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My Subscription Addiction
My Subscription Addiction
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How to Gift a Subscription Box (& Avoid a Recurring Charge)

Mary Zubritsky
ByMary ZubritskyJan 25, 2022 | 2 comments

Female's hands in red pullover holding Christmas gift box on red background. Christmas and New Year concept.

Tick, tock... the holidays are right around the corner. Are you ready?

Hey, we know you’ve got lots of gifting ideas (and you might’ve been given a few hints), but you simply don’t have time to research every item to find the perfect present for everyone on your list, and that's why you should look into subscription boxes. From foodies to beauty junkies, and fashionistas to wine lovers, the options are endless (and dizzying)! So, instead of spending your days and nights scrolling through eCommerce sites hoping something special will catch your eye, you should give the gift of a subscription box. 

Why? Since most holiday gifts are a one-hit-wonder and gift certificates can seem so impersonal, subscription boxes just might be the gift that keeps on giving — and there’s an option that’ll satisfy everyone’s personality, and their needs. Plus, since it’s so exciting to wait for a package and then open it up to see what’s inside, it’s a thrilling and fun option for every grown-up who sometimes still wants to feel like a kid during the holiday season. 

Well, how do you give the gift of a subscription box without being charged every month for something that was meant to be a one-time, or few-time thing? The answer is a subscription box gift card! These carefully curated boxes take the hassle out of finding parking spots, strolling through the mall, searching on Google, wrapping the gift, and delivering it too — saving you lots of time and money so you can focus on more important things — like watching the next episode of Squid Games

Plus, with the current challenges of high inflation, low inventory, and supply chain and logistics issues, subscription boxes even alleviate the pain of these stressors too. 

The Most Giftable Subscription Boxes for Everyone on Your List

Well, we’ve done some of the work for you and created a list of a few of the most giftable subscription boxes out there today that offer a gifting option, or a gift card. You better shop now though because demand is high, shipments are backed up, and some items will be sold out in the wink of Santa’s eye. 

1. For the Beauty Junkie: Birchbox

Full Contents for Birchbox February 2021

Image from our review.

The Cost: $15 per month 

About this Gift: Birchbox is one of the original beauty subscription boxes that sends samples (and sometimes full sizes) of some of the most-wanted beauty products from top brands for just $15 per month. It's a great way to discover new makeup, hair care, and skincare products for less.

With Birchbox, subscribers can try out lots of new products without wasting lots of time and money to find the things they like. Each month, Birchbox sends five handpicked sample beauty items, with the option to purchase a full-size version of all products from their site.

How to Gift it: Give the gift of beauty (or grooming). Simply go to Birchbox's Gift a Subscription Page, choose the type of gift and the duration, fill out the info, and submit! 

Check our our Birchbox reviews and details to learn more. Ships to the U.S., U.K., France, and Spain.

2. For the Fashionista: Armoire 

Armoire

Image via our review.

Cost: Unlimited: $125 for first month (50% Off) , 7-Item: $69 for first month (42% Off; same price as 4-Item trial), 4-Item: $65 for first month (18% Off)

ACTIVE DEAL: Get $30 OFF 1 month of the 7-item plan OR 50% OFF 1 month of the unlimited plan.
CODE: 7MSA89 or MSAUNLIMITED50

About this Gift: Let her unwrap the gift she really wants – a rotating closet full of new-to-her clothes without any of the shopping stress.

Armoire, which is a clothing rental company for women, is all about female empowerment. From the hand-selected and curated inventory of styles that are designed by the Boss Lady, for the Boss Lady, to their involvement with female-powered brands, and their partnership with Dress for Success Seattle, they’re a brand built for today’s woman.

How to Gift it: Give the gift of Armoire. Purchase now, fill out the details, and then she can rent later. 

Check out our Armoire reviews to learn more! Ships to the U.S. and Canada.

3. For the Wine Lover: Winc

Winc

Image via our review.

The Cost: Prices start at $12.99 per bottle, with intro box of four wines for $24.95

About this Gift: Whether it’s Wine-Down Wednesday, Thirsty Thursday, or Sunday brunch, they never misses an opportunity to sip and share stories over a glass of wine. And that’s why you should sign them up for Winc, a subscription box tailor-made for wine lovers that delivers an exceptional variety of high-quality wines from Austria, Italy, New Zealand, France, and Spain, right to the door.  

The experience begins with a quiz to learn your taste and curate your selections, relying on your feedback about preferences in fruits, beverages, and food. With every shipment that follows, a rating system helps to further narrow in on your palate, sending only bottles of vino that are just right for you. With regularly changing offerings of unique, small production wines sourced directly from vineyards and winemakers, Winc delivers quality curated wines at an affordable price point.

How to Gift it: Not sure if they prefer sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, or pinot noir? Let them choose for themselves with a Winc gift card

Check out our Winc details and reviews to learn more.

4. For the Book Nerd: Book of the Month Club

Book of the Month hero

Image via our review.

The Cost: $15.99

About this Gift: Book nerds are cool, and you’re lucky to know one! Book of the Month is a popular online subscription service for books that lets people discover and discuss the best new reads. Every month, the book club announces a curated selection of five new, early release hardcover books, members get to choose one on the site, and the book club will ship it to them in a bright blue box. Offering the best prices for new release hardcover fiction books for just $15.99 a month, and new members can get their first month for just $9.99.

How to Gift it: Gift them a monthly book membership today.

Check out our Book of the Month Club details and reviews to learn more. 

5. For the Cheesiest Person You Know: Murray's Cheese of the Month Club

The Cost: $63 per month 

About this Gift: Everybody say CHEESE! This club is for classic cheese lovers and cheese newbies. Brought to you by Murray's, the iconic New York City cheese empire, each month subscribers will receive a box of three curated selections from Murray's cheese caves, and each one is hand-chosen by their experts. 

How to Gift it: To gift the Cheese of the Month Club, choose the subscription duration, fill out the details, and get cheesy. 

Check out our Murray's Cheese of the Month Club review to learn more. Ships to the US. 

6. For the Fitness Buff: FabFitFun

FabFitFun

Image via FabFitFun.

The Cost: $49.99 per quarter

About this Gift: For the woman who always wants to get physical, give her the gift of fun, fitness, and fabulousness! Founded in 2010, FabFitFun, is a lifestyle subscription box that’s one of the world’s most popular- and most-loved subscription boxes out there today.

Each quarter a box is sent out to members that includes beauty products, fashion accessories, home goods, wellness and fitness items, and more. And to ensure you get the most bang for your buck, each delivery has a retail value of at least $200 or more, and members will always receive full-sized products.

How to Gift it: Treat your bestie, sister or coworker with the gift of FabFitFun. Click here, choose the amount, fill in receiver's info, and the gift card will be on its way.

Check out our FabFitFun reviews to learn more! Ships to the U.S. and Canada.

7. For the Dog Lover: BarkBox

Super Chewer

Image via BarkBox.

The Cost: $45 a month

About this Gift: The best gift for dogs and their owners. Each monthly shipment includes an immersive adventure of two tough toys, two full-sized bags of treats, and two meaty chews. Super Chewer's in-house toy designers create interactive all-natural rubber and nylon toys with features like puzzles, treat-lock systems, 2-in-1 toys, fetch-flinging toys, and more! All chews and treats are made in the USA and allergy-friendly options are available for pups with dietary restrictions!

How to Gift it: Whether you gift a BarkBox or send an eGift Card, you'll be barking up the right tree. 

Check out all our BarkBox reviews to learn more. Ships to the US and Canada.

8. For the Kids: KiwiCo

Kiwi Crate

Image via our review.

The Cost: Starts at $19.95 per month

About this Gift: KiwiCo offers several boxes filled with hands-on fun activities for every age and interest, from infants through teens. Choose from their selection of age-based subscriptions for STEM and creativity, or shop their store for one-off boxes and projects to try before you commit. It's also easy to gift!

Choose Panda Crate for babies ages 0 to 24 months to explore and discover. Koala Crate is ideal for ages 2-4, with play-focused activities. The Kiwi Crate offers science and art activities for ages 5-8, while Atlas Crate addresses geography and culture for ages 6-11. Doodle Crate is for aspiring artists ages 9 to 16+, or choose Tinker Crate if they’re into engineering. There’s truly something inspiring and activity-focused for everyone, including Eureka Crate and Maker Crate for ages 14 to 104.

How to Gift it: Give the gift of wonder to the creative, curious little one in your life.

Check out all of our KiwiCo reviews to learn more. Ships to the U.S.

9. For the Guy Who Has it All: Bespoke Post

Image via our review.

The Cost: $49 per box

About this Gift: Bespoke Post is a monthly membership club that delivers high-quality lifestyle products from up-and-coming brands. It’s voted as one of the best men’s subscription boxes of 2021 by our readers and it makes a great gift for men who tell you they don't want anything. 

For $49 per month, each box promises at least $70 in retail value with items ranging from outdoor gear, barware, home, and kitchen goods, clothing, and more. 

How to Gift it: You can either give them a gift card for a box (or three) or gift them a membership which lets them skip or switch whenever they choose.

Check out all of our Bespoke Post reviews to learn more. Ships to the U.S.


Which subscription boxes will you gift this holiday season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments! 

Mary Zubritsky
Mary Zubritsky

If shopping were an Olympic sport, I’d be a gold medalist. And while my bank account often feels the crunch, I just can’t stop buying secondhand clothing and accessories, under-the-radar designer goods, stuffed animal unicorns (I have about 75), and toys for my pet bunny rabbit. After 20 years of city slicking in NYC and DC, I now have a car and love to tour the Virginia countryside looking for vintage shops, undiscovered wineries and breweries, historic sites, and Thai restaurants—I’m addicted to Thai food. I never leave home without a spare phone charger because I love horror movies and therefore have an irrational fear of being stranded somewhere with a dead battery. 


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2 comments

CDG

I’ve been gifting subscriptions for a few years, and have noticed, that some don’t have a gift option (I think they’re missing out!), some do, but it automatically renews; and some do, with the difference from a regular sub being that their gift sub doesn’t renew. I’m glad to find yet another approach, namely, the gift card. That way, it won’t automatically renew, and the recipient has options.

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Mary Zubritsky

I know I’m so behind the times, but I got my stepmom a three-month subscription to Birchbox and it will expire next month. I have the option of continuing or ending it and she’s thrilled with the monthly surprise. I will continue it!

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