Smarten up your festive gift-hunt
with this sleighful of bargain-tracking apps.
1. Wish
Price: Free / iPhone
There's nothing worse than demanding
relations forcing you to play Xmas present roulette and ‘surprise’ them. Better
to use Wish. Like a Twitter for present ideas you can Mow Wends and relate via
the app or Facebook to see what they're pining for-and even buy it all in-app
2. Gift Plan
Price: $3 / iPhone
This gift-organizing app is so handy it’s
probably used by Santa himself. Each of your giftees gets their own profile
page, where you can keep tabs on their interests, clothes sizes and gift ideas.
You can also get reminders for anniversaries. It certainly beats scribbled
lists on the back of receipts.
3. Amazon Windowshop
Price: Free / iPad
Face it – Amazon’s site is hardly
tablet-friendly. In fact, it’s an almighty pain in the fingertip. This sleek,
intuitive iPad app should help. It makes buying and browsing products
dangerously easy, with tablet-optimised product pages and drop-down menus.
4. Sculpteo
Price: $free / iOS
Hoovering up cheap
stocking fillers from the pound shop won't win over the in-laws. Use this 3D printing
service create personalised mugs and cups based on the profile of lucky recipient.
Sculpteo will 3D print the results pop them down the Chimney (or in the post,
at least).
5. 3DPCase
Price: Free / iOS
Picking up any old iPhone case for a present
hardly shows off your imaginative side. Another app from Sculpteo, 3DPCase lets
you 3D print an iPhone sleeve designed by your own brain. Custom prices start a
$26 and face it anything’s better than that leopard print case you got them
last year.
6. Fancy
Price: Free / iOS
Before you give in and buy everyone book
vouchers, consult this handy gift haven. Like a Pinterest for presents, you can
trawl through ideas for everything from leftfield Geekdom (a USB stick that
transforms into a leopard) to leather bags or dog gadgets. Tap on the price tag
to buy it in-app.
7. Etsy
Price: Free / Android, iPhone
If your giftee wants something original, give Etsy a go. It’s a home for small business selling millions of unique products from scarves to wallets to armchairs or toys. You can browse by product,
category and season, so you can snaffle loads of Christmas goodies that you
won't find in an M&S.
8. Decide.com
Price: Free / Android, iOS
The perfect app for the parsimonious,
Decide.com will ensure you don’t get stung when buying gadget gifts. Tell it
what you’re looking for and it’ll predict whether prices will rise or fall, and
let you know if a new model is on the way. You’ll also find reviews and price
comparisons to help make up your mind.
9. RedLaser
Price: Free / iPhone, Android, Windows
Phone
Tracking down that obscure power drill for your uncle is only half the battle - next you need
to know whether the DIY store is ripping you off. With this app you can scan barcodes
to compare prices in nearby shops or online, and you can buy directly or pick
up in-store.
10. Discogs
Price: Free / Android
Giving relatives CDs at Christmas isn't
quite the same now everyone’s hooked in to Spotify. But for still those
obsessed with discs and vinyl, this app is ideal. It plugs into the Discogs.com
store catalogue, so you can search out LPs on the go. You’ll never miss out on
that limited-ed vinyl again.
11. Jessops Phone Album
Price: Free + from $9 / iOS
If you don't quite have time to make a
personalized photo book with a service such as Blurb, try this instead. Arrange
up to 12 snaps from your iThing into a 6x4in or 7x5in booklet, complete with
cover and title. It’s delivered straight from the app. Shame it's a bit buggy
though.
12. Quidco
Price: Free / Android, iOS
If you need to save cash while still buying
toys to keep you top of the gift leaderboard, get this handy penny-saver. With
Quidco you ‘check in’ to shops, Foursquare-style sometimes getting a small
payment for doing so. If not, there are deals to be had, and the option to look
for cheap goodies nearby.
