Need a unique gift idea for a kid who’s inquisitive or loves nature or science? This video shows some great plant-related novelty gifts that are geared toward a younger set.

If you’re looking for the best web sites to shop from this Christmas season, PC Magazine has listed several top shopping sites in its Top 100 Web Sites of 2009. Included in this year’s list:

• Amazon.com—where you will find just about anything.
• Etsy.com—the place for unique hand-made gifts.
• Craigslits.org—the site for buying, selling, and trading.

PC Magazine also identified its top “undiscovered” shopping sites. That list includes:

• TheAwesomer.com—Where you go to find gifts for that special guy.
• Coolspotters.com—To identify what all the coolest people are wearing and where to get it.
• Voyij.com—To find the cheapest flights to anywhere in the world.

Everyone knows someone who loves bacon. It’s evident in the wide variety of bacon-related products now available. You can now buy everything from bacon-scented air fresheners to bacon-flavored doughnuts. But what do you give to that bacon fan who already has everything? Read on for some ideas.

Make a food-related basket that might include such unusual bacony treats as Mo’s Bacon Choco Chip Pancake Mix, Vosges Choco Bacon Caramel Toffee, and a jar of Baconnaise bacon-flavored spread.

To add the look of bacon around the home, give these bacon-printed placemats. They’re made of vinyl, but look just like strips of bacon.

If you’re more into homemade gifts, you might try creating this crocheted bacon scarf. After all, who wouldn’t look great wrapped in a giant strip of bacon? As a bonus, it will keep the recipient just-out-of-the-frying-pan warm!

There are many other bacon-related items available online, but this list is sure to get your search going for the ultimate gift for your breakfast meat fan!

All of us have at least one or two people on our gift lists who prove to be quite a challenge. It’s hard to wander through the mall, totally empty-handed, wondering what on earth you can buy for these one or two people who always seem to stump us every year. This week, the Unique Gifts Online blog is suggesting that you turn to personalized gifts when you’re in a pinch, and they offer some nice suggestions too.

Caught without a gift for someone? Got a surprise guest for Christmas dinner? If you need a gift in a hurry, don’t stress. This video clip features several different “last-minute” gifts that are easy to pick up at discount stores, even on Christmas Eve, without breaking the bank.

Are you struggling to find a great gift idea for your boyfriend? Laura from the Christmas Gift Ideas blog has come up with some perfect ideas for any boyfriend, no matter how long you’ve been together. All you’ll need to do is think of what he’s interested in and cater to those interests.

Finding stocking stuffers your teenage boy will love doesn’t have to be as difficult as it sounds. There are many great gifts you can stick in his stocking that he will probably love. For some stocking stuffer ideas sure to please your teenager, visit the Stocking Stuffers blog.

If you or someone you love got a Wii Fit for Christmas last year and loved it at first but has become a bit bored with it, you might want to check out Nintendo’s new addition to the Balance Board platform–Wii Fit Plus. This upgrade to the original Wii Fit game adds several mini games, the ability to string together a strength of yoga workout without interruption, and the ability to play balance games without having to create a profile. For a full rundown and review of new features, check out this review from N-Sider.com.

As much as retailers don’t like it, consumers just aren’t spending much money right now–on anything. Most Americans are focused on buying the essentials and eliminating the extras, and socking away as much extra money as they can. Some are doing it out of necessity, and others are doing it out of safety. Regardless, this lack of spending could spell disaster for many stores during the Christmas season, which retailers typically depend on to make most of their profits for the year.

In order to make up the difference, stores like Wal-mart, Target, and Toys R Us are having to come up with creative market strategies to encourage consumers to buy the “extras” this Christmas (and to choose their store to buy them in).

At Wal-mart, you’ll find a $10 toy section featuring more than 100 toys that have been “rolled back” in price. Target is leveraging the power of their many designer labels to encourage consumers to buy discount designer products at their store, ranging from clothes to home décor items and makeup. Toys R Us is opening more stores to make it easier for customers to shop there–they’ll open about 300 temporary “Toys R Us Holiday Express” shops across the country.

Sears and K-mart have started a “Christmas club” of sorts, by offering customers the ability to load money little by little on a debit card, and they’ll receive a 3% bonus in November, up to $100. K-mart also offers layaway, for those who prefer to reserve their purchases now and make payments as Christmas comes closer.

I think we’ll see a lot of deep discount sales and promotions that encourage consumer loyalty this Christmas, as stores fight for what little business there will be. With unemployment percentages so high, the money is simply not there for many people who would ordinarily spend several hundred dollars on Christmas gifts. How will your spending habits be changing this year?

Each year, there are several e-mails that circulate that give instructions for sending gifts and Christmas cards to soldiers overseas or in military hospitals. But does this generically-addressed mail actually make it to the soldiers? According to the Christmas Myths blog, the answer is no. Check out their blog to find legitimate ways for sending tokens of appreciation to our soldiers.