2020 Holiday Gift Guide: 10 Ideas to Keep Those on Your List Entertained

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2020 Holiday Gift Guide: 10 Ideas to Keep Everyone on Your List Entertained

These affordable presents will help ease the boredom of winter quarantine

December 4, 2020
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A lot of things have changed in 2020, but there’s one thing that doesn’t change: the desire to give rad gifts to the people you love this holiday season. However, if your brain’s a little fried from, you know, everything, and you don’t know where to begin, we’re here to help. All week, BU Today is providing affordable ideas for what to get everyone on your list, from the hardest-to-please to the person who’s happy with anything. 

We kicked off our series Monday with gifts that will make any living space look good, whether it’s a dorm room, apartment, or house in the suburbs. Today, it’s gifts that entertain, Wednesday, gifts that support local businesses, Thursday, gifts that will make the folks on your list look good, and Friday, gifts that give back. 

Happy gifting.

Photo of a hand using an apple TV remote and selecting a steaming service to watch. Netflix, Hulu, HBO GO are seen onscreen.
Courtesy of iStock/mphillips007

For the binge-watcher: A streaming service gift card

This holiday season, give the gift that keeps on streaming. If you have a favorite show you’re dying to discuss with friends or family, but can’t because they don’t have access to the service that hosts the show, a gift card to any of the popular streaming services, like Netflix, Hulu, Sling, or Amazon Prime, is a great gift to help your recipient get into the binge-watching spirit. (The average monthly price for a streaming service is between $9.99 and $20).

A series photos of MasterClass teachers Steph Curry spining a basketball, Annie Leibovitz (“teaches photography”), Gordon Ramsay (“Teaches Cooking”). The photos are meant to look like gift cards.
Courtesy of MasterClass

For the forever learner: MasterClass

Whether the folks on your gift list want to bone up on their writing or cooking skills or want to pursue a new passion like playing the ukulele or launching their own fashion brand, give them a MasterClass. Taught by some of the brightest minds in food, entertainment, design, sports, government, science, wellness, and business, MasterClass offers endless options to inspire the person who inspires you. Most classes cost approximately $90.

Photo of an open book on a counter with a blurred background.
Courtesy of Unsplash/jonas-jacobsson

For the avid-reader: Check out the New York Times best seller list

For those who love the supernatural, we hear Stephen King’s The Institute is all the rage. Are your friends and family more into nonfiction? Matthew McConaughey’s memoir, Greenlights, is supposed to be a page turner. Whatever genre your favorite book nerd is into, the New York Times best seller list has got you covered. A fixture since 1931, it’s considered the leading source for the top-selling books.

Grid collage of dishes from HungryRoot, including mac and cheese, polenta, pancakes, and salad bowls.
Courtesy of HungryRoot

For the house chef: Try HungryRoot

Know someone who loves to cook? Spice up their daily meals with a gift card from HungryRoot. HungryRoot prides itself on offering tasty and healthy food recipes recommended by its in-house foodies. It’s an ideal gift for the food enthusiast in your life. Meals start at $59.

Photo of two apple gift cards with colorful designs inside the apple logo.
Courtesy of Apple

For the gamer: An Apple Arcade gift card

Have a gamer in your life, but unsure whether they prefer strategy games over RPGs (role playing games)? Fear not. A gift card to Apple Arcade should cover your bases. With every type of game imaginable, Apple Arcade will keep your gaming nerd playing for hours, which is great since there aren’t many places to go during the pandemic. Monthly price for Apple Arcade: $4.99.

Photo of a woman working out while the Nintendo Switch game Ring Fit Adventure plays on the TV. The TV screen shows an avatar with the ring and words 'Slowly to the left.'
Courtesy of Nintendo

For the fitness buff: Try Nintendo Switch’s Ring Fit Adventure 

Exercise and an addicting game all in one? Yes, please! Ring Fit Adventure ($79.99) is an exercising action role-playing game developed for the Nintendo Switch. The game comes with two physical components: the Ring-Con, a Pilates ring the user holds and one Joy-Con controller slots into, and a Leg Strap, a piece of fabric affixed to the user’s leg that holds the other Joy-Con. The game’s main mode has the player complete a turn-based role-playing game, where player movements and battle actions are based on performing certain physical activities using the Ring-Con and Leg Strap. The whole household will want to play this game.

Photo of the box for the board game 'Geek Battle,' which reads 'the game of Extreme Geekdoom' and has icons of a spaceship, a video game controller, etc.
Courtesy of Geek Battle

For the trivia master: Geek Battle: The Game of Extreme Geekdom

Ideal for game nights at home, Geek Battle ($25) will have players laughing as they test their knowledge of all things fantasy, sci-fi, video game, and other geek life categories.

Photo of a pair of light blue 1More ColorBuds Headphones and the case.
Courtesy of 1More

For the music junkie: 1More ColorBuds Headphones

These 1More Color Buds headphones ($59.99 to $99.99, depending on the model) boast an AirPod-beating six hours of battery life. Other features: the AptX Bluetooth codec for higher-quality audio and an assortment of comfortable ear tips that all but guarantees a good fit. Your music lover will thank you.

Photo of a puzzle with the words ‘The Pacific Northwest’ and illustrations of marine life native to the Pacific Northwestern US, including a killer whale, salmon, otters, and seals.
Courtesy of Lantern Press via Etsy

For the puzzle solver: Etsy

Not only are puzzles fun, but they’re proven stress relievers. You’ll find thousands to choose from at Etsy, from puzzles for novices to veterans. You can even design your own custom jigsaw puzzle. Most puzzles range between $14 and $75.

Photo of the box for the green and black box for the board game 'Villainous' with some of the cards and playing pieces around it on a dark brown table.
Courtesy of Disney Villainous®

For the board game champion: Disney Villainous® Game

Time to bring out your dark side. Villainous® ($50) delights in turning players into their meanest possible version. It’s also surprisingly tactical. There’s a lot of unexpected depth here, and it takes skill to come out on top in this battle of dastardly backstabbing. In this game, nice guys definitely finish last.

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2020 Holiday Gift Guide: 10 Ideas to Keep Those on Your List Entertained

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