Have you ever had a "Doh!" moment, when you felt like slapping yourself in the forehead because you missed something that should  have been obvious?  I had one of those recently when a friend started talking about how he could find just about anything using "search strings" in Google.  To keep a long story short, basically, if you know how to build a good query, Google can pinpoint a lot of cool stuff.  So why am I talking about this here?  Simply because you can use this method to find some great discounted prices.

Finding Popular Items at Discount Prices

I realized that with some practice, I could probably dig up discounts on popular items being sold online.  I was right.  This is a very cool trick, but I'm not going to bore you with the details.  Instead, I'm going to show you the results (which you will love)!

Below you will find a collection of items that I compiled.  It consists of VERY popular items selling on Amazon that meet the following requirements:

1.  They are popular.  Each item has at least 20 reviews.

2.  People like them.  To make my list, the item has to have an average of 4 out of a possible 5 stars.

3.  They are discounted at least 25%.  Many items shown here are discounted much more than that, but I had to have a cut-off point and 1/4 off seemed pretty reasonable.

It has taken me a while to build this list, and I'll do my best to keep it updated.  If you happen to find that a discount has ended when you check it out, drop me a line, please, and I'll fix it.  Whatever price is showing on the actual Amazon site is the price that counts.  By the way, I generally choose to show Amazon because they are well established and provide outstanding customer service.  When you order something from them, you don't have to wonder if it will arrive.

CLICK HERE to see the current discount prices and to read the reviews.  You can search out these items yourself too, but it will probably take you hours to put the list together, trust me.  If you like this list, please feel free to tell some friends about it!

I love the holiday season.  I'm not too crazy about the cold weather, but it's a small price to pay for the fun and excitement that starts building up right after Thanksgiving.  By the time Christmas rolls around, I feel like a kid again as I watch my own children rush down the steps to see what Santa brought them.  One thing I'm not too good about though is Christmas shopping.  I've historically been a bit of a procrastinator.  I'm not one of the people you'll see on the news, shopping on Christmas Eve, but I usually only beat them by a day or two.  I guess as much as I like the holiday, I'm a bit of a Grinch when it comes to dealing with the crowd at the local shopping mall.

For Christmas 2011, I'm challenging myself to be done shopping at least a week before the big day arrives.  I might even finish wrapping before December 24.  To help me achieve my goal, I'm putting technology to work for me.  One of the nifty side effects of the internet and technology explosion is that BIG online retailers have started catering to people like me.  I didn't realize how much until I saw THIS.

Now you don't have to wait until Black Friday to get deals, and if you do happen to wait, you still don't have to deal with the giant crowds that make their annual pilgrimage to the parking lot of the local WalMart!  I know that a lot of folks really get into the hustle, bustle and excitement of having people elbow their way in front of them for the last deep discount item, but that just isn't for me.  I much prefer sipping my coffee and listening to some Christmas tunes while I shop.  Heck, I might even eat some cold leftover stuffing while I'm at it!  Seriously, if you haven't checked out these deals, or if you are just royally stuck for some good ideas, you should check this out!

I'm sure that there will always be people who love to rub shoulders with the holiday crowds while they shop.  My wife adores Black Friday and starts the countdown to it right around Halloween.  For me though, the convenience of shopping from home wins every time.

Christmas gifts for menChristmas gifts for men can be a challenge if the man in question does not drop a lot of hints.

If you can't think of any way to connect a gift to something that he enjoys doing, take a look at some of these ideas and follow the links in the article for possible ideas that will spark your imagination.  You can always go out to the mall and jostle around with the crowds and traffic if that is what floats your boat, but there are so many options available online today, that I really prefer shopping from home whenever possible.  I find that the savings in time and gas money are well worth whatever shipping charges I may end up paying.  I've also noticed that shipping discounts are also available on a number sites after crossing some specific spending threshold.  That is a definite bonus if you were planning on spending the money anyway.

Corporate Gifts

If the man you are buying for is more of a professional acquaintance, you may want to go the route of the corporate gift.  These are gifts that say that you thought about the person, but do not get touchy feely in any way.  Gift baskets are a pretty safe bet in this genre of gift giving.  They usually contain some pretty nice stuff that most men don't run out and buy for themselves.  I don't know about other men, but my favorite baskets either contain useful gadgets or edible stuff.  It is hard to go wrong with these.  Besides gift baskets, there are tons of these types of gifts available.  Of course, they aren't just for business situations.  they would make good presents for the mailman (or woman), a favorite teacher, or any other person you might feel deserves something, but with whom you have had little personal contact.  If you know something about the person, it will make things a little easier to narrow down, but you can find some good ideas to get you started here.

Corporate Gifts - Here is what you will learn inside this guide...

Golf Gift Ideas

Books for Men

Books for Men

If the man you are buying for enjoys reading, there are always new books you can pick up for him to check out.  The problem is not knowing which books are any good.  I'd hate to buy a book and give it as a present only to find out later that it really stunk.  With a bit of sorting, I've dug up the top rated books for men available on Amazon.  You might want to take a look for some ideas.  All of the books listed are rated at least 4 stars out of 5, so a lot of people like them.  You can also check out the reader reviews while you're there.

The Man's Book: The Essential Guide for the Modern Man

Tree of Life: A Book of Wisdom for Men

Electronics Gifts for Men

Apple iPod touch 32GB (4th Generation) - Black - Current Version

Click to View Product Details

$272.95

Some of you probably know that you could have just skipped to this section automatically.  It might sound a bit stereotypical, but it seems to me that most guys really enjoy electronics.  Maybe not every electronic device, because some can get pretty frustrating, but in general, electronics usually equal fun in most guy's minds.  There are thousands of different options when you go for the electronics department for gifts.  Of course games are always fun, but you don't want to ignore the current technological revolution.  Things move so fast now, that some men might be suffering from a bit of electronics envy if all of their friends have passed them by over the last year.  Yes, things really move that fast in electronics land.  There is a lot of great electronic stuff out there right now.  As you might expect though, there is also some stuff that is either just stupid or which borders on junk.  Here is a listing of top electronics gifts that are hot right now.  All of these were rated at least 4 out of 5 stars4 out of 5 stars by reviewers on Amazon's site. There is a TON to choose from in this area. You can spend a little or a lot when it comes to electronics.

JLab USB Laptop Speakers - Portable, Compact, Travel Notebook Speaker for PC and Mac - B-Flex Hi-Fi Stereo USB Laptop Speaker - Pearl White

1GB MP3 Sunglasses with voice recorder For men

Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS Receiver With Heart Rate Monitor

In general though, prices are pretty good for most of the popular items today. There is a ton of competition and sellers have to do what they can to keep their prices within reach of customers. I like to focus on Amazon a lot because they deal in such immense volumes, that they can often pass along price breaks that no one else can come close to matching.

If All Else Fails

There are literally tens of thousands (at least) of great and original presents for men to choose from during the holiday season.  It doesn't matter whether you are celebrating Christmas or a holiday of your own preference.

Christmas Gift Cards

This is a time of giving and retailers are doing all they can to present interesting things to you.  If you just cannot find anything that is just right though, there is the old standby, the gift card.  These can be purchased for just about any place you can think of nowadays and they give the recipient the chance to buy exactly what they want.  Of course, it does take away a little bit from the whole "personal touch" thing, but some folks honestly just prefer to be shown the money.  No problem.  It actually makes things easier for everyone, but the choice is yours.  You can check out a variety of gift cards here.

I hope this post has helped a few people to come up with ideas for creative Christmas presents for men that they care about.  Use your imagination, but keep what the guy really enjoys in mind too.  If you get too cute with your ideas for gifts, it could backfire on you.  No one likes to watch a gift just sit there.  Whatever Christmas presents for men that you choose, make it something that will be put to use and make the recipient smile!

Mr. Beer Premium Gold Edition Home Brew Kit Review

There’s always a reason to give a gift to that special man in your life. But shopping for the right gift can be really challenging. Forget the typical gifts for men like watches, belts, wallets and cologne.  Consider going for an unusual present that will get put to use right away.  If the man in your life loves beer, then why not present him with the Mr. Beer Gold Edition Home Brew Kit? This is a unique gift that is good to give no matter what the season.

This is a great gift idea for anyone who likes a cold one once in a while. The Mr. Beer kit comes with everything shown here.

Once he gets the hang of brewing his own beer, he’ll never go back to the store again! With the Mr. Beer Premium Gold Edition Home Brew kit, he can make his favorite brew right at home. This beer brewer will also come in handy whenever there are dinners or casual gatherings to host.

Mr. Beer Home Brew Kit Product Description

The Mr. Beer Brew Kit is a 2-gallon beer fermenting keg that comes with everything you need to brew your beer at home. The kit includes 2 packs of brew mixes (classic American and Cowboy Lager). Made of FDA-compliant plastic, the keg is certified food grade by the Food and Drug Administration. The lightweight, unbreakable keg and its lid and tap assembly are suitable for hand washing only. The keg measures a total of 9.5 x 13 x 9 inches. The set comes with refillable beer bottles with caps and an instruction booklet for easy to follow brewing steps.

Mr. Beer Home Brew Kit Features

• 2-Gallon, Shatter-Resistant Fermenting Keg. This FDA-compliant plastic keg is lightweight and holds up to 2 gallons of brew.
• The keg, lid and tap assembly is easy to clean and sanitize.
• 1 2-gallon mix pack of Classic American Brew (Blonde Ale with Booster). A smooth and mild brew with a crisp, dry taste. It gives a distinctive American taste.
• 1 2-gallon mix pack of Cowboy Lager Brew. Has an extraordinary smoothness and distinct hop flavor.
• 8 pieces of 1-liter reusable plastic bottles with screw-on caps. Used to store brews. Additional bottles are available.
• 8 brew labels.  Keeps the different brews organized and properly labeled.
• Requires only 4 steps to start brewing.
• The box includes a one-step sanitizing cleanser for keg sanitizing.
• The keg, tap, lid and bottles can be easily cleaned by using warm water with mild soap.

Pros

• The keg is made of FDA-approved plastic

• Lightweight and shatter-resistant

• Comes with 2 brew packs of distinct beer flavors

• Makes up to 2 gallons of beer at a time

• More flavors are available if you want to experiment with different tastes and styles

• 4-step brewing instructions that are easy for beginners to follow

• Easy to assemble

• Easy to clean

Cons

• Not dishwasher safe

About the Mr. Beer Premium Gold Edition Home Brew Kit

Beer brewing right in your own home is not a common practice, but with the help of Mr. Beer Brew Kit, you can start doing it now. This model is a beginner’s beer brewing set. If you want to learn how to make your own brew, then you can rely on Mr. Beer for your starter kit.

With Mr. Beer, the beer making process is simple. You just have to follow the simple directions thoroughly and make sure that you sanitize the kit before brewing. This will ensure that your beer will be properly brewed and that you will kill any bacteria that might be present. So, it is really crucial that you sanitize exactly as instructed in the manual. You will see that the directions are easy to follow, from sanitizing down to the conditioning of the bottled product.

The minimum time it takes for the mix to sit in the keg is seven days. The longer it sits, the more flavorful it will be. After it sits for about a week, you then need to let the beer ferment in the bottles that come with the kit. The best taste and flavor come from letting them sit in the bottles for as long as possible before putting them in the fridge.

The finished product can be bottled using the provided PET bottles, but you can also use any reusable bottles or whatever suits you, as long as the container is airtight.

There are two hitches though. First, the keg, along with its attachments, is not dishwasher safe, so you have to clean it by hand. It’s important to avoid using regular dish soap and anything abrasive when cleaning it.  Second, the ingredients and accessories are only sold on the official Mr. Beer website, which charges a lot for shipping.

Most consumers were happy with this beer kit saying that it was super easy to brew home made beer.  Here is a link to read more customer reviews.

Recommendation

Overall, the Mr. Beer Premium Gold Edition Kit is a good buy and would make a great present for any man who enjoys drinking a few beers every once in a while. It is perfect for beer-lovers who want to try different kinds of brews. You get everything you need to brew two batches, or four gallons worth of beer. It sells for under fifty dollars on Amazon.com and is available with free shipping.

If you are looking for gifts for men for Christmas or a birthday then a good idea might be to buy the Lost complete series DVD for them! Why do I think this is a good idea? Well I am a man and I want one!! I really am hoping someone buys it for me this Christmas, I have dropped enough hints so just have my fingers crossed now. If not I will be buying it for myself for sure.

Lost: The Complete Collection

Obviously make sure the guy you are buying for is a fan of the show, and if he is a fan then he will love you for it!

Every guy has a little bit of a geeky side to them which is why we love sci-fi style shows. Lost is like a modern day star wars in the amount of cult fan base it has and if you are a fan of the show you simply need to own the DVDs. Now, the show is over you can watch every episode and relive every crazy moment from the 6 seasons it aired.

Men like me will love the chance to be able to do that as this was a show which was definitely worth a good re-watch as it presented so many questions and mysteries. What makes the set so good is all the extras involved. There are deleted scenes, “making of” documentary and hours of other behind the scenes footage that has many lost fans salivating at the thought. Plus the rumour of some previously unreleased footage is no longer a rumour and has got everyone really excited!

Make your man happy and buy him a lost complete series set!

I am writing many articles online about good gifts for men, also check out my article on Chuck Taylors on sale for some cool casual men’s shoes! Every man loves those!