Every year I request posts about stuff the writers actually use. My logic is that a great wave of stuff-buying is coming, so let’s try to highlight the good items and reduce holiday waste.
For Children
James recommends buying a whole bounce house. It might seem like something you could only afford to rent once a year, but the price of buying one you can use at home is now less than $300. In a big room, you can even do this indoors. Be the Christmas hero. Check on the space requirements.
I recommend two games that help kids learn to read. These are a great complement to Kindergarten or 1st-grade reading assignments. With enough confidence, you can convince kids that these games are toys and not “a book?”.
SPOT IT is a card game that takes up almost zero space in the house or car. No reading or numeracy required and yet fun for adults!
Phantom Toll Booth A book for school-aged kids.
Little Tikes Easy Store Picnic Table with Umbrella, Scott says it’s worth the price if you have young kids around the house. Let them do messy food or activities there.
Food
Sounds like a good gift for adults who like to cook. Scott found a relatively affordable Black Rice.
Office to Garden
Compressed gas for computer maintenance. See Scott’s explanation on PC care.
Velcro Cut to Length – Zachary suggests: “Do you have a phone charger beside your bed that keeps falling on the ground? Just Velcro it to the nightstand lamp and it will stay exactly where you want it.”
Minute Soil is better than the dirt you have. This makes growing plants more fun and easier. Sounds like a great gift to wrap up for someone who likes gardening.
Set for Life
I agree with Zachary that cordless men’s hair clippers are a great investment.
Barge All Purpose TF Cement Rubber – Praise from Scott: “Unlike most “superglues”, it will work on rough or porous surfaces, including situations like leather where flexibility is needed.”
Qwix Mix windshield – Windshield wiper fluid concentrate that is easy to store at home for when you need it.
Lastly, Mike has some correct life advice. Give yourself what your future self would want. For example, if you enjoy video games but don’t exercise enough, then try setting up an exercise bike right in front of your video games. That way you’ll get your cardio in and not have regrets the next week.
Economist Writing Every Day 
Phonics is always better than a system with less phonics, like sight words. Even better would be phonics plus a work-around for the difficult spelling in English.
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