The Tech-pert: Kidz Gear Wireless Headphones

I don't know about you, fellow parents, but I think the DVD player built into our minivan is the single greatest thing since sliced bread. For long trips in particular, it's a lifesaver.

Just one problem: The van came with only two pairs of wireless headphones, and one of them is broken. According to our dealer, a replacement pair sells for around $80. Ouch!

That's why I'm jazzed about the Kidz Gear IR Wireless Car Headphones, which are currently on sale for just $24.99. They're compatible with all built-in single-channel DVD systems (which is most of them). And unlike the headphones that come with most minivans, these are designed expressly for kids' smaller heads.

Consequently, they fit a lot better and feel more comfortable. That's not just a theory: my 10- and 7-year-olds both preferred the Kidz Gear headphones to the Dodge pair.

Even better than that, these headphones have an auto-off feature: They stop consuming battery power when not in use. I can't tell you how many times we've had to replace the batteries in the other headphones because they didn't get turned off.

Bottom line: If you need replacement and/or extra sets of wireless headphones for your minivan--and don't want to spend a small fortune on them--these are hard to beat.

By the way, the headphones are sold through Amazon. They're eligible for free shipping, but only if your cart total exceeds $25. If there's anything else you were planning to buy, now would be the time. If not, there are lots of sites designed expressly to help you tip the shopping-cart scales while spending the bare minimum. I'm partial to Filler Item Finder.

Self-proclaimed cheapskate Rick Broida has been a technology writer for over 20 years. He has authored over a dozen books, including, most recently, "How to Do Everything: Palm Pre." Currently he writes the Cheapskate blog for CNET, the Hassle-Free PC blog for PC World, and technology stories for Popular Science, Wired, and other magazines.