Lazy Man and Money Gift Guide 2023

It’s been a long time since I’ve done a gift guide. There used to be some incredible technology items like smartphones and iPads. As that technology has matured, some new gadgets have appeared, but I feel most are niche. A couple of years ago, I planned to get fit with the Oculus Fit (now Meta Quest), but I ended up not using too much after the initial couple of months.

I got a drone, too, but I’ve only flown it a few times. It’s fun, but I don’t carve out time for it. This can be said for any number of things that we have around the house. Our kids are in a similar situation. We probably have too much stuff that we’ll realistically never get to.

With this as a backdrop, I’m going to write an article about… buying more stuff? This clearly makes no sense, but it’s not like that has stopped me before.

I’m going to try to do something different, though. I walked around my house to find truly useful stuff that I love. Isn’t that better than telling you there’s a Black Friday deal on AirPods or an Amazon Fire Tablet? Those things always have a deal this time of year. If you are in the market for them, you can get a great price on your own.

Give this list a read. I challenge you to add one item in the comments you love. (You can add more if you want.)

The usual disclaimer applies. Most (maybe all) of the links go to Amazon. I might earn a small percentage commission if you end up buying something.

• Shower Caddy

  I used to have a spring-loaded shift, but the springs got weak, or it would fall. I bought a couple of these shower caddies several years back, and our shower has been great ever since.

• HiSense U8k 75″ Television or HiSense U8k 75″ Television

  I bought an LG OLED several years ago, but it got burn-in. My phone (Samsung 10) also has burn-in. OLED looks great, but the burn-in kills technology. I’ve moved to micro-LED, which doesn’t look as good but is much better overall quality, in my opinion.

  The 75″ television can be had for around $1299, but I went for the 85″ television at $1799. I never thought it would make sense for an 85″ television, but it looks completely normal for a television that big – even in a room where we are only 10 feet away.

• Coffee Warmer Plate or Coffee Warmer Smart Cup

  I don’t drink coffee, but my wife wanted to pitch both of these for the gift guide. She had a similar design to the plate on her desk that she used so much that it broke. The smart cup is expensive, but so many people have told me it’s worth it. It’s on my wife’s list this year.

• Instant Read Digital Meat Thermometer

  We had one for years, but it broke a couple of months ago. As much as we loved that one, this one is better. There’s no cap to lose. The magnetic and hook give us better storage options. It’s also waterproof, which makes cleaning a lot easier.

• Smart Spin and Store Food Storage

  We don’t use the spin aspect of this. The containers all fit inside each other, and each lid matches any container. That makes it especially easy for kids to use to make their lunches in the school morning rush. We’ve lost a few containers over time, but I found another set at a yard sale and just doubled up.

  The containers are graduated, so you can use them as measuring cups in a pinch. You can microwave an egg in the small ones for a quick breakfast on the go.

  I’ve tried fancier food storage systems, but I keep going back to these.

• Weekly Pill Organizer

  You can get a weekly pill organizer at your local dollar store. I have a couple of those. However, this product is a very nice upgrade. You can take a day’s pills with you on the go. Credit for this find goes to regular reader, and often contributor, Kosmo.

• 16-Cube Shelving Unit

  We actually have an Ikea version of this. I’m sure you can find them at Walmart and Target as well. I’m calling out the utility of these shelving units rather than a particular brand that perfected an awesome feature set.

• Lego Storage and Mat and Lego Baseplate Tower

  Confession: We don’t have either of these. We do have a big Lego storage problem. The Lego problem reminded me of the storage problem we had before the above shelving solved it.

  I’m praying that the storage and mat will be a great way for my kid to play with Legos and still be able to quickly clean them up afterward. I’m also optimistic that the baseplate tower will create expandable display storage.

What did you think? Are you ready to take my challenge and add one item that you love? The comments are just a little scrolling down. (Trust me they don’t bite.)