) gift idea for the Tolkien lover in your life.

MSRP: $35 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

Check Price on Amazon

Best Graphic Novel

2021 is not the first time Frank Herbert’s Dune has been adapted into movie form, but it is the first time the beloved sci-fi epic has been transformed into graphic novel format. DUNE: The Graphic Novel, Book 1: Dune: Deluxe Collector’s Edition is a nice (very lovely packaged) step between watching the new film and jumping right into the bazillion page original novel.

MSRP: $50 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

Check Price on Amazon

Best Comic Book Collection

One of the biggest movies this holiday season will no doubt be Spider-Man: No Way Home. Instead of buying whatever book adaptation they come out with, why not go back to the beginning. Mighty Marvel Masterworks: The Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 1 contains the original Amazing Spider-Man issues 1 through 10 (from 1963!) in one book–that’s 256 pages to discover what made the world fall in love with Spidey in the first place.

There are 54 other volumes waiting when you’re done!

MSRP: $16 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

Check Price on Amazon

Best Special Edition Boxed Set

One of these days we will get Breath of the Wild 2, but in the meantime, Zelda fans can enjoy the The Legend of Zelda Legendary Edition Manga Box Set. It includes five volumes of the The Legend of Zelda manga series, an exclusive poster drawn by author Akira Himekawa and a super cool storage chest.

MSRP: $125 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

Check Price on Amazon

Best Reference Book

Feeling overwhelmed and confused by the multiverses and variant timelines going on in all the latest Marvel shows and movies? Periodic Table of Marvel is available to help make sense of it all.

This new release profiles 130 characters from the MCU and promises to “reveal the properties that bind them, the catalysts that created them, the chain reactions that energize them, and the underlying structures and formulas that underpin the Marvel Universe.”

Sadly it doesn’t look like Alligator Loki is included, but hopefully he’s working out his own origin story book deal as we speak.

MSRP: $20 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

Check Price on Amazon

Best Poetry Book

Call Us What We Carry: Poems by Amanda Gorman has to be the most highly anticipated poetry collection in a very long time. The presidential inaugural poet/rising star’s debut will be released on 12/7, and she already has a deal with Penguin Random House for two more books to follow. Her children’s book, Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem, also just came out in September.

The historic poem that started it all, The Hill We Climb : An Inaugural Poem is also available in gifable book form. Girl’s been busy!

MSRP: $25 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

Check Price on Amazon

Kids & Babies Books

Best Pop Up Book

Jurassic World: The Ultimate Pop-Up Book  is Matthew Reinhart’s newest pop-up book, but literally everything he’s done is awesome.  Simply calling these books seems wrong–they are true works of art! Out 12/7, this new one includes scenes from all the Jurassic Park and Jurassic World films.

Keeping my fingers crossed for a pop-up of the T-Rex eating guy in porta potty scene.

MSRP: $73 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

Check Price on Amazon

Best Book for New Babies (and their Parents)

O is for Old School: A Hip Hop Alphabet for B.I.G. Kids Who Used to be Dope is one that’s really for the moms and dads. Promises to make you “freshest parent in your playgroup while your kid learns their ABCs like a G.”.

ABCs for the little g’s The Remix is another funny alphabet book–for young sneaker heads in training!

MSRP: $16 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

Check Price on Amazon

Best Kids’ Picture Book

A Pizza with Everything on It starts with a premise as mundane as choosing pizza toppings and culminates in the destruction of the universe! This silly and heartwarming debut from popular TikToker Kyle Scheele is getting wonderful reviews. Would be a cute one to gift along with a pizza place gift card and/or pizza making supplies.

I also can’t not mention The Office: A Day at Dunder Mifflin Elementary here. Looks like it would make a great present for a young Office fan, because as we all know, “Presents are the best way to show how much you care. It’s a tangible thing you can point at and say, ‘Hey man, I love you. This many dollars worth.’”

MSRP: $18 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

Check Price on Amazon

Best Girl Power Kids’ Book

Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls 3-Book Gift Set contains the first three volumes of the Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls series–that’s 300 stories of extraordinary real-life women told in fairytale form. Volume 4: 100 Real-Life Tales of Black Girl Magic was just released this fall and can also be purchased on its own.

And finally, just because I really like Jane Austen, A Most Clever Girl: How Jane Austen Discovered Her Voice looks absolutely delightful.

MSRP: $72 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

Check Price on Amazon

2021 Gift Guide: Best Giftable Books

We’ve reached the point where everything under the sun must be “smart” or have Bluetooth or connect with an app. Sometimes these features seem pointless, sometimes they are just straight laughable (smart egg carton, really?). But other times the tech components are actually pretty cool. Here are some of the best toys of 2018 that use technology to really enhance the play and learning experience.

Best Coding Toy

Kano is known for making some of best STEM toys available today, the most popular being their Kano Computer Kit ($250). So when my 6 year old started asking about some “real Harry Potter wand” he wanted, and I found out it was made by this brand, I got really excited! The Kano Harry Potter Wand Coding Kit is basically a wand that kids can program to respond to their movements, and make stuff happen on a tablet or computer screen.

There’s a lot of Harry Potter stuff out right now (it was the 20th anniversary this year!), but this toy looks like it really got it right. So far it has almost perfect reviews on Amazon (4.8/5 stars); “Magical meets educational!” says one.

MSRP: $100 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: $75

Check Price on Amazon

Best Invention Toy

Building off the success of their popular Star Wars Droid Inventor’s Kit from last season, littlebits has released the new littleBits Marvel Avengers Hero Inventor Kit, and it looks pretty cool.  Kids can build and customize an interactive electronic super hero gauntlet, then use the free app to “train” with it.

If you’re more Star Wars than superheroes, the Droid Inventor’s Kit mentioned above has dropped in price (currently $70 at Amazon) and continues to get great reviews.

• MSRP: $150 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: $105

Check Price on Amazon

Best Budget Robot Toy

There are about a million robot toys to choose from right now, and the quality seems to be all over the place. The Boxer Interactive A.I. Robot makes the list because he (she?) is priced right, isn’t overly complicated, and is getting super solid reviews. There’s no programming component on this one, but Boxer boasts “personality and emotions”, and comes with 10 activity cards that allow you to play games like bot bowling, paddle bot or go kart. There’s also a free app that unlocks additional games.

For younger kids who aren’t quite ready to build or code their own bot, this one looks like it’s a lot of fun to play with right out of the box.

MSRP: $80 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: $54

Check Price on Amazon

Best High End Robot Toy

On the not so cheap end of the robot toy spectrum is the new Anki Vector Voice-Controlled Robot, which raised an astonishing $1.8 million on Kickstarter last year. Billed as “a robot sidekick for your home,” it’s part smart home device, part adorable tiny bot. It can answer questions, take photos, set timers, give you a weather report, and navigates and self-charges independently.

While reviews are saying Vector hasn’t quite brought The Jetsons to life, yet, it looks like a lot of fun for adults and kids alike.

MSRP: $250 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: $175

Check Price on Amazon

Best Smart Speaker for Kids

You may be reading this thinking, “wait, what? Why does a kid need a smart speaker?” And I kind of thought the same thing until I read more about the new Amazon Echo Dot Kids Edition. The kids’ edition basically does all the same things as the regular Amazon Echo Dot, but the special thing worth mentioning here is that it comes with a year of Amazon’s FreeTime Unlimited service. FreeTime gives your kids access to tons of apps and games, kid-friendly radio stations, Alexa Skills lessons, customizable alarms, plus over 1000 Audible books for kids.

There’s also a parent dashboard that allows you to set daily time limits, see what content your kids have accessed, and even use the speaker as a two-way intercom when you don’t feel like shouting up the stairs when it’s time for dinner.

They retail for $70, but you can currently get $30 off if you buy two, making it $110 for a pair.

MSRP: $70 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

Check Price on Amazon

Best Old School Tech Toy

When my 6 year old asked to buy an old Sony digital camcorder at Goodwill last summer, I said yes mostly because it was only $6.99, and didn’t expect him to do much with it. But it’s been one of his most played with “toys” ever! Yes, there are cameras made specifically for kids (the Vtech Kiddiezoom is probably the most popular), but compact digital video cameras have gotten so inexpensive, you might as well get your kid something that can capture quality videos/images.

The Sony Handycam HDRCX240/L 1080p Digital Video Camera is currently around $120 refurbished from Amazon, but you should be able to find even cheaper models on eBay, or if you don’t mind used, Craigslist.

Not only do kids love playing around with a video camera, you’ll be surprised how entertaining and fun the footage they end up with is! Having the world documented from their point of view will be well worth the price of the camera.

MSRP: $199 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

Best Hybrid Building/Tech Toy

With their LEGO Boost Creative Toolbox Building and Coding Kit, LEGO is branching out from their popular Mindstorms robotics line, and has made a tech/building combo toy that is more accessible, and much less expensive. While Mindstorms has a focus on the coding and programming side of robots, LEGO Boost looks like it’s mostly about the building. It also costs almost $200 less!

With LEGO Boost, kids (7 to 12) can build multiple robots, and use the “LEGO Move Hub” and an app to make them come to life. The kit is compatible with regular old LEGO pieces, so there’s the option to really get creative and make the robots their own.

Now in it’s second holiday season, you might be able to find it for under $100 by the time Christmas rolls around.

• MSRP: $160 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: $103

Check Price on Amazon

Best Gaming Tech Toy

Nintendo is having a good couple of years! The Switch has really taken off, and one of the cooler concepts to come out in the wave of new game releases is their Nintendo Labo crafting/gaming hybrid. Kids can make physical projects, then “bring them to life” on the screen. The popular Nintendo Labo Variety Kit has everything needed to create two RC cars, a fishing rod, a house, a  motorbike, and a piano. You can even use the motorbike in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe!

• MSRP: $70 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: $45

Check Price on Amazon

Best iPad Add-On/Kids’ Tablet Alternative

If you don’t want to get your child their own “kids’ tablet”, the Osmo Genius Starter Kit will turn your existing iPad into a hands-on learning device. This highly rated set includes five games that teach math, spelling, visual thinking, problem solving, and creative drawing skills through a unique mix of on-screen tech and physical pieces.

Perhaps the best part is that this kit is designed to grow with your child, adjusting to their skill level through the age of 5 all the way up to 12.

Once you have the Starter Kit, there are tons of additional games you can purchase, like the newly released Osmo Super Studio Incredibles 2 Drawing Game ($20).

MSRP: $100 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: $70

Check Price on Amazon

Best STEM Board Game

I don’t know if this one really qualifies as a “tech toy”, but I’m including it anyway because I think it looks really interesting. Circuit Maze Board Game has budding electrical engineers (8 years old and up) arranging tokens to create real circuits and win challenges. Looks a lot like the popular Snap Circuits toys, but in game form. Reviews are mostly positive, and the price is very affordable compared to a lot of STEM toys out there.

• MSRP: $30 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

Check Price on Amazon

2018 Holiday Gift Guide: Tech Toys Worth Buying

Have you ever chosen snoozing over your job?

For some of us, it’s a critical decision we make every single day of our lives. Those first moments in the early morning are a chaotic warzone where your primal love of sleep battles a gradually growing voice of reason. Regular alarm clocks don’t wake us up.  They just make us go back to sleep angry.

We’re not alone. There are many of us who, try as we might, just can’t succumb to the sweet wiles of responsibility.

For people that need extra help getting up, there’s a whole industry of alarm clocks that go the extra mile… to hell! These evil alarm clocks are the last thing we want in the morning, but exactly what we need.

Below, we list the 5 evilest alarm clocks, organized from least to most evil.

Sonic Bomb Dual Alarm Clock with Bed Shaker

If the bed is rockin’… maybe you should get up. The Sonic Bomb Dual Alarm Clock with Bed Shaker ($33.26) is designed specifically for people who sleep through most alarms, not really snoozers. The first assault is a 113-decibel sound blast that dwarves most alarms, coupled with a pulsating light show. But the heavy artillery is the vibrator unit placed under the bed or mattress. This desperate measure works miracles with even the heaviest sleeper.

Buy the Sonic Bomb Dual Alarm Clock with Bed Shaker Now

Walk Me Up! Alarm Clock App

You’re up, but so what? It won’t stay that way for long… unless you get moving. The Walk Me Up! Alarm Clock App (Free App) requires you to walk a certain amount of steps before the alarm turns off. You set up the number of steps you want, and can modify the step sensitivity. And don’t try to cheat! The advanced “shake” detectors will punish disobedience.

Buy the Walk Me Up! Alarm Clock App Now

Screaming Meanie

The Screaming Meanie ($31.95) is another alarm designed to wake up heavy sleepers, except with no pretense of courtesy. The reviews read like confessions from an S&M forum (“it just about blew me out of bed, and all I could think was ‘make it stop! make it stop!'”).

This loudmouth comes with three settings of audio levels similar to a vacuum cleaner, a lawnmower, and a full-throttle chainsaw. Many alarms only claim to hit 120 decibels, but real customers confirm this was one, unfortunately, really does.

Buy the Screaming Meanie Now

Alarmy (Sleep If U Can) Alarm App

Don’t be fooled by the cutesy name of the Alarmy (Sleep If U Can) Alarm App (Free App). It’s nickname of “The World’s Most Annoying Alarm App” is more accurate.

This user-friendly, user-hating technology only shuts off when the sleeper completes mild tasks. The most common is taking a picture in a specified location (where you first register the app), so for example, it won’t shut off until you take a picture of the toilet. Other options include a number of shakes and brain-waking arithmetic.

Buy the Alarmy (Sleep If U Can) Alarm App Now

SnūzNLūz Wifi Donation Clock

Last, we arrive at the evilest alarm clock in the world. The games are over, and this clock is not f*cking around. Instead of relying on gimmicks like loud noise or tasks, the SnūzNLūz Wifi Donation Clock ($39.99) uses psychological — and financial — warfare. Every time you snooze, it donates $10 or more to a charity/non-profit you hate.

While alarm clocks that shred your real money turned out to be illegal, this one uses a wifi connection to your bank account in order to waste your money responsibly. You choose the donation amount (at least $10) and recipient — anyone from the Republican Party, PETA, or your neighbor with the loud dog. This is the only clock that gets in your head to wake you up from the inside out.

Buy the SnūzNLūz Wifi Donation Clock Now

5 Evil Alarm Clocks That Will Force Snooze Addicts to Wake Up

There are a lot of toys out there. And they’re all trying to get your kids’ attention by being the coolest, the greatest, the most extremely ultimate toy that the world has ever seen.

So which toys live up to the hype? Here are some of the best toys of 2017, that should actually get played with long after the holidays are over.

Best Toy for Vehicle Loving Kids (and Their Parents!)

The Anki Overdrive: Fast & Furious Edition Starter Set is a fun upgrade to the super popular app-controlled car racing set from Anki. The Fast & Furious Edition includes “Supercars” inspired the movies, the ability to upgrade with weapons, and a new Power Zone track piece that disables your opponents. This was a collaboration just waiting to happen, and reviews are saying it’s a blast to play with.

If you don’t care about the movie tie-ins, I would expect we’ll see some nice price drops on the regular old Anki Overdrive this season (we saw it as low as $100 last November/December).

• MSRP: $170 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

Check Price on Amazon

Best Toy for Christmas Morning Battles & Beyond

There have been many attempts at inexpensive laser tag sets, but most have failed to take off because of bad reviews. The LASER X Two Player Laser Tag Gaming Set seems to have finally gotten it right! The starter set comes with two blasters and two receiver vests (200′ range), and can be expanded with additional one-player sets ($25 each). The reviews at Target are great, with one writing, “It is a rare toy that mom, dad, 12 year old and 9 year old all play at once and end smiling not fighting.”

• MSRP: $50 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: $34

Check Price on Amazon

Best Toy Robot

Past years’ have given us robot dinosaurs, robot dogs, robot balls. This year we have the Meccano MeccaSpider, and it looks about as awesome as it sounds. Designed for kids 10 and older, the MeccaSpider can be programmed in multiple ways after being built, and has some fun features built-in, like an IR sensor that senses movement and can even spray “venom” (water) at whoever comes in its path. 

• MSRP: $100 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: $67

Check Price on Amazon

Best RC Toy with Ridiculous Over the Top Features

Okay so we’ll get the bad news out of the way: the DC Justice League App-Controlled Ultimate Batmobile RC Vehicle has an MSRP of $250. But if you’re a Batman fan, your kid you’ll want it anyway. It’s got a POV camera in the cockpit, Batman figure with an arm that actually turns the wheel, real smoke that comes out of the exhaust pipe…just watch the video.

Not a lot of reviews out yet (it doesn’t actually come out until 11/1), but it certainly looks cool.

• MSRP: $250 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: $187

Check Price on Amazon

Best Building Toy

Obviously the best building toy is going to be a LEGO set, the question is which LEGO set! If you spent all your money on the Batmobile above and can’t swing $800 for the new LEGO Millennium Falcon (the biggest set they’ve ever made), the next best thing this year might be the LEGO Ninjago City Set. Also massive, and filled with incredible details, the 3-level, 4867-piece Ninjago City looks looks like an awesome set, even if you’re not into the Ninjago series. I saw it in-person at the LEGO Store and was pretty blown away.

On the not $300 or $800 end of the LEGO spectrum, the LEGO Ninjago Movie Green Ninja Mech Dragon is big and awesome for $50, and the new LEGO Brick Heads ($9.99 each) look like they were basically made to be stocking stuffers.

• MSRP: $300 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

Check Price on LEGO

Best Toy for Little Superheroes

Every year there is some Batman toy that every little kid has to have, and this year it’s the Fisher-Price Imaginext DC Super Friends Batbot Xtreme. My son (5 years old) has been telling people, “I’m getting that Batbot that’s as big as my sister for Christmas.” And while the comparison is not 100% accurate, this thing is really big (almost 3 feet tall), and looks like it will cause a lot of squeals and excitement come Christmas morning.

I’m a big fan of the Imaginext toys in general–they are well-designed, nearly impossible to break, and the kids actually play with them.

• MSRP: $110 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: $64

Check Price on Amazon

Best Learning Toy for Toddlers

Because kids only play with “toddler toys” for maybe a year or so, the pick for this category has to be fairly inexpensive. The LeapFrog Scoop & Learn Ice Cream Cart retails at an affordable $40, and we’ve already seen it closer to $20 on sale. It comes with a cute magnetic ice cream scooper, cash register, and “order cards” for young toddlers to follow. So far the reviews are almost universally positive (4.9/5 stars on Amazon). 

If you want to go a little bigger (or have a really hipster toddler), the Fisher Price Laugh & Learn Servin’ Up Fun Food Truck is another cute food-related playset this year.

• MSRP: $40 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: $22

Check Price on Amazon

Best Toy You’ll Drive Yourself Crazy Trying to Find

Last year it was Hatchimals; way back when it was Cabbage Patch Dolls, then Tickle Me Elmo and Furbies. This year the toy that everybody seems to be looking for is WoWee Fingerlings. They’re little “interactive” monkeys that hang onto your finger and do stuff, or something. They also make a unicorn version (that has been out of stock forever). The demand for these things is so great that people are selling fakes all over Amazon and eBay. Definitely only buy these from big box stores (or if it’s Amazon.com as the seller).

If you can find them, they’re only $15 retail, and weirdly kind of adorable.

• MSRP: $15 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

Check Price on Amazon

Best Star Wars Toy

With the Last Jedi coming out this December, it feels wrong not to include one of the new Star Wars toys on this list. A lot of the 2017 toys have gotten “meh” reviews, but that is definitely not the case for the Star Wars The Black Series Poe Dameron Electronic X-Wing Pilot Helmet. Seriously, read the reviews on Amazon; they love it. One says it’s “200% worth the money.”

It’s got sound effects, polarizing visor, speech projector, and it fits adult heads as well as children’s so you can live out your 8-year-old dreams when your kid goes to bed.

• MSRP: $80 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: $48

Check Price on Amazon

Best Toy That Will Take Up Half Your Living Room

Big toys are kind of annoying, especially if they take up a ton of space but don’t actually get used much. I can pretty much guarantee that the Step2 Disney Pixar Cars 3 Up & Down Roller Coaster Ride-On (or any other roller coaster toy) will be worth the living space it takes up. Perfect for keeping active little kids entertained during the colder months! Kids as young as 1 can enjoy this, but my 5 year old still thinks it’s fun, too. It can even double as a ramp for Hot Wheels cars or other toy vehicles.

Note that Kohls will have a non-Cars version of this for $50 on Black Friday; pretty great price if you can snag one!

• MSRP: $100 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: $67

Check Price on Amazon

2017 Holiday Gift Guide: Toys that Live Up to the Hype

It’s no big deal that you forgot Mother’s Day. You’re just a horrible son or daughter with no appreciation for the tireless sacrifices of the woman that gave you life, that’s all. But fear not — there’s still a few more hours to save your soul, and nothing says “I love you” more than paying a little extra for overnight shipping.

1. Fire Tablet

You can’t put into words how much you love your mother, but if you had to put a monetary value on it, it’d be around 40 bucks. Perfect, because Amazon is giving away their Fire Tablet at 20% off for only $39.99. Don’t worry if you don’t know what her hobbies are — this thing does it all! Mom deserves the best, doesn’t she… especially when the best is on sale.

Buy the Fire Tablet Now

2. Mira Bracelet Fitness Tracker

Is your mom one of those hot moms that likes to stay in shape? I already know she is She’ll love this Mira Bracelet, which doubles as a fitness tracker. Fashionable people tell me that standard fitness trackers aren’t very chic, but this one looks just like a stylish accessory. On sale now for $99.

Buy the Mira Bracelet Now

3. Kindle E-reader

Remember when you thought your mom was the smartest person in the world? Well, she does, and she’ll do anything to get that power back. Amazon’s offering a mother’s day sale, with their Kindle E-reader 25% off at $59.99. She has some reading to catch up on anyway, seeing as she was busy the last few decades raising you.

Buy the Kindle E-reader Now

4. Koolife Knife Sharpener

Is it generalizing and a little sexist to say every mother loves to cook? Absolutely it is, but since they all do, without exception, it’s okay. Your master chef mother will appreciate how easy it is to sharpen her cooking knives with the Koolife Knife Sharpener — and you will appreciate how this originally $90 cooking tool is only $13.99 at 84% off. Your mother will never know how much you skimped… but your conscience will.

Buy the Koolife Knife Sharpener Now

5. Valek Embossing Rolling Pins

Did someone say mothers like to cook? The Etsy store Valek Rolling Pins does quirky embossing rolling pins for your quirky mom. If you really loved her, you would have thought of getting a personalized one in advance… but since you’re only lukewarm about the woman that brought you into this world, you can choose from the regular themes like Game of Thrones, Star Wars, different foods and flowers — even “Mother’s Day” — and pretend like you got it customized just for her.

Buy a Valek Embossing Rolling Pin Now

6. Succulent Living Wall Planter Kit

What’s the problem? None of those other gifts seemed personal enough to give your mother? My, aren’t you thoughtful for someone that forgot all about Mother’s Day until a day or two before. Fine, try the Succulent Living Wall Planter Kit. It’s unique, it’s fun, it’s thoughtful, and it’s the perfect gift that seems to say, “I was bought for you plenty of time in advance.”

Buy the Succulent Living Wall Planter Kit Now

7. BloomThat Flower Delivery

Ah, flowers. The perfect mother’s day present that she’ll love and that you can buy quickly and in a hurry. BloomThat Flower Delivery knows perfectly well how important it is to say “I love you” when you’re rushed and probably guilty of something. Choose mom’s favorite type of flower (or, y’know, “Roses or something”), pay, and then sit back and enjoy the satisfaction that you’ve done your bare minimum responsibility as offspring. BloomThat offers next-day delivery to the entire continental U.S., and same-day delivery to New York City and the Bay Area in California.

Send Flowers with BloomThat Now

Oh Crap, I Forgot Mother’s Day! 7 Last Minute Gift Ideas

Wait just a minute, is Valentine’s Day actually easier for guys than we think? According to the results of our Valentine’s Day survey of 1,500 consumers, the answer is yes. Here’s why:

• The Plan: Nearly 7 out of 10 women would prefer to make Valentine’s Day plans as a joint decision rather than simply doing what men organized for the night. Less than 50 percent of men thought the same. While men still need to bring some ideas to the table, simply having a chat with your significant other can significantly reduce the stress of planning a romantic night.
• The Bill: While nearly two-thirds of men believe it’s their duty to pick up the check, more than 40 percent of women believe that the couple should split the cost of all Valentine’s Day expenses right down the middle. Once again, a quick conversation about splitting the dinner bill before going out on Valentine’s Day night can help reduce stress over the budget.
• The Date: A night out for dinner was the top choice among both men and women when we asked what they wanted on Valentine’s Day, so you really can’t go wrong with a night out on the town. In addition, more than 70 percent of women indicated that they either like or love Valentine’s Day compared to only 40 percent of men. Even if men don’t like the holiday, just making an effort can go a long way to making their significant other happy.

Successfully Avoid These Common Mistakes

It’s obvious that guys are probably assuming too many responsibilities for Valentine’s Day, thus the stress builds. A little communication will probably go a long way to reducing that stress. However, beware of some potential minefields such as:

• The Benjamins: Don’t assume that she will spend the same amount of money that you are planning to spend on her. According to our survey results, approximately 38 percent of men are planning to spend over $100 on Valentine’s Day, more than 10 percent over $200. Alternatively, only 20 percent of women will be spending over $100 and 46 percent will spend less than $50. If you do chat about splitting the bill, make sure you talk about budget as well.
• The Perfect Gift: Think about what she actually wants and would make her happy. If you are thinking lingerie, think again. First off, that’s a gift enjoyed by men. Secondly, it ranked at the bottom of our survey results along with impersonal gift cards and electronics. A card and a thoughtful gift will go a long way and avoid the situation depicted by Saturday Night Live in the video here.

• The Perfect Gift, Part Deux: Don’t assume that she will purchase what you really want for Valentine’s Day. According to our study, the Valentine’s Day gift that’s most sought after by men, after a night out, was electronics. Unfortunately, only 4 percent of women are considering electronics as a gift this year. In other words, drop some hints.
• The Admiral Ackbar: Did she tell you that she didn’t want a gift this year? You should probably play this on a loop for the next hour.

Plan the Day like a Pro

If men really want to impress their significant other, you can knock it out of the park by focusing on two areas, the flowers and the dinner. Everything else will fall into place.

According to our survey data, women want flowers nearly as much as a night out. It beat out receiving a card, candy or jewelry, so here are a few tips on the floral front.

• The Florist: If you have time, visit your local florist and buy local. Florists are likely to take the best care of flowers, compared to warehouse or grocery stores. While prices may be higher, there’s usually room for bargaining at a locally owned shop.
• The Speed Test: When buying online, fast shipping is vital. Roses, for instance, are kept in refrigerated chambers, typically less than 36 degrees. The moment that they are removed and shipped, you want to receive them ASAP to avoid wilting. Use online deals on the flowers to help offset the cost of fast shipping.

• The Options: Don’t assume that you have to get roses. There are plenty of other flowers in season and the money you spend on flowers will go much further. Flowers like orchids, jasmine and hyacinth tend to be cheaper during February. You can always pick up a single red rose and deliver it during the date.
• The Right Color: If you do go with roses, you need to buy red. Not pink, not orange, not white. Not lavender, not coral, not peach. And if you purchase yellow roses, just pack up your things and get ready to set sail into the friend zone. While whoever assigned these arbitrary meanings to rose colors was probably a sadist, it’s impossible to ignore at this point. Just buy red.

[table caption=”Valentine’s Day Flower Deals” width=”620″ colwidth=”5|20|65|10″ colalign=”center|center|center|center”]

,Store,Deal,Price

1,Living Social,$30 1-800-Flowers Credit,$13

[/table]

So you’ve got the flowers down? Let’s move on to dinner. Here are a few tips to help plan your night.

• The Empty Wallet: If you are light on funds, consider cooking dinner for your significant other. Better yet, plan the entire menu and ask her to help you cook. You can go a long way with candles on the dinner table and a home-cooked meal. If you must go out, consider opening up a bottle of champagne or wine at home first in order to offset the additional cost of alcohol at dinner.
• The Packed Joint: If you haven’t booked a place yet, you need to book now. A week or two in advance is best, but you might be able to get away with a few days. In any case, you won’t be able to make a reservation on the morning of February 14. You can also try OpenTable’s mobile app to search for last minute openings. In addition, beware of special menus since many restaurants increase prices on Valentine’s Day.

• The Ambiance: Trying to book a reservation at the trendy, expensive spot in town? Why bother if it’s loud? Look for a place where you can have a conversation without yelling over the noise. That will help in the romance department as well.
• The Home Run: Combine dinner and flowers into a one-two punch. Many restaurants will agree to special requests like bringing a large bouquet of flowers to the table when you arrive or at the end of the meal. If you are light on funds, consider dropping off your card at the restaurant early and having the waitstaff tuck it into her menu as a surprise.

In conclusion, stick to the game plan above and you will have a stress-free Valentine’s Day. There’s really not that much to stress out about if you stick to the basics.

This is why guys shouldn’t dislike Valentine’s Day

Do you have a friend who just woke up from a 40-year coma? Are you trying to convert your significant other into a Star Wars fan before The Force Awakens comes out? We can help!

Star Wars Complete Saga on Blu-ray

Something of a no-brainer (a conclusion that Jar-Jar could reach in a few hours), someone will need to see all the previous Star Wars films before watching The Force Awakens. (MSRP: $140)

Check Sale Price on Amazon

Star Wars: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know

Ideal for someone who needs a refresher course on everything that’s occurred in the Star Wars universe to date, this book will help explain relationships and the complex dichotomy of the universe. (MSRP: $20)

Check Sale Price on Amazon

Chewbacca Leather Messenger Bag

We like to give this stylish messenger bag to people who have no idea who Chewbacca is. It makes it that much more fun when random strangers yell Wookiee roars at them on the street. (MSRP: $90)

Check Sale Price on Amazon

Star Wars Character Encyclopedia

Great for anyone who confuses R2-D2 with C-3PO, the Star Wars character encyclopedia will help newbies identify the massive amount of characters in the films. There’s also a LEGO version of the book for kids! (MSRP: $17)

Check Sale Price on Amazon

The Music of Star Wars: 30th Anniversary Collector’s Edition

Ideal for anyone who’s already a big John Williams fan, the 30th anniversary collection offers eight CDs with all the music from the films. (MSRP: $45)

Check Sale Price on Amazon

5 Superb Gifts for Someone Brand New to Star Wars

You may know someone like this. They can amazingly recite lines or remember character names from all seven movies with no less than a second of hesitation. They can talk to you at length about Who Shot First and how Lucas’s revisions of the original trilogy were an abomination. These gifts are for them, in the hopes that they don’t already have piles of branded toast.

R2-D2 / Darth Vader Shower heads

Let’s be honest here, who wouldn’t want to bath in the tears of the Dark Lord of the Sith? Also available in a water-spewing R2-D2 model, this shower head includes three powerful spray settings, a rubber grip designed to reduce slipping and a lever to adjust water pressure. The R2-D2 model sells for $25 and Darth is priced at a $30 MSRP, exclusively at Bed, Bath & Beyond.

Check Price on Bed, Bath & Beyond

Han Solo in Carbonite Fridge

What better way to keep your drinks cold than the freezing cold stasis of carbonite? Complete with red LED lighting to highlight poor Han, the mini-fridge includes two removable shelves with a total capacity of up to 18 soft drinks. Other features include a handle at the top for easy transport and a locking mechanism on the door to prevent drinks or snarky smugglers from spilling out. (MSRP: $150)

Check Price on ThinkGeek

Imperial Automotive Floor Mats

Ideal for decking out your car in favor of the Imperials, these car mats are available in Stormtrooper white and Darth Vader black. Made out of a PVC vinyl material, the mats are easy to keep clean with just soap and water from time to time. (MSRP: $40 a set)

Check Sale Price on Amazon

X-Wing Knife Block

Apply a little Force to this set of knives and you will be chopping lamb for Yoda’s Rootleaf Stew in no time as all. Designed to look like Luke’s X-Wing fighter, this set includes five knives (Cook’s, Break, Carving, Utility & Paring). The base has been weighted to prevent tipping when the knifes are on display. (MSRP: $99)

Check Sale Price on Amazon

Darth Vader Toaster

Molded in black plastic in the shape of Vader’s helmet, this toaster will delight Star Wars fans and likely horrify visiting in-laws. On each slice of bread, the toaster imprints the phrase “Star Wars” on one side. It comes with a removable crumb tray, reheat, defrost, and quick stop functions as well as an adjustable thermostat. It will also laugh in the face of your gluten allergy. (MSRP: $50)

Check Sale Price on Amazon

Glowing Lightsaber Umbrella

Available in red, blue, green, purple, sky blue, yellow and white, the glowing lightsaber umbrella both protects your head from the rain as well as provides lighting at night. While you can find less expensive versions of this design either sans the lightsaber handle or sans the glowing light, this is the only model that includes both. (MSRP: $55)

Check Price on Fancy

Death Star Beanbag

Measuring 31-inches across, the Death Star beanbag is large enough for either kids or adults who want to plop down in front of the TV to watch the original trilogy. The outer slip cover is removable for easy washing, but the evil price tag is probably what the Emperor would charge Stormtroopers who wanted one for their barracks. Still, it could make for a killer decoration in a DIY Star Wars home theater. (MSRP: $150)

Check Price on Pottery Barn

TIE Fighter Nutcracker

Demolish the pathetic nut rebellion with your TIE Fighter nutcracker. Crafted out of steel, the shelling power of this nutcracker may be even more forceful than Vader’s death grip. (MSRP: $70)

Check Sale Price on Amazon

Yoda Candy Holder

Eat Snickers, we must! Outfitted with a removable plastic bowl, our favorite green Jedi Master will hold up a bowl of candy for your guests at your next party. Yoda stands roughly a foot and a half tall and is ideal for kitchen counters. (MSRP: $35)

Check Sale Price on Amazon

 Tauntaun Sleeping Bag

Seriously, who hasn’t wanted to pretend they were Luke Skywalker comfortably wrapped in the intestines of a Tauntaun? Enter the Tauntaun sleeping bag, complete with details such as saddle, simulated Tauntaun fur and a lightsaber zipper to open up the sleeping bag. It also includes an embroidered Tauntaun head pillow for sweet dreams about freezing planets and angry Wampas. (MSRP: $150)

Check Price on ThinkGeek

Death Star Ice Cube Maker

Quite possibly the fastest way to destroy the Death Star, this ice cube mold recreates the iconic Death Star design in the form of a giant ice cube. Besides ice, reviews indicate that the mold can be used for other molds, such as a butter mold for a family meal. (MSRP: $10)

Check Sale Price on Amazon

11 Unique Star Wars Gifts for the Fan Who has Everything

While receiving gifts is always fun, giving gifts is substantially more rewarding, especially when the recipient has a unique reaction.

Frantic screaming, incredulous remarks, tears of joy, it’s all covered below. Make sure to adjust the volume on your speakers or headphones a bit as some of these videos can get a bit loud.

Anyway, here are our 10 favorite Christmas gift reactions (that aren’t jokes played on children at the command of Jimmy Kimmel). Check them out below:

I’m King of the World!

Apple, Making Girls Cry Since 2007

Books for Christmas?! What The Heck Is That?

You Got Me a Baby?

Ohhh S#@T, Are You Serious?!

One Direction Fan Freakout

The Classic Puppy-Switchero

Roll Tide!

 I Hope Those Are Tears of Joy

(Skip to 2:25 for the waterworks)

Screaming Mom is Excited about the Baby

10 Christmas Gift Reactions That Would Even Make the Grinch Smile