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Bluedot Living’s BuyBetter Marketplace newsletter includes affiliate links, including to Amazon. If you purchase a product through one of our links, we may earn a commission. These commissions help us fund the great journalism that you see on Bluedot. Thank you for supporting us! |
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Dear Readers,
It’s Dec. 23, and you still need gifts. Don’t worry, I’m here to help! You don’t need to run to the mall, go to the store, or do anything other than sign on to your computer. One of the beautiful things about living in the age of the internet is that you can find an incredible gift at the last minute, without your recipient being the wiser.
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Contemplating what more to put under the tree? Is guessing where this picture came from too easy? Courtesy 20th-Century Fox/Alamy |
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(By this point, I hope you’ve seen the other gift guides I’ve put together. You could buy gift cards from those brands. But those sometimes don’t seem as personal.)
Often, the best stuff isn’t really stuff at all. It’s spending time with someone, taking a trip, learning a new skill, or seeing a great band. Experiential gifts, from online courses to concert tickets to National Park passes, are a great way to show your friends and family that you care about their interests. And, most folks appreciate receiving gifts that they will actually put to use rather than receiving impersonal tchotchkes that add to clutter and collect dust.
In addition to making great gifts, experiences are also perfect for last-minute shoppers: All you have to do is write up a little card, pop a recyclable paper bow on top, and hand it to your recipient. (An email will do too, but we think at least a little pomp and circumstance is fun!)
But that’s enough from me. You don’t have a lot of time: Let's get to the list.
Cheers and happy shopping!
– Elizabeth Weinstein, Marketplace Editor
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The Gift of Chill
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If you know someone who might benefit from unplugging, one nice way to help may actually be a subscription to a meditation app! It might sound counterintuitive, but Headspace’s thoughtfully designed app is a great way to help the terminally online find a little inner quiet. $12.99/month or $70 per year. |
| SHOP TODAY |
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Booking.com
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What’s more exciting than going on vacation? Going on vacation and having someone else take care of the details. Booking.com is an easy-to-use platform that includes an astounding array of accommodations across the globe. |
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The Gift of Knowledge
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There’s no shortage of options on Masterclass, where subject matter experts teach classes on a huge range of topics, such as entrepreneurship, portrait photography, interior design, chess, conservation, French pastry, and so much more. Memberships from $6/month. |
| SHOP TODAY |
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The Gift of Music
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Tickets to an event make an incredible gift. While we can’t say that we love Ticketmaster, the platform provides access to just about everything. Bruce Springsteen, Oasis, Beyonce, Metallica, The Pixies, Dua Lipa, Wynton Marsalis, and about a million more artists will take the stage in 2025. |
| SHOP TODAY |
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The Gift of Learning Something Quirky
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Uncommon Goods, a Brooklyn-based B Corporation, curates an exciting assortment of attractive and quirky gifts, in addition to offering live virtual classes on subjects as varied as Merry Mixology, Pet Portrait Painting, Historical Cocktails, How to Read Tarot, and Flower Arranging. The recipient can choose when to schedule the class. Classes from $30. |
| SHOP TODAY |
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The Gift of Doing it Yourself
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Some of the best items on Etsy aren’t objects, but tutorials and guides. Experts of all kinds sell do-it-yourself craft patterns, tutorials, and even plans for small buildings like fancy chicken coops. Gorgeous knitting and crochet patterns are among the most popular, and would be a lovely gift combined with a trip to a local yarn store. Read our review. Home decor project guides from $0.65. |
| SHOP TODAY |
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The Gift of Good Food
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King Arthur Baking offers great live and on-demand online classes on how to make everything from fruit pies to cinnamon buns to pizza dough to an impressive bûche de Noël. The classes would be great fun to take together as a family or with a partner. King Arthur also offers in-person classes in Vermont and Washington. Read our review. Classes from $35. |
| SHOP TODAY |
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The Gift of Waking Up
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Coffee addicts will love a subscription to Trade Coffee. The easy-to-navigate site allows filtering by roast levels, flavor notes, certifications, and more. Trade sells over 110 coffees with Organic, Fair Trade, and Rainforest Alliance certifications. Three months of coffee from $50. Read our review. |
| SHOP TODAY |
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The Gift of the Great Outdoors
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If you know someone who loves getting outside, a Parks Pass makes a wonderful gift. The pass offers access to over 2,000 National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands, and admits the owner and three adults to all of America’s parks. (Children under 16 always enter free.) $80. |
| SHOP TODAY |
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Paid Advertisement with Rooted Insight |
Empower yourself to live with purpose and leave a lasting impact. |
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Rooted Insight’s personal identity workshops guide you through a journey of self-discovery and growth, helping you align your strengths and values with conscious action. In our 1:1 sessions, you’ll gain clarity on how to live in harmony with your purpose and contribute to a sustainable future—for yourself, your community, and the planet. |
| Root your life in purpose—book a personal workshop today |
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A Stunning Appetizer with Little Fuss |
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It’s surprisingly easy to put together a dish as beautiful as this one. Bag of nuts in the freezer? Check. Fruit that might look a little post-peak? Check. Crackers? Check. It all belongs on a gorgeous platter of Roasted Grapes and Figs With Honey, Brie, and Sliced Baguette. Get the recipe here. |
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Paid Advertisement with Lysted |
Turn Tickets into Cash: Your New Side Hustle with Lysted |
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Ready to start a new side hustle that fits into your busy schedule? Lysted makes ticket reselling easy and profitable. If you have tickets you can't use, list them on Lysted and reach buyers on top platforms like StubHub, Ticketmaster, and Seat Geek. No need to juggle multiple listings—Lysted synchronizes everything for you, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free experience. You’ll also benefit from competitive fees and fast payments, making it an ideal way to earn extra money. |
| Join the growing community of ticket resellers. Get started with Lysted for free! |
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Want to get in touch? I’d love to hear from you. Tell me about your favorite sustainable products, topics you’d like to see covered, or anything else that’s on your mind — email marketplace@bluedotliving.com. I’ll see you again Monday after next.
And by the way, that photo is Macauley Culkin spending Christmas alone in Home Alone. (That’s a creepy Joe Pesce peering in the window),
– Elizabeth |
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Elizabeth Weinstein, Bluedot’s Marketplace Editor, lives in Manhattan with her husband; papillon, Finley; and her cats, SanDeE* and Modell. When she’s not asking the folks at Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom to try on all of their sustainable sneakers in a size 9½, she can be found at the Union Square Greenmarket or gardening on her rooftop terrace. |
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