DIY jet airplane kit

Click image to enlarge

A company called Sonex has a program called Hornet's Nest Research which is developing a DIY kit to build a personal jet aircraft which they call a VVLJ (Very, Very Light Jet). I would suggest it as a budget gift idea -- since they say it ewill only cost as much as a new S-LSA factory-built aircraft, whatever the heck that is -- but they're not taking orders yet.

Below is a video about it that includes some scenes of it flying.

Budget gift ideas -- The Mega Plumber Action Hero

In these uncertain economic times, as a public service, I've suggested budget gift items to help you find the perfect present to put under your Christmas Holiday tree.

The first gift I recommend this season is the Mega Plumber Action Hero by American Standard. As explained by them, "[he] is the virtuous leader of the American Standard Plumber Protects League. A Master Plumber, he is an expert in sewage, drainage, industrial plant piping, and all potable water systems."

As if that isn't good enough, the Mega Plumber Action Hero comes with his own tools, a Champion 4 toilet to install and an 8 page comic book detailing his adventures -- all for only $10.

Man, try and tell me that Barbie wouldn't dump that drip Ken in a second for the Mega Plumber Action Hero. This is a must have item for your holiday gift giving.
    

Budget Holiday gift ideas for procrastinators

If you're reading this looking for Christmas gifts, you may have procrastinated too long to get one shipped to you on time. What to do? You could go to a brick and mortar store and by the sort of junk they sell, or you could buy them a gift so dazzling that they won't mind having to wait a bit before it comes. 

If you go the later route I suggest the replica Apollo 17 Space Suit from Space Toys. Each is custom made with metal hose fittings, plenty of hoses, two sun shields including the outer gold visor, a snoopy cap to keep your hair in place, a metal front pack, space gloves and space boots. There is no mention of space underwear (or space dainties as the Victorians called them), so you'll have to provide them yourself.

Yes, yes, at $10,250 this might seem to be a wee bit out of the budget category, but don't blame me -- you're the one who procrastinated and got yourself into this fix in the first place. Besides, imagine your loved one's eyes lighting up with joy when they unwrap it. Why, in no time they'll have it on and will be walking across your front yard in slow motion as they simulate exploring the moon! 

I come in pieces

However, if you are such a cold-hearted cheapskate that you won't buy your loved one a space suit there are other alternatives at the Space Toys site. 

Some are bit pricey, but I did manage to find an educational Transparent Roswell Alien model kit for an affordable $37.99. Further, if you order it tonight, and pay for 2nd day express shipping, you should get it by Christmas Eve day.

Whatever your decision, the Space Toys site is a hoot, and it has some things you won't find anywhere else. Give it a look if you have somebody who might like a space themed present in the future, or if you collect this sort of stuff yourself.  
  

Budget Holiday gift wrapping to the rescue!

In case you've accidentally spent most of your gift money buying yourself a Parrot Drone -- an understandable dilemma to find yourself in --never fear, with a little creativity you can still get gifts for your loved ones too. 

For example, you could pick up your knitting needles and knit a sweater for your child or significant other. If you need some inspiration the blog MomToMomTalk has some lovely Christmas sweater examples in their post Don’t knit these Christmas Sweaters. If needles aren't your forte, you could consider browsing the bargain book rack at your local book store where you might find a gem like this for only a dollar or so. With just a little thought there are all manner of affordable gifts you could buy or make.

Regardless of whatever cheap garbage thoughtful and personal gift you end up getting, you should then wrap it in something that adds a little oomph to its presentation. 

I suggest some amusing fake gift packaging from Prank Pack. Above is pictured their Bathe & Brew box. They have several other variations of fake product packaging available at their site. You place your crappy present inside of it and hope the recipient is so distracted by the silly product the package illustrates that they don't notice how cheap what you gave them really is.

Ho-ho-ho. Won't that add hours of laughter and joy to your Holidays!
 
  

Budget Holiday decorations

Picture shamelessly swiped from Ned Hardy

I've been suggesting budget Christmas Holiday gift ideas for these difficult economic times. In case you've blown all of your money buying your friends and family members Lego Weapon Packs, Parrot Drones or Japanese Poking Boxes, and don't have any left for Holiday decorations do not despair.

As you can see with a little creativity, and a pile of books you're not reading anyway because you now spend all your time on the internet watching funny YouTube videos, you can create a festive Holiday tree to brighten up your home.
  

Budget holiday gifts -- Tuttuki Bako poking box

Fun! Fun! Fun!

As a public service, during these tough economic times, I've been suggesting gift ideas for the budget minded. Today I present the Japanese Tuttuki Bako poking box.

The Tuttuki Bako is an alarm clock that features a hole in the side that allows you to digitally poke things. Press the button on the front once and you can poke at a little blob, press the button again and you get a menu of games where you poke stuff -- a little panda bear, stick figures, fish and a face. The instructions are in Japanese so good luck figuring out what the heck the rules of the poking games are. Still, as you can see from the video below, it is all great fun.

You can get it in blue, red or black and it costs a mere $49, which I assume is a bargain for a combination alarm clock/poking box. Just imagine the hours of fun your little ones will have poking things! And seeing what time it is! And hearing the alarm! And poking things!

Budget holiday gifts -- the Parrot AR Drone

Hot babes will drape themselves over you as you fly your Parrot AR Drone
Image from Brookstone's AP Drone catalog page

Continuing my series on budget holiday gift ideas for these trying economic times today I recommend the Parrot AR Drone. Sure, at nearly $300 there will be some killjoys -- like the sort that complained that the price of an airplane ticket to Australia knocked the Big Avocado out of the category as a budget vacation -- who will say this is a bit pricey to be a budget gift. My response to their Scroogery: flying video cameras! 

The Parrot AR Drone is a quadcopter with both forward and downward looking cameras that is controlled via Wifi from an iPhone, iPad or Android device. It can be flown indoors and outdoors.

Below are a couple of videos about the Parrot AR Drone. In the first one a fellow unboxes the Parrot AR Drone and steps through a pretty good discussion of its features, sensors and means of control before taking a brief test flight with it.

The second video explains how to modify it to accommodate cheaper and longer lasting batteries (out of the box a fully charged battery only gives about 15 minutes of flight). They then also take it for a brief test flight.

Budget Holiday gift ideas

Properly equipped Lego warriors

Since we're deep into September and the little ankle-biters are back in school not many families are vacationing at this moment. For that reason I'm switching from my series on budget vacation suggestions to budget holiday gift suggestions. It may seem early to be discussing Christmas, ooops... I mean Holiday presents, but I say it is never to early to search for a bargain to brighten a loved one's day as they tear open their packages in an unseemly orgy of greed.

One of problems with Lego blocks is that the little people who come with them are dorks. This naturally causes a problem if your little tyke is building a Lego pillbox which needs some soldiers to defend it. I'm happy to report that Brickarms solves the problem. 

They offer a full line of high-powered weaponry for the little block guys, and not all of them are grinning idiots. To the right is a detail of one of the little guys, and as you can see not only does it have a suitably fierce expression, it is also sporting some camouflage makeup. Definitely an improvement.

They have wide selection of weapons packs and quite a variety of weapons. Along with the usual assortment of shotguns, pistols, rifles and machine guns, you can get swords, retro-looking ray guns, spy trade weapons and helmets.

One of my favorite packs, since lately I've been spending more time than I care to admit clubbing zombies back to their proper state of death in the video game Dead Island, was the Zombie Defense Pack (pictured below). I like the inclusion of baseball and cricket bats in it, although a chainsaw would also have been a handy addition. 

So, if you're looking for a gift for your young Rambo, look no further than Brickarms for your holiday gift needs.

Zombie Defense Pack - click to embiggen