Christmas gift guide 2011

01.Introduction

Don't be caught out this festive season buying second-rate products, or simply paying too much because you didn't shop around. In this round-up we've suggested a range of gift ideas that cater to every budget. Products have been broken down into price categories:

• Under $100 
• Under $200
• Under $500
• Above $500

You can also:

• Read our advice about gift cards.
• Use our tips to avoid paying excessive credit card surcharges.
• See which overseas online shopping sites are the most popular.

For more information about Shopping, see Shopping and legal.

Under $100

Kettles

Tea-drinkers will appreciate a kettle that's easy to use, and stylish. In our latest review, we tested 19 kettles and discovered that some of the best performers were well below the $100 mark. A good kettle should be energy efficient and shouldn't make too much noise - when consumers contact us about kettles, noise is one of their main complaints. Even though most kettles boil in just a few minutes, the noise can still be a nuisance, especially in an open plan kitchen/living room. Take a look at the Kettles review for more information. 

Webcams

A webcam could be a great gift for someone who wants to stay in touch with friends and family living far away - after all the Christmas is all about reconnecting with your loved ones. We tested a range of high definition webcams for performance and ease of use, and discovered that some of the cheaper options on the market, beat their expensive counterparts. For more information, take a look at our HD webcams review.

Cordless phones

Another way to encourage your loved ones to keep in touch in the New Year is by giving them a good phone. You can buy a quality cordless landline phone without an answering machine for less than $100. All of the high-scorers in our latest tests had good range (handy when you’re chatting and need to walk around the house), a long battery lives, and a second handset. For more information, take a look at our Cordless phones without answering machine review.

Sandwich presses

For those who aren't satisfied with a standard sandwich, and would prefer a delicious café style lunch, then a sandwich press is the answer. Unlike traditional sandwich makers, which sealed the edges of the sandwich and cut them half, the latest models are much more versatile. Many have bonus features that allow you to lock and adjust the height of the top plate allowing you to grill open snacks or toast thicker pieces of bread. For more information, take a look at our Sandwich presses review.