Lollitip of the Day: Don't Break the Bank, Gift Together

The holidays are fast approaching and if you're like us, you're already pooling your pennies.  Thanks to lolligift, though, this season doesn't have to end in credit card debt and buyer's remorse.  Our solution?  It's called group gifting. What's that?  Don't worry, we'll walk you through it.

Step 1.  Pick a person.

Step 2.  Pick a gift.

Step 3.  Start your own lolligift page (link).

Step 4.  Spread the word via email and get your friends and family to join in. 

Step 5.  Buy the gift.  Make someone's day/month/year.

Want to get mom and dad something special this year, on a college kid's budget?  Get your brothers and sisters together for a gift the 'rents will never forget.  Have an amazing boss who deserves an extra thank you this Christmas?  Try an office-wide lolligift and go all out. 

Tight budgets don't have to mean lame gifts this year.  Just grab some friends ... and gift together.  

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Share Your Best/Worst Gift Stories

Photo by Orin Optiglot

Hey it's almost that time again when we gather 'round the tree with friends and family ... to awkwardly feign love for really, really bad gifts.  Like that one year your extended family decided you were really into Winnie the Pooh memorabilia, when you were, in fact, 19 and fully ensconced in your Robert-Smith-and-emotional-pain phase?  Good times!  Okay, so we're not always this cynical.  We've had some good gifts too.  Really, really good gifts.  But this isn't about us ... we want to hear from you.  Tell us your best and worst gift stories ... or better yet, upload a picture into our lolligift flickr pool.  If your gift story tops our list of most horrendous ... or most awesome ... we'll feature you here on the lolliblog.  Don't worry, we'll keep it anonymous.  Cousin Joe will never know you trashed the taxidermied badger, we promise.    

A Must-Give Winter Gift

When Kate Moss shows up at the Glastonbury Music Festival every year in short shorts and muddy Wellies, everyone seems to spend the next week gasping "I need those boots!"  Though fashion fads come and go, Kate's Hunter Wellies have been adorning the feet of British soldiers and royalty for over 150 years.  This year, they're one of our Must-Give Gifts, and with lolligift, these classic shoes are an affordable indulgence.  

Our favorite source for our Hunters is Zappos.com, who stock just about every color imaginable.  Navy blue or hunter green for your classic and understated pal.  Aubergine and fuschia for your more  daring comrades.  

Give the gift of limitless puddle jumping adventures this year ... and use lolligift to gift together.

Hunter Original Boots
Where to buy: Zappos.com
Price:  $115.95
lolliprice: You + 4?  $23 each.  You + 9?  $15 each.

Why Everyone Needs A Kindle

When Amazon first announced the Kindle, it's new wireless reading gadget, last year, we clung tight to our paperbacks and refused to hop on the bandwagon.  We went through a similar phase around 1998 when the DVD threatened our VHS collection (RIP).  Needless to say, just as we embraced those little silver discs, we have caved for the Kindle.  It's just too cool.  So, now we're here to convince you that the Kindle should sit atop your gifting list this year ... and using lolligift, the Kindle is an easy and affordable gift to give.

So what will the Kindle do for you that your bookshelf can't?  Well, it'll let you carry hundreds of books in your purse; this svelte little gadget is hardly the thickness of a pencil.  You'll also have non-stop access to Amazon's online e-book store, as well as the top national and international newspapers and over 1,000 blogs.  And better yet, the Kindle operates on the same type of wireless network as your cell phone, which means you won't spend any time searching for hotspots.  And you don't even have to pay for access ... it's included in the price of your book purchases.  You can shop for books from anywhere and they download in under a minute.  Need another perk?  The Kindle will save your lucky recipient some serious cash.  All books on the NY Times Best-Sellers list are available for just $9.99 ... and most books are even cheaper.  Compared to $25 or so for new hardbacks, the Kindle makes book buying a bargain.

And now with lolligift, there's no reason to be scared away by the price tag.  Buy a Kindle for the bibliophile on your list this year using lolligift and the gift of great books is easy and affordable.  Now, if only we could convince someone to buy one for us ... 

Kindle by Amazon.com
Where to buy:

lolliprice:  You + 4?  $72 each.  You + 9?  $36 each. 

For the Movie Buffs in Your Life

We'll admit it: we love movies. We watch more than we should. Once the weather turns grey, we find it hard to leave the couch and our Mad Men Season 1 DVDs. Were it not for Netflix, we'd surely be broke. And so, we introduce to you our new favorite gadget for our fellow cineophiles: the combination DVD/Blu-ray/Netflix streaming player. Now we have the option of not only watching our favorite flicks in HD, but we can tap into Netflix's library of 12,000 online movies right from our tv. So grab some friends and use lolligift to enable your favorite film fiend's habit. Here are two of our favorite players:

LG BD300 Network Blu-Ray Disc Player
Where to buy: LG BD300 Network Blu-Ray Disc Player
Price: $349.95
lolliprice: You + 4? $70 each. You + 9? $35 each.

Samsung BDP2500 Disc Player
Where to buy: Samsung BDP2500 Disc Player
Price: $298.00
lolliprice: You + 4? $60 each. You + 9? $30 each.

While you're at it, why not throw in a six-month Netflix membership which, between five of you, is just an extra $20 a piece.

... and we promise you'll be invited over for movie night.

Give the Gift of Good Health

Photo by Enfad

Come December 26th, we're all going to be carrying around a few extra pounds and some post-holidays malaise.  Why not help someone conquer the January - April blues with a gift that will keep them healthy and active?  Yoga studio memberships are on our wish lists every year, and with lolligift giving the gift of health is more fun and affordable than ever.

Finding a gym or studio is easy too.  Check out Yoga Journal's national directory of yoga and pilates studios.  In our neck of the woods, a 10-class card will run you about $150 ... or if you're feeling generous, 20-class cards cost around $250.  Of course, with lolligift and four of your favorite friends, that's only $30 - $50 each.

Yoga not your thing?  No problem, Men's Health has an easy-to-use gym directory for those of us more comfortable destressing on a treadmill.  Plan to pay between $50 - $80 to keep your pal in the gym for a month.  Try giviing a six-month membership, which in lolligift terms works out to $60 - $90 for you and a few friends. 

In a few months, your newly-svelte friends will thank you ...

Gifts for the Eco-Fashionista

Going green doesn't have to mean sacrificing style for hemp and burlap. Thanks to lolligift, it doesn't have to mean going broke either. Take a look at these stunning styles for the eco-friendly fashionista on your list this season.

Lauren Trench by Edun
Where to buy: Edun Online
Price: $495
lolliprice: You + 4? $100 each. You + 9? $50 each.

This gorgeous military-inspired trench is made in NYC with 100% organic cotton. 10% of the proceeds go to benefit the Wildlife Conservation fund. Be sure to check out Edun's full collection of edgy, sophisticated designs. The company is committed to building sustainable business communities in developing nations via fasion.

Octopus Cuff by Alkemie
Where to buy: Econsciousmarket
Price: $193
lolliprice: You + 4? $38 each. You + 9? $21 each.

Alkemie is the brainchild of husband and wife team Ashley Lowngrub and Dara Gerson. Their designs are forged from 100% recycled materials and handmade locally in California. Plus, if you buy through Econsciousmarket, they'll donate a minimum of 10% of any purchase to the charity of your choice.

Hemp Tote by Barneys New York
Where to buy: Barneys
Price: $375
lolliprice: You + 4? $75 each. You + 9? $38 each.

Okay, so there's a little hemp involved here, but who knew it could look so good? This fabulous tote is constructed with organic hemp and perfect for a quick trip to the market or bookstore.

Namibia Boot by Niki Robinson for Te Casan
Where to buy: Te Casan
Price: $475
lolliprice: You + 4? $95 each. You + 9? $48 each.

Niki Robinson is a self-proclaimed "ethnista" of the fashion world, using eco-friendly materials in her worldly designs. Te Casan also houses a vegan shoe collection designed by actress and activist Natalie Portman.

Camel Shawl by Virginia Johnson
Where to buy: Virginia Johson Online
Price: $195
lolliprice: You + 4? $39 each. You + 9? $20 each.

Virginia Johnson's eco-friendly wool shawls are inspired by her recent trips around the globe. Cottage industries in India provide the merino wool ... and Johnson provides the whimsical, stunning designs. Don't miss her owl, peony and elephant prints.

Lollitip of the Day: Don't Stress, Gift Together

So are you the friend or coworker who's always strapped with the task of collecting money for birthday gifts and office parties?  Yeah, us too.  It's a hassle.  There are checks to cash and procrastinators to reprimand ... not to mention that one guy who always insists on paying in quarters.  That's where we come in.      

With lolligift, group gifting is stress and conflict-free.  We'll do the hard work for you.  Just create your lolligift page and use our simple tools to spread the word via email to friends and family.  They'll contribute on their own time.  Plus, once your page is created, you and your fellow gifters will have easy access to each other using your lolligift's comments section and simple messaging functions.  You can even sign an e-card we'll send to the lucky recipient.   

Long gone is the stress of group gifting.  Giving is fun again.  Don't stress ... just gift together.