As much as I’d like to be one of those people who has all their holiday shopping done weeks before Black Friday, I’m not. In fact, if you see me running around the local mall like a chicken with its head cut off on December 23, no you didn’t.
Getting ahead of the game on gift-giving is not my strong suit, but making a list of gifts I’d like to receive? Well, now that’s something I can do. I am a shopping editor, after all. And I work with some seriously savvy shoppers who are always sharing their favorite finds, so yeah, I’ve got a wish list going.
Given that my colleagues and I spend our days (and sometimes nights) researching and testing tons of products, we’re pretty discerning when it comes to spending our own cash … and when choosing gifts that our loved ones will spend money on, too. We know shoppers are bombarded with hundreds — thousands!? — of gift ideas during this time and it can be overwhelming. If you need some guidance or direction to help kick-start your gift shopping this season, start with the expert-approved Walmart picks from our team of shopping editors below.
“I will admit that I sometimes find the process of carefully dicing an onion, mincing garlic and chopping carrots very therapeutic. Other times, however, I just want to get dinner on the table as fast as humanly possible. That’s why I’m hoping someone I love reads this article and buys me this Cuisinart food processor. Not only does it make light work of cutting veggies, but I can also use it to make dough for biscuits and pie crust. Yum!”
— Jeanine Edwards, Shopping Director
Walmart
“I am the queen of taking three sips of my coffee or tea and then walking away from my cup for an hour. Luckily, that’s NBD with this self-heating smart mug from Ember that will keep my drink piping hot for as long as I need it.”
— Julia Webb, Shopping Manager
Walmart
“Legos — they’re not just for kids anymore! I recently had a blast assembling the (rather difficult) Lego Hocus Pocus set, and I definitely want to make more Lego models … but they tend to be a little pricey the more difficult they get. This Harry Potter twofer — complete with the train and train station — makes a great gift (wink wink, nudge nudge to anyone shopping for me this holiday season!).”
— Carrie McCabe, Senior Deals Writer
Walmart
“My friends and I like to have soup parties (don’t knock it until you try it). These are the ideal size for transporting and for keeping a reasonable amount of soup warm for sampling. They also earn points for being compact, saving precious counter space during the hustle for countertop real estate. And can we talk about how pretty they are? They stand out beautifully amidst a sea of chrome slow cookers.”
— Janelle Randazza, Commerce Editor
Walmart
“I’m trying to build up my board game collection for future game nights and I’ve heard nothing but amazing things about this party game. Two teams go head to head to see if they’re on the same — wait for it — wavelength. Each person will give a clue (like traffic) and their teammates will try to figure out where it falls on the spectrum (good or bad). It can be played with anywhere from two to 12 players, which is a huge bonus!”
— Amanda Garrity, Gifting Editor
Walmart
“I never hopped on the Stanley cup train, but there’s something about the Owala that’s drawing my attention. It’s this season’s hottest beverage holder, meaning every tween and teen (and me) wants it under the tree. It comes in funky color combinations that really speak to me — like navy, pink, beige, dark brown, and light blue; or deep purple, light purple, hot pink, teal, and black.”
— Kate Ellsworth, Shopping Editor, AOL
Walmart
“Popcorn is my favorite snack, especially the movie theater butter style. But I’m on a mission to eat healthier snacks, and this air popper can help me cut out all the oils and such that usually come with the microwave kind. It uses just hot air to pop up to 16 cups of popcorn in minutes and its compact design makes it easy to store away. Of course, I’m not going to give up butter completely — this popper’s removable kernel measuring cup doubles as a butter melting tray.”
— Ellie Conley, Trending Writer
Walmart
“Maybe it’s lame to say I want a gift card, but honestly, I would love a gift card from Walmart! I do almost all our family’s grocery shopping there (well, I do it online for delivery) and I also get a lot of my toddlers’ clothes there — it’s affordable and I don’t feel bad if I have to throw items away if my kids ruin something by playing in the mud or spilling food all over it. It may not be a ‘fun’ gift, but it’s practical and would definitely be put to use!”
— Laura Williams, Senior Health Writer
KitchenAid
“I got to test out this rice and grain cooker at a Kitchenaid event a few months ago and have been thinking about it ever since! As much as I love eating rice, I always end up overcooking it or burning the bottom layer, but this handy gadget takes the guesswork out of cooking. It has a ton of preset cooking options to choose from and was super easy to use. The only thing that’s held me back from buying one for my own kitchen is the price tag, so I’m adding it to my Christmas wish list and hope someone else will get it for me instead.”
— Rebecca Carhart, Style Writer
Apple
“I’ve been a loyal Fitbit fan for years, but my most recent one just broke and I think the time is now to upgrade to an Apple watch. That way, I can not only count my steps and monitor my sleep, but also listen to music, take a call, check emails and so much more right from my wrist. I’m all about this latest version since it has a bigger display and is extra thin (I hate wearing something bulky). Now, the only question is — which color band should I ask for?”
— Rory Halperin, Senior Commerce Editor
Walmart
“This limited-edition set from Tree Hut has three body scrubs, including the brand’s new Enchanted Emerald scent, for a festive gift (to yourself or someone else) that will keep giving throughout the season. For extra cozy vibes, I’m also loving this Embroidered Flower Sweater from Walmart’s Free Assembly line, available in two colors and sizes XS-4X. I’ve seen similar styles for upwards of ten times the price!”
— Kristin Granero, Senior Shopping Writer
Walmart
“I’m crazy about ice cream, but I’m also lactose intolerant. I dream about being able to whip up dairy-free ice cream that’s delicious and decadent enough to be Oprah-approved.”
— Janelle Randazza, Commerce Editor
Walmart
“I’ve been thinking about this coat ever since I first tried it on. It would be hard for me to justify buying myself another coat — I already have quite a few — but as a gift from someone else? Well, that’s totally fine! So family, friends, loved ones, you’re officially on notice. If you buy me this beautiful coat from Walmart I promise to wear it any time I want to brave the cold in style. Thank you in advance!”
— Jeanine Edwards, Shopping Director
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