Looking for that perfect gift for mom and dad? Christmas shopping for parents is no easy task. I find myself banging my head against the wall every year wondering what I should get my own parents.

This may sound a little unconventional, but perhaps you should consider getting them a paper shredder. Why? Paper shredders are not only great for preventing identity theft, but they are also very fun to use.

Fellowes, in particular, has a great history making paper shredders. They make a great line of paper shredders for home use. Their shredders, especially the Intellishred line, are very safe to use thanks to SafeSense technology. If fingers are detected around the mouth of the shredder, it will automatically turn off.

Here is my list of the top 5 Fellowes paper shredders for giving as gifts. Shredders in this list have been chosen for quality, convenience and portability:

Top 5 Fellowes Paper Shredders

1. Fellowes Powershred® PS-60
2. Fellowes Intellishred PS-79Ci
3. Fellowes Intellishred SB-89Ci
4. Fellowes Powershred® PS-70
5. Fellowes Intellishred SB-99Ci

Have you ever considered giving a paper shredder to someone as a gift? It may not be the first gift idea that comes to mind when shopping for your girlfriend or boyfriend, but paper shredders have become a popular gift idea for family members such as siblings or parents.

Other than cutting down on ID theft, here are a few other reasons your family member may want a paper shredder:

1. Your little brother can use a shredder to take out his frustrations on pictures of ants rather than frying them with a magnifying glass.
2. Your sister can shred pictures of her ex boyfriends after the “big breakup.” Very therapeutic from what I hear.
3. Your mother or father can use the shredder for making pasta. Seriously, people have done it. Read more here.
4. You can use it to strip cut paper as bedding for your pet hamster.

Although we do sell a lot of higher-end paper shredders designed for corporate or business use, we do have several models that are perfect for use at home. These shredders are compact, many no taller than a wastebasket, and can easily fit in a closet or next to a desk. Best of all, many of these home shredders are under $100.

You can find a list of our best paper shredder deals here. You can learn more about paper shredders by reading our paper shredder FAQ found here.