Game-changing gadgets
There are so many awesome gadgets out these days, it’s easy to snag a few that are sure to make everyone on your list really, really happy. This includes not-too-expensive drones, instant cameras, gadget chargers, smart home gadgets, pet gadgets and so much more. USA TODAY and Reviewed totally have us covered with extensive gift guides, but these are the two most life-changing gadgets I picked up this year.
The Husqvarna Automower 450XH ($4,000) successfully mowed more than three acres of lawn for us for two straight summer months without us having to touch a single blade of grass. This is a big splurge, but it’s a similar price to the riding lawnmower that our property’s previous owner used – and that riding lawnmower was constantly in need of repair and regular maintenance. Robot lawnmowers might be next on your list of smart-home must-haves.
The same goes for Hunter Douglas smart blinds with PowerView automation. I wrote about these earlier this year, in a story about smart home gadgets that can save money on heating and cooling costs. These let you press a single button and use a voice-enabled helper such as Alexa or an app to set a schedule to keep your house warm when winter weather blows in. The price varies depending on the materials you choose and the specifics of your particular windows. We’ve lowered our energy bill by more than 50% since putting these in.