The AppSumo 2020 Holiday Gift Guide for Hustlers

Ho ho ho! The holidays are upon us! While the festivities may look a lot different this year (we hope Santa wears a mask), the time-honored tradition of gift-giving and overstocking our carts is here to stay. 

To help you get into the holiday spirit, we asked our team to recommend their favorite gifts for that special someone (or Sumo-ling) in your life. For all those everyday entrepreneurs out there, we’d be remiss not to mention all the awesome tools you can use to grow your business…and stuff a digital stocking. 

If you’re a gift-giver who gets reactions like this every year or you just want some inspo for dope presents, let’s get started.  To make things easy, we’ve sorted our gifts into five categories, arranged from lowest to highest price for each.

P.S. Want to add some extra pizzazz to your present? Make it personal and custom with StickerMule Packaging Tape, now discounted in the AppSumo store!

Productivity

1. Journals and Planners

Clear Habits Journal [Plus Size] | $28

“This is hands down the best journal I’ve ever used. It’s the perfect balance of structure and freedom. After filling up my first one of these journals, I stocked up on half a dozen more. One of my top purchases of 2020.” – Chris S.

Rocketbook Smart Reusable Notebook |  $32

Source: Rocketbook

“When it comes to notetaking, there seems to be a divide between those who prefer pen and paper (some call these people “old fashioned”) and those who prefer using technology (some call these people “youths”). But we say, “Por qué no los dos?” Give that special notetaking someone in your life a reusable notebook that will give them that traditional feel while still streamlining efficiency.” – Chris G. 

Full Focus Planner | $40

“I use this every day! No joke. Okay, fine. Sometimes not on the weekends, but I can’t start my workday without spending 15-20 mins with my coffee planning my day in this planner. Love the format of tackling big items first and planning out exactly how much heads-down deep-work time you have every day.” – Nick C.

2. Kindle | $90

“I love this thing—I’ve read 30+ books this year (humble brag) because of it. also, I’m a big ol’ word nerd and the ability to look things up as I’m reading is a godsend. Also, I don’t know why you’d ever be getting it wet (I don’t know your life), but I love that it’s waterproof!” – Ilona A.

3. Garmin Vivosmart 4 | $99

Source: Wired

“This is a great reminder for any entrepreneur to step away from a screen, get outside, and get moving (especially when we’re all inside more than usual!). It monitors your heart rate and stress levels, reminding you to take a breather in high-stress situations. Plus, it tracks your sleep habits if you wear it at night—really helpful for me to understand why I may be more tired some days than others.” – Candice M.

4. Duex Pro Portable Monitor | $258

“Get an additional monitor for your laptop. Yes, one monitor won’t be enough for power user Sumo-lings. ” – Kim T. (Trust us, he knows)

For the Home

1. Grow Lamp | $37

“Quarantine has made plant parents of so many of us. If you know a plant lover who’s not getting enough sunlight for their plants, a grow lamp like this is a must-have. It clips to just about anything and it singlehandedly gave my Monstera three new leaves in less than a month.” – Max L.

2. Otherland Candles | $36 – $89

“Fantastic quality candles that also look gorgeous and don’t smell like a grandma’s house! I love that they use natural ingredients (no parafin!) and unique scent mixes. Makes your home feel like a bougie person’s house!” – Komal A.

3. Apple HomePod Mini | $99

Source: Apple

“Because music is one of those things that you just always want in your life. During COVID, music kept my brain creative and gave comfort through all the noise. The HomePod Mini is small enough that you can take it anywhere! Office, bedroom, living room, classroom, etc. not sure there’s a limit… Have a favorite artist, podcast, YouTube channel? ‘Turn up’ or turn it up… with the new Apple HomePod mini. AppleSumo, if you will.” – Josh G.

Food & Drink

1. 10.25″ Lodge cast iron skillet | $21

“Affordable and long-lasting, an iron skillet can go from stove to oven to table.” – Tina H.

2. Electric Wine Opener | $31

“I got this for Christmas last year and had no idea how important it would become in 2020. Zero broken corks, zero effort, lots of reward.” – Crystal G.

3. Btat Coffee Mug | $37

“Never drink a cold cup of coffee again. These insulated cups keep your coffee warm twice as long as a regular cup. Perfect for the upcoming colder months.” – Ayman A.

4. Charcuterie Board | $52

Source: For Joe

There’s a lot that goes into hosting a party: cleaning, music, food prep, and obsessively making sure your guests have enough to eat. Right up there with that is having a quality charcuterie board for all of your fine cheeses and hams. What makes this recommendation extra special to us is that 100% of the proceeds go to the family of Jarrett’s close friend, Joe, who was recently diagnosed with ALS. (suggested by Jarrett P.)

5. DO YOUR GIN | $59

Source: Etsy

“Thanks to the better part of 2020, we all can add ‘At Home Bartender’ to our resume. This kit comes with ingredients, and recipes that will have you experimenting to make your own one-of-a-kind infused gin in the comfort of your own home.” – Lauren C.

6. Hamilton Beach 2-Way Brewer Coffee Maker | $60

“I hate K-cups. They’re bad for the environment and I think the flavor is weak. But the boyfriend loves the convenience of single serves because he’s always on the go. This coffee maker offers the best of both worlds and keeps us both happy.” – Celeste H.

7. Instant Pot Duo 6 qt | $79

“This appliance will change your life for the better! I use mine literally every day, from cooking sushi rice all the way to making the perfect risotto and Indian dishes. I gift this to all my friends, especially people who say they can’t or don’t cook.” – Komal A.

8. Meat Thermometers

Meater Smart Meat Thermometer | $99

Source: Meater

“I can’t grill without this! I mean, let’s be real—I still could, but this really helps. Can use it for any kind of meat…steaks, salmon, chicken, beaver—whatever you want, Papi. You can program the app with the doneness you like and it will give you an accurate projection on internal temp, external temp, and how exactly long you should leave it on.” – Nick C. 

Don’t trust Nick’s taste in meat thermometers? (The beaver comment was sus.) Try this alternative:

Thermopen MK4 | $99

“I never have to worry about overcooked steaks or undercooked brisket (or turkey).  Gives you instant results and is extremely accurate.  Definitely a must-have for anyone who enjoys cooking or BBQing.” – Eric S.

9. Anova Sous Vide Precision Cooker Nano | $129

“If you haven’t tried cooking with a Sous Vide cooker like this, you’re missing out. Vacuum seal whatever you’re cooking, put it in a water bath, set the Sous Vide temperature, and come back to exactly perfectly cooked food.” – Eric F.

Health, Wellness, and Self-Care

1. Taotronics Retractable Hands-Free Dog Leash | $21

“This hands-free dog leash has been an absolute game-changer for any outdoor activity with my dog, Margo, whether I’m taking her on a walk, a run, or camping. I recommend this for ALL dog owners. If you don’t have one, get one!” – Sarah P.

2. Wellness therapy acupressure mat | $25

Source: Amazon

“Oh, where to begin? $25 well spent, and it makes its money back in the first few sessions. The first few minutes lying on the thousands of plastic spikes is somewhat torturous, but what follows is the relaxing of the fascia, the loosening of the muscles, and the release of pressure points throughout the body. Throw a little Enya on, light a nice candle, and melt away into pure relaxation.” – Jay S.

3. Hiccopop Omniboost Travel Booster Seat | $35

“For anyone who has a baby or toddler, this is basically the most handy thing ever. It’s a booster seat (cool!), but it’s ALSO a camp chair and a stable seat for placement upon a table (keeping your baby at eye-level). I use ours 7 times a week! It’s machine-washable (obviously) and a great price!” – Rachel W.

4. “Relax Karen” Kit | $38

Source: More Aromatherapy

If this year has you feeling like the world is on fire, the “Relax Karen” kit will make you as zen as that dog meme: “This is fine.” While we can’t solve all the big problems, we can take a deep breath, draw a hot bath, pour in the aptly named “Fresh Out of F*cks” bath salts, and let our troubles drift away. (suggested by Olman Q.)

5. LL Bean Wicked Good Moccasins Slippers | $79

“These slippers are my absolute favorite WFH accessory! The soft and fuzzy interior keeps my feet warm and cozy all day without overheating.” – Kellyn M.

Just for Fun

1. IKEA Bygglek Lego storage | $15

“I don’t own this (yet), but what a cool partnership! I am always about function and this is both functional and fun.” – Tina H.

2. Create Your Own Reel Viewer | $30

Source: Uncommon Goods

“Remember these fun gadgets from your childhood? This is a great personalizable gift for any special someone in your life. Load up the reel with photos of favorite memories, inside jokes, text, and more!” – Max L.

3. JBL Flip 5 | $99

Put your thing down, JBL Flip it, and reverse it with this Bluetooth speaker that brings the party wherever you carry it. Take it to the living room, the beach, or your next board meeting to make a grand entrance to your own personal theme song*. (suggested by Seann S.)

* = results may vary depending on the song. Use “WAP” at your own risk. 

Final Thoughts

We hope this guide gives you some ideas for that special giftee in your life. Whatever you decide to wrap up, make sure to keep the spirit of togetherness alive this year, especially in an era of social distancing.

Call up your loved ones just to say hi, surprise a friend with that thing they totally don’t need (but secretly want), or send a handwritten card!

Happy holidays, Sumo-lings, and stay safe!