#How to give a good gift when you can’t see the person *in* person
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“#How to give a good gift when you can’t see the person in person”
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Knowing how to give a good virtual gift — good as in more personal than a Visa gift card — is a key life skill. You won’t always be able to celebrate with loved ones IRL, whether you live in separate states or are practicing social distancing. And if you happen to forget a loved one’s birthday until the last minute, a digital gift is the way to go.
Digital gifts and subscription boxes are gifts that keep on giving. In a time when everyone is trying to stay home, a grocery delivery or electric toothbrush subscription can alleviate the stress of public outings. And if you’re far apart from your loved one, gifting a streaming service means lots of binge-watching content for FaceTime movie dates.
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Each of the following gifts is delivered online or with a recurring delivery to their door, which means you won’t have to rely so hard on timely shipping.
1. A streaming service membership
No one is gonna turn down new stuff to watch. If you’re gifting to someone who already has the classics like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+, consider a newer or more niche streaming service:
- Peacock ($4.99/month for Comcast subscribers, $9.99/month for everyone else): NBC’s long-awaited streaming platform is home to The Office (leaving Netflix in Jan. 2021), Parks and Recreation, Hell’s Kitchen, and more, plus new shows like Dr. Death and Tina Fey’s Girls5Eva. There’s also a free version that has a decent selection of content, but that’s not exactly a gift, is it?
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HBO Max ($14.99/month): Now that HBO Go is gone, HBO Max is home to HBO originals like Westworld and Succession, non-HBO content like Rick and Morty and Friends, a ton of movies, and HBO originals like the Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon, which will premiere in 2022.
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Shudder ($4.95/month): Horror junkies who have already tackled Netflix’s hit-or-miss collection will dig Shudder’s massive library of (actually good) scary movies only. Aside from a few classics like Hellraiser, a big chunk of the lineup is made up of films that probably weren’t in theatres — but that blow mainstream disappointments out of the water. (We recommend The Curse of La Llorona.)
2. A Drizly gift card
Paying for someone to have alcohol delivered is always a great gift, but will likely be extra appreciated during an all-around shitty year. With Drizly, they can get beer, wine, or liquor delivered within 60 minutes or so. Maybe they’ll find that really specific IPA that they like or discover a new favorite wine.
3. A Walmart+ membership
Walmart’s Amazon Prime competitor is officially open for sign-ups. It’s no “free two-day shipping” situation, but Walmart+’s unlimited free delivery is still legit — especially for just $12.95 per month. (Some products are even eligible for same-day delivery.) Other perks for your friends who make way too many trips to Walmart each week include Scan & Go and fuel discounts.
4. An arrangement from UrbanStems
Flowers as a last-minute or long-distance gift is only cliché if you let it be. Online flower delivery service UrbanStems puts a modern twist on its floral arrangements with thoughtfully-chosen color schemes and vases outside of traditional glass. The bouquets blow away anything you could find in the flower section at Whole Foods, but we’re particularly psyched on the farmhouse chic wreaths and dried bouquets that’ll last for months. Prices range from $65 to $175.
5. A class from MasterClass
If your loved one always talks about mastering a particular skill, there’s probably a MasterClass course for it. MasterClass doesn’t offer just any online courses — they’ll be coached by, well, famous people. Annie Leibovitz teaches photography, Jane Goodall teaches conservation, Gordon Ramsey teaches cooking, and more.
6. A Jackbox Party Pack
On the rare occasion that they get tired of Mario Kart, anything from Jackbox is going to be a good-ass time. Jackbox’s on-screen games are played on a phone app and are perfect for long-distance Zoom hangs. (Only one person has to have a Jackbox account. The others just have to download the app and enter the room code). Each Party Pack comes with four different games that really make you think — and will confirm the funniest person in the group.
7. A Nuuly subscription
Perfect for the Urban Outfitters, Free People, and Anthropologie stans, Nuuly is an $88/month service that offers rental pieces from sweaters to dresses to jeans (from the aforementioned brands and more). If they end up loving one of their rental items, they can buy it.
(StitchFix is a similar deal, but with a $20 styling fee and only three days to decide whether to buy the clothes.)
8. A CodeSpark Academy subscription
If you’re seeking a kids’ gift that’s not Frozen or Marvel, consider CodeSpark Academy, which stars cute, memorable monster characters called The Foos. Parents will love it because it’s educational: It teaches coding through challenges that require kids to devise their own chain reactions. For kids, though, it’s just fun. Gift memberships start at six months for $59.99, but 12-month and lifetime subscriptions are available.
9. An e-card
Greeting cards: A “duh” gift, but heartwarming nevertheless. Sending a card via email is a thoughtful path for people whose address you don’t have (like the coworkers you won’t see in the office anytime soon). Punchbowl has a ton of designs to scroll through, plus options to add your own type, photos, or a gift card from partners like Amazon, Disney, and Sephora. Cards can be sent to multiple recipients for free, but removing ads or scheduling a date require a membership.
10. A virtual gym membership
Fitness obsessives aren’t missing margarita happy hours during social distancing — they’re missing the gym and studio classes being open. You can gift the next best thing by paying for a virtual gym subscription. ClassPass (starting at $9 per month) has taken things online with over 2,000 live and on-demand workout classes from instructors across the country, with options ranging from yoga to HIIT and everything in between.
11. An online gaming subscription
The PlayStation 5 — what once seemed like a phantom console that would never come — finally has a release date. On the same day that Sony announced Nov. 12 as the big day, pre-orders also went live (and are already sold out for the time being). The gift of a PlayStation Plus Collection subscription is where you come in: It’s a PS5-exclusive version of PlayStation Plus that allows subscribers to download and play a library of PlayStation 4 classics whenever they want. The price has yet to be confirmed, but people are predicting somewhere between $9 and $20 per month.
If the timing there is too uncertain, the gift of PlayStation Plus for $59.99 a year is still a must to play with friends online. Xbox gamers would definitely appreciate a few free months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate ($44.99 for three months, plus three months for free).
The online Nintendo Switch market is a volatile one. But if you know someone who happened to snag one as social distancing entertainment or just already had one, a $20 yearly Nintendo Online subscription will let them play Animal Crossing, Mario Kart, Fortnite, and more with friends.
12. An online grocery shopping subscription
Trader Joe’s on a weekend is always a mess, but trying to grab the last box of organic pasta off the shelf during a pandemic is just plain chaotic. Thrive Market is an online grocery store that focuses on organic groceries, fresh meats and seafood, and shelf-stable options (as well as natural home and beauty products) at wholesale prices. Like Costco, everyone needs a membership to shop there: An annual membership goes for $59.95 (billed $5 monthly) or you can opt for a monthly membership for $9.95 per month.
13. An Adobe subscription
One doesn’t have to be a graphic designer to get a ton of use out of Photoshop — it’s must-have software for anyone with a creative side. Folks in marketing can make ads and cool emails, aspiring photographers can learn layering and blending, or anyone who draws in their free time could bump things up to animation. Prices start at $9.99 per month for photography basics like Lightroom, $20.99 per month for Illustrator, and more plans for Dreamweaver, interior design, and more.
14. Rosetta Stone (lifetime access)
Learning a new language in adulthood isn’t off the table just because you can’t remember a thing from high school Spanish. Rosetta Stone is one of the OG language-learning services, known for its deep dive into accent pronunciation, culture, and not pressuring you like the Duolingo owl. 10-minute lessons from Spanish and French to Russian and Vietnamese can be accessed on a desktop or via the totally redesigned app. For a limited time, you can give a lifetime subscription for $199 (that’s $100 off).
15. A wine delivery subscription
Whether we’re in the midst of social distancing or not, it’s just nice to have wine on hand for emergency happy hours. A Winc Wine subscription lets your wine-loving friend skip inconvenient trips to the liquor store and welcome a box of wine (starting at three bottles) monthly right to their door instead. All choices are customized by Winc’s team after a rigorous taste quiz, and if they don’t like a bottle, Winc uses the info to make a better suggestion the next month.
16. A Scrivener subscription
Know someone who thinks in the long-form? They need Scrivener. It’s like a hybrid of Microsoft Word and a notes app like Evernote, aimed specifically at writers organizing large projects like novels, screenplays, or research papers. Different templates and tools for honing in on chunks of writing make it easy to organize thoughts.
17. A meal delivery service subscription
Trying new recipes is fun. Trying to plan one of those recipes when you’re dead tired after work is not fun. Meal boxes from services like Dinnerly and Blue Apron allow you to customize meals online and then receive pre-portioned ingredients for those meals right to your door. Meals can be tweaked depending on dietary restrictions (like gluten-free or vegan) and how many people are eating. Portions can be as low as $4.99 each when you sign up for at least three months.
18. A Tidal subscription
People love to say they don’t want to pay for Tidal on top of Spotify or Apple Music — and then they complain that they really wish they could listen to Prince’s posthumous album. While Tidal used to be big for exclusive albums from Beyoncé and Jay-Z, it’s now the go-to for audiophiles thanks to its glorious hi-fi streaming. A subscription starts at $9.99 per month and bumps up to $19.99 per month for Premium.
19. Escape the Crate subscription box
The idea of using clues to escape a fake locked room within a time limit is fun. The knowledge that there’s an entire horror movie based on getting stuck in one? Not as fun. The Escape the Crate subscription box on Cratejoy brings the problem-solving adrenaline of an escape room to their home and is a 2019 winner of a Best of Cratejoy award. Boxes ship bimonthly with a new theme and clues each time, and you can use code TIGER to get 10% off the first box.
20. A Birchbox subscription
If their relationship to makeup is like Ron Swanson’s to tools, opt for Birchbox. If they’re interested in beauty but have never been inside a Sephora, go for Birchbox too. Gift subscriptions start at $45 for three months, but if they’d prefer to just pick out their own stuff, a Birchbox gift card still gives them access to way more makeup than they’d find in a store. Plus, Birchbox frequently offers discounts on premium brands (like Benefit and Amika) that Ulta and Sephora rarely discount.
21. A Quip membership
Everyone should be replacing their toothbrush every three months, but it’s easy to forget to buy a new one that often. Electric toothbrush subscription services do it for you; plus, swapping brush heads is better for the environment than throwing a whole disposable toothbrush away. Quip’s chic design combines the shape and control of a manual toothbrush with the vibrating power of an electric one. Prices range from $25 for plastic or $40 for metal, and the $5 refills come every three months.
22. FabFitFun
FabFitFun is like having a birthday four times a year. Once every three months, eight to 10 full-sized products arrive at your door, and it’s really nice stuff. The variety is impressive: Boxes could contain anything from hair and makeup products to exercise gear to blankets and other cozy items. Each box is themed based on the season and members can choose three to five specific items for their box each round. A year of boxes costs $179.99, or you can get one box for $49.99.
23. A Headspace subscription
Meditation apps have become an increasingly popular way to de-stress, sleep better, and get a better grasp on mindfulness in general. Headspace has hundreds of guided meditations anchored toward everything from stress and anxiety to productivity and exercise, providing an excuse for much-needed breaks throughout the day to get back into the right headspace. Gift a monthly subscription for $12.99 per month or a year for $69.99.
24. A Craftsy membership
Think of Craftsy (formerly Bluprint, but now back to the original name after the mysterious closing of Bluprint in May 2020) as MasterClass for people who could spend three hours in Hobby Lobby. This artsy service offers over 1,500 video classes teaching everything from embroidery, to macaroon baking, to floral arrangements led by industry professionals. (Fabric supply kits are no longer available for purchase.) Gift a membership for $7.99 per month or $79.99 for the whole year.
25. Subscription boxes for kids
Keeping kids busy on one Saturday can be a task, let alone busy for multiple months at home. Kid-friendly subscription boxes pick up where TV leaves off, offering hours worth of hands-on activities to do alone or with parents each month. Our favorites include learning about other countries with Little Passports, making math and science fun with KiwiCo, or organic (and very colorful) baking with Foodstirs.
26. A Grove Collaborative VIP membership
The quest for effective, natural household products shouldn’t require a trip to some expensive specialty shop. The Grove Collaborative has one of the best online selections of eco-friendly cleaning, baby, pet, and bath brands like Mrs. Meyers and hello. You don’t have to subscribe to shop here, but the $19.99 per year VIP membership gets free scheduled shipments every month versus a usual flat rate of $4.99 for shipping.
(Personal anecdote: I live in NYC and, surprise, had roaches in my first two apartments. I got Aunt Fanny’s Roach Remedy from the Grove Collaborative and it worked 100 times better than any mainstream brand I’ve ever used.)
27. An Amazon Audible subscription
A subscription to Amazon Audible expands their entertainment options far past music, whether they have a boring commute or need background noise while working from home. $15 for one month, $45 for three months, and so on gets your gift recipient access to three audiobooks per month, plus 30% off all other selections. Titles are read by talent like Michelle Obama and Jonathan Van Ness.
28. A Book of the Month subscription
Being in a book club with strangers across the country is a bookworm’s dream. That’s essentially what Book of the Month is: The company’s judges (which include up-and-coming authors themselves) feature five must-reads each month. Then, the subscriber chooses which one(s) they want based on synopses and reviews from other readers. Give a gift subscription starting at $49.99 for three months.
29. An Omaha Steaks gift card
Shopping for premium cuts of meat or decent seafood can get as expensive as going out to eat. Omaha Steaks offers choice cuts, packages of burgers, really nice filet mignon, and more in larger portions and at better prices than many IRL stores, all delivered to your door in vacuum-sealed packaging. Meal boxes, family portions, and sides like au gratin are also available, and everything comes with easy-to-follow instructions (even for people who are definitely not meat connoisseurs).
30. An Atlas Coffee Club subscription
Anyone who thinks that their Starbucks go-to is the pinnacle of coffee is about to be blown away by the menu at Atlas Coffee Club. Each month, Atlas spotlights a few sustainably-farmed coffee beans from a specific country as “Coffee of the Month” options, which are available in monthly subscriptions from 15 to 60 cups. Imagine spending less than $30 to have two cups of coffee per day for an entire month.
31. The Sill subscription box for beginners
Indoor plants are an easy solution for loneliness not only because they can take a space from drab to homey, but also because it just feels good to take care of something. The Sill’s Potted Plants for Beginners subscription eases you into the ropes of plant parenthood by sending one easy-care potted plant for $35 per month.
32. A Task Rabbit gift card
Do your grandparents need someone to mow their lawn? Does your friend need help moving? Task Rabbit connects you with local people offering freelance help for everyday tasks, from fixing WiFi to moving your entire living room set to a new apartment. Prices usually start at around $50 depending on the service, and Taskers are available to chat and answer questions before you decide who to hire.
33. An Uber or Lyft gift card
The gift of not having to walk in the rain or take public transportation with heavy groceries is a godsend. Though half of your crew might be working from home right now, they’ll be thankful to have some free rides when things go back to normal. (Uber gift cards can also be used on Uber Eats.)
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