It’s the time of the year again. People are out there, desperately trying to find a nice little Christmas gift for their family and friends. But what are you supposed to buy someone, who is not really interested in material things and who can’t carry much around because he or she is mostly living out of a backpack? Finding useful Christmas gift ideas for digital nomads that don’t cost a fortune is not that easy.
However, there are a few things that most nomads would be very happy about. Check out the following list and get some ideas and inspirations on what you could buy your nomad friend (or yourself) for Christmas.
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Perfect Gift Ideas for Digital Nomads
The following gift ideas are not only fairly affordable but also very useful and easy to carry around.
1. Global Hotspot
The one thing that no digital nomad can live without? Internet! When traveling a lot, it sometimes can get very hard to find a reliable connection. You might be able to get free WIFI somewhere but that’s either bad quality or unsafe. There are also plenty of occasions where there won’t be a hotspot around, like on a long-distance train or bus but you urgently need it for work.
That’s why hotspots are a must-have in every traveler’s backpack. You more or less have two options here:
- Get a mobile hotspot and buy a new SIM card in every country you are traveling to and top it up with data.
- Get a global hotspot and you are set wherever you go.
I personally prefer the second option simply because it’s so hassle-free. The Solis (formerly Skyroam) device fits into any pocket and you only need to pay for the days you actually use it. You switch it on and it automatically connects to a local provider. This means you don’t have to worry about buying local SIM cards anymore.
By far my favorite emergency backup plan for the internet.
If you want to learn more about it, check out my Solis review or go straight to the Solis website for more details.
2. VPN connection for one year
Since we are talking about the internet: Do you use a VPN whenever you log in to public WIFI networks? You absolutely should! Without a Virtual Private Network, it is fairly easy to hack into your smartphone or laptop and steal your data, log into your accounts, and do god-know-what with the information. This can get you into even more trouble if you have clients’ or customers’ data on your devices.
Long story short: You need a VPN to stay safe! I have been using NordVPN for years now and it never let me down. Super easy to use, has great performance, and is very affordable.
You could buy it for yourself or buy a one-year or two-year plan for your friend. It’s such a useful Christmas gift idea for digital nomads because it’s digital, no need to carry anything around, and it can save you so much trouble!
Check out my NordVPN review or head over to the NordVPN website directly.
3. Productivity planner
One of the biggest struggle digital nomads (and those who work from home) have is productivity. Most of us don’t have a set timeframe for when we need to work or a set office where we need to go to. So it is very tempting to do everything but work: explore new cities, hang out with new friends, chill on the couch or at the pool all day… There are days when it is really hard to stay focused.
A productivity planner might sound very simple but it can, in fact, do wonders for your productivity. If you start your week or your day organized, you will be surprised at how much you can get done. I’ve found this productivity planner on Amazon and I think it’s perfect for my needs. I highly recommend it to anyone who has lots of things to do and just as many distractions along with it ;)
For more productivity hacks for digital nomads, check out the linked list with my favorite tips!
4. EBook / Book / Audio Book
“Readers are leaders!” – There’s a reason why so many successful people have the habit of reading a lot. No matter if you read industry-related news, biographies of inspiring people, or books that will change your mindset for the better – you can only win when you read.
Just think about famous books like:
- “The 4-Hour Workweek” by Tim Ferris or
- “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck” by Mark Manson or
- “The Art of Non-Conformity” by Chris Guillebeau or
- “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” by Robert Kiyosaki.
Those are all fantastic books that have changed the lives of so many people. A book also doesn’t take up much space in your luggage or even none when you or your friend has an eBook. Of course, you could also go for an audiobook for everyone who prefers listening instead of reading.
Want more interesting books? Check out this list with my favorite 17 digital nomad books!
5. Gift Voucher for Online Courses
Do you want more life-changing Christmas gift ideas for digital nomads? Here we go: How about an online course or a voucher for a course?
That could literally be anything from learning how to become location-independent, how to learn a specific skill that is important for your business, like SEO, the language of the country you are traveling next, or maybe a course that teaches you how to meditate.
There are so many useful courses out there. Check out platforms like Udemy and browse through their best sellers. Again, this is a gift that every digital nomad would love because it’s useful and it doesn’t add weight to their luggage.
6. Housesitting Membership
A digital nomad is quite frequently on the hunt for new accommodation. A way of finding great places to live is housesitting. You get to stay in the houses of locals who are away because of business trips or vacations. During that time, they need someone to look after the house and maybe walk the dog or feed the cat. It’s a fantastic way to get to live like a local.
The best thing? It is free! Yes, you don’t have to pay to live there. Just imagine how much money you would usually spend on rent and now you get to save all that!
I personally love housesitting whenever I get the chance and had anything from a farmhouse to a nice villa with a pool. If you want a super useful Christmas gift idea, go for a membership with either Housecarer or Trusted Housesitters. These are the two most popular websites to find housesitting places.
7. Online Subscriptions
Now that’s a very precise heading, isn’t it? ;) There are tons of great subscriptions out there, that many digital nomads would appreciate. You can decide on your own for how long you want to “sponsor” your mate with any of them. And, you’ve guessed it, they are absolutely brilliant for travelers because they are digital – nothing to carry around.
Here are some ideas:
- FlexJobs: remote jobs
- Netflix: shows & movies
- Spotify: music
- iTunes: apps
- Freeletics: workouts
- Headspace: meditation
8. Headphones
Since many of these ideas are digital and require some type of listening, you obviously need headphones of decent quality. Headphones are pretty much part of the basic equipment of every digital nomad. You need them to stay in contact with family and friends, communicate with clients and team members, and listen to all of your brand-new audiobooks, online courses, or subscriptions ;)
You have two options here: You can either go for big ones that cover the entire ears or earbuds, which are way smaller and easier to carry. There are advantages and disadvantages to both of them but I think in the end it all comes down to personal preference. I have used the Boltune Bluetooth Headphones and can definitely recommend them.
9. Electronic Cable Organizer
Don’t you just hate it when all of your cables get mixed up in your bag and you spend forever detangling them? Stop wasting time on that! This wonderful little cable organizer bag helps you keep everything organized and structured.
Since it is very small and lightweight it is perfect for traveling. The case is also water-resistant and durable. It will protect your gear from scratches and dust. A great gift for everyone who is traveling with quite a few accessories and wants to keep them safe and organized.
Get Your Christmas Gifts Now!
As you can see, there are some great Christmas gift ideas for digital nomads that fit every budget. Most of them are also digital which means there is no additional luggage to carry around. Perfect for travelers who love being minimalists.
Since Christmas is just around the corner, make sure you are well prepared and surprise your nomad friend with one of those great ideas (or buy them for yourself).
If you need more inspiration for potential gifts, head over to my other post where I list even more gift ideas for travelers and nomads. And if that’s still not enough, I’m sure you will find plenty of great ideas in my packing checklist and carry-on checklist. It’s almost impossible not to find the right gift in all of those posts ;).
Thanks a lot, Sabina! Yup, two of the main struggles of this lifestyle. But it’s great we have ways to tackle them ;)
These are great ideas. I particularly like the idea of SkyRoam and the productivity planner. Internet when you’re traveling is always a concern so it would be good to know for sure I’ll have stable internet when I arrive. And you are right that having no one to answer to but yourself when you work online can be detrimental to productivity. I’ll be getting an accountability buddy in 2019 to help with this.