Gifts

Were you there during the Beanie Baby Outbreak of '95? How about the Great Furby Epidemic of '98? If so, you have some experience when it comes to holiday gift-giving hysteria.

With the economy still in the doldrums, seasonal madness is subsiding. Consumers aren't breaking down doors to pay a premium for the latest and greatest gadget. This year, shoppers are shifting toward more affordable and thoughtful presents. As you start to plan your Christmas list, consider some of these gift-giving trends.

1. The Latest Craze
Would you believe the hottest holiday item out there is a rectangular piece of plastic? According to a survey from the National Retail Federation, 57.7 percent of consumers want gift cards as holiday presents, putting their demand at an all-time high. Happily, you can find cheap gift cards at sites like GiftCardGranny, which sells them at less than face value. If you're recipient isn't totally satisified, they can always sell the card for cash on Gift Card Exchange Day, the one-day event scheduled for Dec. 26 when gift card resellers typically offer maximum value for unwanted cards. Read more

Waited until the last minute, huh? Here are some last minute Father's Day gift ideas for just about every kind of dad - from the artistic, to the techie do-it-yourself dad, and everywhere in between.

For the music loving Beach & BBQ Party Dad: Soundmatters foxL v2 Bluetooth
Soundmatters foxL v2 portable bluetooth speaker is an awesome sounding tiny hi-fi portable Bluetooth speaker for iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, Android or other Bluetooth devices. Created by former NASA engineer/audio legend Dr. Godehard Guenther, Soundmatters foxLv2 Bluetooth is the first pocket-sized wireless speaker that audio purists will love. Dads can take the tiny foxL with them in their bag wherever they go – and dads will love showing off this high-tech device at the beach or BBQ.

Pricing: $199
Website: www.soundmatters.com
Available at: www.soundmatters.com & online retailers, including Hammacher Schlemmer, Sharper Image, Amazon.com and moreRead more

Sure, an all-expense-paid trip to Europe seems like the ultimate graduation gift. However, college students who face thousands of dollars in academic debt may need to jump on the job hunt sooner than expected. With new financial responsibilities looming, recent grads will appreciate whatever help they can get.

To help soften the real world blow, here are seven practical gifts job-seeking college graduates will appreciate.

Resume Service
The first thing employers see is an applicant's resume and cover letter. Unfortunately, the style of these documents has become more complex in recent years. Graduates won't get noticed using the old method of simply listing experience by date. Cover letters are now approaching works of art, mentioning much more than that applicant is interested in the job and is a good team player, trustworthy and a hard worker. Read more