Every single gift we’re recommending tonight — including an earthy Boy Smells candle — is on sale right now. You’re welcome <3.
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| NYT Wirecutter; illustration by Con McHugh for NYT Wirecutter |
12 gifts we love — all on sale right now |
This week, the internet has been abuzz with deals (most meh, some actually quite good). You might be thinking it’s a smart time to stock up on big-ticket items for your home: the espresso machines, air purifiers, and Vitamix on your wishlists. And you’d be right.
But here in Gift World, we also say: Don’t forget about the simple and sweet stuff, too. The lazy duck lights and Dracula garlic crushers. Or the food decider dice, wacky pickle bandages, and the cutest weed holder I’ve ever seen. (I say that as a Californian, by the way.) There are some really great things on sale today that simply delight.
Whether you’re aiming to get extremely ahead on your holiday shopping, have some summer birthdays on the horizon, or are just looking for an excuse to surprise someone, now is a good time to peruse for presents. These are the on-sale gifts we’re excited about today — all at prices vetted by our deals experts as being actually good:
- We think anyone who reads books should own this chic little book light. “It’s the perfect gift to give with a book or to hand out to the members of your book club,” says gifts writer Samantha Schoech. “It’s one of my all-time favorite Wirecutter picks.”
- Several of our editors are smartly using this deals event to stock up on kids’ birthday gifts — so the next time a Saturday-afternoon party invite pops up, all there is to do is grab the gift and go. A few ideas: this Unicorn Snot body glitter (yes, you read that right), this Bluetooth karaoke microphone (although the parents would perhaps never talk to you again), disco ball lights (that would pair well with that karaoke), and this rhino card game our games expert loves for both kids and families.
- A friend gifted this cult-favorite Korean sunscreen to me recently, and it has quickly become one of my favorite beauty products. It goes on nicely, doesn’t reek of sunscreen, and its small, minimalist-chic tube stashes easily in a bag.
- Summer might not be the time when most people are thinking about sweats. “But it’s absolutely the time to buy really, really good ones,” advises gifts writer Mari Uyehara. “I got my boyfriend these pricey-but-well-made sweats last year, and he wore them for too many days straight to admit to the general public.” They’re one of our experts’ favorite gifts for boyfriends. Clearly for a reason.
- This Boy Smells candle is normally a bit of a splurge, so a sale on it is extra nice to see. It’s earthy, elegant, and looks luxe on display, even when it’s not lit.
- Newsletters editor Brittney Ho is considering snagging this multi-tool for her dad’s upcoming birthday. “When I was nine, I got him one of those cheap, small toolkits that has a screwdriver and all the mini bits, and he still uses it to this day,” she says. “So I’m thinking he might love an upgraded, more adult version (now that I’m more adult, too) that has all sorts of tools for his various post-retirement odd jobs around the house.”
- “It’s not sexy,” says Samantha, “but I just bought this electric knife sharpener for my husband. For every gift-giving occasion, he asks me to get our knives professionally sharpened (weirdo, I know), and I’ve never done it. This seemed like a nice compromise — and it’s 25% off right now.”
- Newsletters coordinator Isoke Samuel is thinking about bestowing this mini waffle maker on her 8-year-old nephew. “When I was 10, my older sister bought me a Disney-princess themed waffle maker,” she says. “I’d wake up on Saturday mornings, plug it in, and whip up a fresh batch of waffles for the whole family. I’m hoping to pass on the mini-waffle chef tradition.”
- Lastly, I snagged this acrylic bird feeder that attaches to a window for my stepdad last Christmas, and pictures of his avian visitors have been a group-chat hit ever since. I’m considering one for my office window to spark a little more 9-5 joy in my life. Group chats I’m in, heed this warning. Chirp, chirp.
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More of our favorite Wirecutter-approved gifts on sale for Prime Day→
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What to give: A real estate agent? |  |
My husband and I just bought our first house with the help of our awesome real estate agent. She put in long hours for us and made sure our offer beat out the others. We’d love to get her something small as a token of our appreciation for her help. We know she has a dog and likes gardening. — A.F.
From gifting expert Mari Uyehara:
I had a similar experience buying my house. So, I called up my very awesome real estate agent, Jen Toadvine of She Moves Realty in Philadelphia, and asked her for advice.
Real estate agents, she says, are always on the go, so if you noticed whether your agent’s car cup has seen better days, upgrade hers with a Wirecutter-approved, one-handed water bottle or travel mug. She also said gift cards are really sweet — one from Starbucks, Dunkin’, or a local café might ease a day of running around.
One gift that still makes her laugh was sunglasses and a Hawaiian shirt for her cat. This silly plush dog toy is also a major favorite among Wirecutter pets. For more serious types, you could treat both your agent and her dog by grabbing some pastries from your best local bakery and pairing them with this pupsicle treat toy — in separate gift bags, of course.
You could also get her a gorgeous gardening book. But Jen emphasized that giving a gift to your agent isn’t expected (they get commission!). “A review or a referral is the best thing ever,” she says. “And that is free!”
Have someone who’s impossible to shop for? Submit your question here.
Things are moving fast, so apologies if a deal we mentioned expired before you got to your inbox. For the latest live updates, head here.
You can reach the Wirecutter Newsletters team at newsletters@wirecutter.com. We can’t always respond, but we do love to hear from you.
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