Baby steps, y’all, I know. Parents are hard to shop for because all they want is love from their grandchildren and grand-fur-babies — or so they CLAIM — and they insist that we save our money and don’t spend it on something as frivolous as them. The good news is, if you want to buy them something meaningful and useful (srsly, useful gifts are the best gifts), then you’ve come to the right place. Here are 10 gift ideas that are technologically convenient but also super easy to use; they will be perfect for the (grand)parent in your life and they’ll help them stay “hip.”

Oh, yeah:

Without further ado, here are 10 great tech gifts that are useful and easy to use:

1. A SPEAKER/VOICE ASSISTANT | Full disclosure, I wasn’t gonna write that in caps, but then, I thought, if you can hear your parent yelling that at you, you know it’s the perfect gift for them. A Google Home or Amazon’s Alexa is a great gift for parents trying to keep up with the times, and it’s super easy to use. Bonus: it does awesome things, like tell you fun facts, fact-check at dinner parties, make phone calls for you, play Youtube and Netflix on your TV, and it even acts as a PA system if you have multiple (perfect for the generation that’s used to phones that don’t leave the wall, amiright?) | COST: $25-$120 on sale
2. A FITBIT | I love having a Fitbit so I can keep track of how much sleep I get, how many steps I take, and my heart rate at any given time (surprisingly high, thx @ anxiety). This is a great little gadget for Boomers because it can help them stay on top of their health, PLUS it’s a watch. As humans age, we tend to have a lot of compounding illnesses, so being able to track your heart rate and exercise throughout the day is just one less thing you need to worry about! | COST: $80-$260 on sale
3. A NETFLIX SUBSCRIPTION | Netflix is a rabbit hole of amazing TV shows and movies that no one should have to live without (#firstworldproblems, but you know what I mean). Make sure your ‘rents are fully aware that even documentaries can be biased, though, otherwise the generation that escaped polio unscathed will be all aboard the anti-vax train to woo-ville, and that’s a trip NO ONE needs. | COST: $9-$14 per month, depending on how fancy you’re feeling ($108-$168 for the year)
4. A TV BOX | This one is handy if your Boomer relative usually only uses one TV. TV boxes can have apps (including Netflix and other subscription providers like Hulu) that allow them to choose what they want. This is a great option if they have basic cable (imagine being able to afford this luxury) but are also movie buffs. You can access pretty much anything from a TV Box for a reasonable monthly fee! | COST: there are so many options, but the boxes are around $100 and subscriptions around $15
5. A TABLET | Tablets are easy enough to learn how to use, plus they have the big screen which is helpful for those with ailing vision (my vision is so bad, so I’m speaking from experience here). A tablet is a feasible gift that will allow your relative to have everything they need within arm’s reach (and it’s big enough that they /probably/ won’t forget they need it; no promises, though). Reader be warned: you might start receiving a lot more chain letters via Facebook Messenger if you go this gift route. | COST: $80+ depending on brand, storage, etc.
6. A SELFIE STICK OR CELL PHONE TRIPOD | Unflattering angles and close-up selfies have gone on for far too long! Save Facebook profile pictures once and for all! There’s a simple solution: everyone over the age of 50 needs a selfie stick for when they travel and otherwise leave the house. You’ll thank me later. | COST: Selfie sticks are $5+, tripods are a bit more ($20+) but come with a bluetooth remote
7. AN E-READER | I’ve heard good things about e-readers, but I’m not about to betray my books in the FLESH. (OK, so I may have borrowed Travis’ Kobo a few times). These are great because you can change the font size and the background lighting! This is definitely a bonus for people who really shouldn’t be straining their eyes to read but can’t get enough of literary goodness. | COST: $80+
8. A TURNTABLE | This isn’t the most tech-y thing, but turntables have come a long way technologically, so it’d be a pretty rad gift for a music lover! Most of them have an auxiliary or bluetooth option, too, so you’re not just limited to records. Pro-tip: check out thrift stores and used book stores for amazing records at great prices! | COST: $60+
9. A GPS | A lot of Boomers have cars that don’t have a GPS built-in, so buying one for them is a great way to help them get around. Plus, think about all of the trees you’ll save when your relative stops printing out the directions! It won’t even begin to counteract the environmental havoc boomers have wreaked, but hey, it’s the thought that counts (until the world ends because of climate change). | COST: $45+
10. A ROBOT VACUUM | These are definitely a bit pricier, but a great buy if you have a bigger budget or you’re doing a family gift! Robot vacuums can be set so that they clean while you’re asleep or at work. Get a boomer a gift that keeps on giving, like a steady job with a pension, only millennials have access to this one. | COST: $200+

 

Of course, if “tech” isn’t really up their alley, you can always just splurge on some avocados and a loaf of bread!