This post originally appeared on Dealnews.
Sometimes, your family and friends put gifts on their wish list that, as a savvy shopper, you know won't offer them the best value possible.
For example, while many people will request an iTunes gift card during the holidays, you'll learn that an Amazon card could actually provide the recipient with far more music in the long run.
So instead of springing for, say, the new iPad mini, what should you buy in its place?
Below are our top 10 items you shouldn't buy this holiday season, and 10 alternatives to consider instead.
They want an iPad mini? Give them an iPad 2 instead.
Despite being a more recent release, the new iPad mini packs the same 1024x768 display that's found in the iPad 2.
In fact, everything about the iPad mini, from its screen resolution to its performance, is comparable to the iPad 2; the only difference is that it's smaller.
And yet, at $329 for the 16GB model, the iPad mini costs $10 more than a refurbished iPad 2 16GB WiFi Tablet.
We thus recommend opting for the latter, which comes in immaculate condition from Apple with the same 1-year warranty, as well as more screen real estate for media streaming, all for $10 less than the mini.
They want a NOOK HD? Give them a Kindle Fire HD instead.
Make no mistake, the NOOK HD is a perfectly capable tablet with very similar performance and features to its rival, the Kindle Fire HD.
However, when it comes to the ecosystem of each, Amazon has the upper hand.
The store has more consistently offered aggressive pricing on media like eBooks and MP3s, it has a more robust app marketplace, and Fire owners can stream Prime-related film and TV whenever they want.
Moreover, Barnes & Noble is experiencing a slowdown in its core business of book-selling, which financially affects the NOOK and its supporting services; meanwhile, Amazon is enjoying record-breaking sales of its Kindle devices.
As a result, Amazon's Kindle Fire environment will continue to flourish and will likely remain stronger than that of the Barnes & Noble NOOK.
They want an iPhone 5? Give them an iPhone 4 or 4S instead.
While it's now possible to find deals on a refurb iPhone 5, when it comes to saving money, the iPhone 4 and 4S are still your best options.
Like the iPhone 5, both models can run iOS 6, however, the 4S now retails for $100 less.
We've even seen deals that drop to as low as $1 (with a 2-year contract).
Meanwhile, the iPhone 4 is always available for free with a contract, and both previous generations see more deals than the iPhone 5 does.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
Please follow Your Money on Twitter and Facebook.