12 Gift Ideas That Save Money for the Recipient

Have visions of sugarplums turned to dreams of saving a pretty penny? This year, the gift of money could be just what your friends and family are looking for. But if you don't want to resort to cash (a tad impersonal) or gift cards (uninspired at best), try these 12 gifts that deliver a savings boost without sacrificing personality and panache:

1) Movie-rental subscription
Movie lover on your list? He could spend the night in with a new release rather than spend money at the box office or on DVD rentals and late fees. A subscription allows him to make a list, or queue, of the movies he'd like to see. The DVDs come right to the recipient's mailbox. They're sent one at a time, and after he returns each one, he'll soon receive the next movie on his list. Netflix imposes no limit to the number of movies you can get each month, and there are no late fees. Cost to you: $9 a month or $108 a year

2) Espresso machine for an at-home coffee shop
Let's say your friend spends $3 on a 16-ounce latte at a certain well-known coffee chain each morning before work. That's about $60 a month. Understanding the importance of this morning boost, you could bring the coffee shop to your friend's kitchen counter. For the cost of milk and espresso beans, she'll save money as her own barista and have fun with a new kitchen gizmo. Cost to you: from $60 (Target) to $300 (Williams-Sonoma)

3) A smarter power strip
The U.S. Department of Energy says 75% of the electricity needed to run home appliances is consumed while they are shut off. With a "smart" power strip, such as the one from Gaiam, you can plug your main device (TV or computer) into the main-source plug. When the strip senses the gadget has been powered down, it blocks electricity to the peripherals (DVD player or printer, for example) you have plugged in. But the strip also has outlets that stay on all the time, for appliances you want at the ready. Cost: $39

4) Cooking classes
Give a man a fish, he'll eat for a day -- but teach a man to fish, and he'll save money. Cooking classes or seminars can be a way to cut your recipient's restaurant budget. Check community calendars for seminars, or look to chains such as Williams-Sonoma and Sur la Table for a schedule of seminars -- for example, the Sushi and Hand Roll Workshop at Sur la Table, a hands-on session, for about $90 (varies by location). And, of course, you get to eat the food you prepare during the sessions. Cost to you: varies

5) AAA membership
In addition to a little extra peace of mind as you drive over the hills and through the woods, a AAA membership offers countless cost savings. Members are entitled to free tire changes, free delivery of gasoline for an empty tank (they pay only for the fuel) and other services. The AAA card can be presented for discounts off the road, too -- deals include 30% off at LensCrafters, 20% off at Best Western hotels and 10% off at Barnes & Noble. Cost to you: $64 a year

6) At-home fitness equipment
If someone on your list has a New Year's resolution to get fit, or maybe a gym membership from which he isn't getting his money's worth, a few pieces of at-home fitness gear might make a great gift -- say, a set of dumbbells and a pair of running shoes, a yoga mat and instructional DVD, or a Wii Fit set for a Wii console owner. Cost to you: varies

7) National Park visitor's pass
For the adventurer or nature lover on your list, an America The Beautiful pass provides one full year of free admission at some of the country's greatest locations and parks. The pass admits the cardholder and one vehicle, plus up to three adults, free to any federally operated recreation site, such as Yellowstone National Park, which usually charges $25 per vehicle. Cost to you: $80 for a one-year pass

8) Warehouse-club membership
A year's supply of frozen broccoli? You shouldn't have! Give a year's worth of savings on groceries, electronics, housewares and more at Costco, BJ's or Sam's Club. Cost to you: $40 - $50 for a year's membership

9) A savings or investment account
Seeding a savings or investment account can go a long way toward securing your gift recipient's financial stability. Diane Young, the director of retirement and goal planning at TD Ameritrade, says it's important to research the right product for the person you have in mind. For youngsters, perhaps a 529 account to save for college. For a tween, a savings account with an agreement to match contributions, to encourage and teach the value of saving. Or for a recent college grad, a Roth IRA as he starts his career. Cost to you: at your discretion

10) The perfect carry-on bag
Nobody likes to pay baggage fees at the airport. (American Airlines, for instance, now charges $20 to check one bag.) Make sure your friends and family are making the most of their free carry-on space with the ultimate carry-on bag. Keep in mind that airlines each have their own size regulations -- American Airlines limits the size of a carry-on to 45 inches when length, width and height are added together. A carry-on bag without wheels will take up less space and allow more room inside. Soft sides will make it easier to stuff the bag in the overhead compartment. Cost to you: at your discretion

11) A home-energy monitor
This small gadget links into a home's circuit breaker and shows the home's energy usage in real time. With that tool, the electricity bill is never a surprise. The monitor makes it easier to spot electricity wasters and adjust accordingly (by unplugging idle gadgets, turning off lights and so on) to lower monthly energy bills. Cost to you: $120 (www.theenergydetective.com)

12) Subscription to Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine
You didn't think we'd forget this dandy, did you? Every month, we deliver actionable financial advice for people of all ages; each issue offers value far exceeding the annual subscription price. Cost to you: $12 for a one-year subscription