My 2024 Holiday Gift Guide
I’ve never been a fan of shopping, and as I get older, I find myself gravitating toward minimalism. Rather than buying numerous items, I prefer selecting a few high-quality, durable pieces. That said, I do enjoy giving gifts, although I often struggle to find the perfect one—especially since most of the people I gift are accomplished adults who likely have everything they need. To make holiday shopping a little easier, I’ve compiled a list of items I own and genuinely love. If you’re finding it hard to come up with gift ideas, I hope this list provides some inspiration.
Stay warm and cozy!
Tiny but powerful Canon photo printer
Canon SELPHY CP1500 Compact Photo Printer
For years, I’ve enjoyed photographing family moments, street scenes, landscapes, and interesting objects. While I share many of these photos online and with family, I’ve found that digital images often lack the lasting charm and enjoyment of printed photos. Last year, I decided to invest in a compact printer that produces 4x6 photos and other smaller formats, and it’s been a game-changer. The print and paper quality are excellent, and replacing supplies is easy—additional paper and ink cartridges come in a single package with 108 pages at an affordable price.
The best coffee maker we've ever owned
Breville the Grind Control Coffee Maker
We purchased this coffee maker many years ago and enjoyed it so much that we eventually gifted it to our daughter, who lives in New York City. Afterward, we bought a second one, which remains our go-to coffee maker to this day. While we enjoy espresso drinks, I firmly believe nothing beats a hot cup of black drip coffee in the morning. What I particularly love about this coffee maker is its integrated grinder, which lets you brew with fresh coffee beans instead of pre-ground coffee.
My favorite travel backpack!
I first discovered this backpack through a YouTube video, and after doing some research, I decided to give it a try. It turned out to be an excellent choice. The bag is incredibly spacious, easily accommodating everything you need for a multi-day trip, including a laptop and accessories—with room to spare. I first used it on a trip to New York City over Christmas and New Year’s, and this bag was all I brought. Later, I took it on a summer trip to Singapore and Tokyo, and once again, it proved more than sufficient. I absolutely love this backpack!
Water and dust resistant external solid state drive
SanDisk 4TB Extreme Portable SSD
When I first started buying external solid-state drives, my go-to choice was the Samsung T7 Portable SSD. I appreciated their compact size and impressive speed, and I still do. However, I’ve since discovered this SanDisk external drive, which offers comparable speed and a similar price while being, in my opinion, more durable than the Samsung drives. Though slightly longer, it remains compact enough to fit easily in a bag, making it a convenient option for unloading images or videos from your laptop or SD cards on the go.
The only travel or every-day coffee mug you need
I prefer to travel light, whether I’m walking around the city or exploring while traveling. I’m also not a fan of the disposable cups coffee shops provide for to-go drinks. Over a year ago, I found this item at REI, and it has been my trusty companion ever since. It’s the perfect size, holding exactly one cup of coffee, and it keeps my coffee hot and fresh while preserving its great taste every time.
A power brick that doesn't let you down
I bought my first portable charger from Anker many years ago, and I was quite sad to realize I had left it in the back pocket of an airplane seat while traveling to Mexico. A few months later, I purchased this one, and while it’s bigger and heavier than my previous charger, it’s much more versatile. This model allows me to charge my laptop, camera, and phone simultaneously, making it an excellent companion for travel.
That’s it! I hope this list sparks some ideas for holiday gifts or at least inspires you to consider something you hadn’t thought of before.
Wishing you a wonderful week,
Ricardo
