An e Gift card may be the best last minute gift. Give cards to buy and download movies, gift a Kindle book, or music. Here are some of the easiest ways to buy and give entertainment. Now that movies, music, books, and magazines are available as digital files to stream or download, you can give a gift instantly. When Santa is reviewing the presents under the tree, he can still get a very last minute "uh-oh" gift. Here are a couple of fast and easy ways to give digital gifts.
Amazon Gift Card— If you want to give a Kindle book, Amazon makes it as easy as clicking on the button that says "give as a gift." Otherwise, Amazon gift cards are not for specific items, however you can suggest a gift to the recipient. The cards can be used for Kindle books, digital video or music files, or for an Amazon Prime membership. Amazon Prime has a number of benefits including a year subscription to stream hundreds of movies and TV shows for free from Amazon Instant Video. Amazon Instant Video is included on many media streaming devices and Smart TVs as well as mobile devices. The annual $79 fee also entitles Prime members to free shipping of a majority of the items Amazon sells. While Amazon doesn't specifically sell gift prime memberships, an $80 gift card could be applied to buying Amazon Prime. You might have to explain it to the gift recipient. By the way, Prime memberships can be shared between 4 coworkers or family members, so you can buy the Prime membership for yourself and share it with them.
iTunes cards— iTunes gift cards are ubiquitous. You can pick one up in line at the grocery store along with last minute egg nog. But, if you have a particularly, movie, app, book, song, ringtone, or album that you want to give, you can buy it from your iPhone or iPad. The gift redemption code will be sent via email, but you can choose your gift "card" style. To buy a gift of a particular title, search for it in iTunes. When the "buy" page is displayed tap the box with the arching arrow and you'll see an icon to gift it.
Barnes & Noble- Nook Books - To give a digital book to someone who has a Nook eReader, you can pick up a gift card at Barnes & Noble (or in the racks of gift cards at the grocery store). But if, it's too late to get the card, you can buy an eGift card that will be sent to the recipient via email.
Here is another unique gift idea from Barnes and Noble—A "Smartbox Experience." For $100 or less, you can buy a gift card to give a meal at a Zagat rated restaurant. There are also Smartbox Experiences available for the New York Tri-State area that include Spa and Wellness, Charming Getaways, retreats, and adventures.
Remember that anyone who wants to watch movies or TV shows on their new streaming media player or Smart TV will need to subscribe to Netflix or Hulu. A gift subscription is a thoughtful way to give a gift that keeps on giving throughout the year.
