The holidays are an exciting time to show your family and friends you love them. I am sure you know exactly what to get your significant other and immediate family, but what about those people you love, but aren’t as close with? Or maybe you are trying to save some money this year, but still want to find something you know they will love.
Finding perfect gifts that are both thoughtful and unique can be a difficult task. However, I thoroughly enjoy giving and receiving thoughtful and memorable presents so I took some time to come up with a list that will cover as many categories as I can think of. With that, I wish you luck!
Some tips to remember when purchasing a gift:
Before you go off and buy the entire site, you will want to read some tips I have when it comes to picking out a gift you know they will love.
– Don’t break the bank! You need to set a budget and find a way to stay well within it! I know we can all get carried away, but trust me when I say, you will regret spending too much.
– Always go with home made or personalized if you can: Sure you can buy them something, but it just shows that you took the time to make them something special to them that cannot be replaced with just anything. If you need some crafty inspiration, head to etsy or pinterest and search “handmade gift” or “personalized gift“
– Be creative! Find ways to integrate two or even three of their interests into one fantastic gift! For instance, I always write down or keep a mental note when my friends say they like anything. I will go home that day and just type in the keyword they mentioned on the amazon search bar to see what I find.
Here is an example:
1. My friend loves to drink coffee and the show Friends. (This is such an easy one because who doesn’t love both?) So I will just type in the amazon search bar, FRIENDS COFFEE, and look what pops up…
Toddler Gifts
My daughter is a toddler, and I love finding unique gifts to peak her ever expanding mind! Here are a few items I will be purchasing for her this Christmas. When finding gifts for infants, try to steer clear of plastic, anything that makes noise, and really bulky items. Their parents will thank you, trust me. See my idea list of Gifts for kids 2-4 on amazon: https://amzn.to/49GKMbi
Lovevery is one of our favorite brands, and their block set is so fun! Get $20 off your first Play Kits Subscription.
My toddler loves this bike! The seat adjusts for height and it’s meant to help them skip the training wheels.
The idea is to place small objects in the boxes that your toddler would otherwise not be able to explore on their own.
My Toddler love interactive boards! Melissa and Doug is a wonderful brand that every parent I know absolutely loves!
Believe it or not, kids love to clean. A set like this (or this child-size Dyson vacuum) makes it easy for them to clean with!
They will also love...
Gifts for Young Kids
These are the gifts for young kids in which I would categorize as pre-reading, which means I find toys that they will love without the need to read or without help from their parents. With this type of age range, it can be hard for some of us to find gifts that will make both the kids and their parents really excited. Here are some gender-neutral gifts that won’t break the bank, but will make you the favorite gift-giver. See my idea list on amazon: https://amzn.to/40MixDX
Kids are always intrigued by those “out-of-the-box” toys, which is why I love this set at $20, for 25 pieces!
Move over Magnatiles! My friends’ kids love this set. It comes with shape cards to match. Perfect open-ended play.
Forget that plastic crap. This set is perfect for small hands and hours of fun while you work together to create something great!
Matching games are so fun! This one has real animal pictures to match the baby to their parents.
Kids love to draw. I have a chalkboard wall at my house and it is always a hit! It also comes with a drawing roll.
For some fun and learning, something like this very popular sneakly snacky squirrel game is a great pick!
They will also love...
Gifts for Teens
This is a notoriously hard age group to shop for. With that said, it is not impossible to find unique gifts for the picky pre-teen who changes their interest every other day!
A pretty cool gender-neutral gift for any teenager. For the price of $34, it is a great idea!
Who wouldn’t want socks with their face on them? Or celebrity crush? Or their favorite pet? haha
Teens always run out of phone battery! This will charge a phone up to 4 times and it’s so tiny.
A portable printer with the ability to print 2×3 size photos directly from their phone! It looks really cool.
This one tells you how much money you have. Put money in as part of the gift. You can also just get the topper.
I don’t care what age, the receiver will love the ability to make their own shaved ice. Such a cool idea!
Wine Connoisseur Gifts
So many fun gifts for all your wine lovers out there! These are some fun gifts that I love as a win-o so I am sure your friends will too.
Look, a little beanie for your wine bottles. It will keep them looking nice and cozy for the holidays.
It is great to keep all your wine accessories in one convenient place. Bonus: it looks like a wine bottle!
Fancy stainless steel wine glasses are the perfect accent for the holidays that I am sure your friends don’t already have.
For $20, you can level-up your friend’s wine bottle opener. People are always amazed when we whip out ours.
There are so many unique wine bottle holders out there, it is hard to choose the best one!
Apparently, this wand gets rid of wine inducing headaches by removing unwanted chemicals from your glass.
Gifts for Dudes
My husband would love this 12-in-1 set. It has all the gadgets he might need. This would be great to put in his car.
Super fancy set of whiskey glasses, chilling stones, and a wooden box for $40. Now were talking!
There are few things men love more than food. If you cant think of anything else, spend $25 on this wonder.
What man wouldn’t want a motion sensor toilet night light? This is such a fun gift for any dude you know, and for $12!
Tons of styles to choose from. Your dud can keep their head warm while they listen to music or hop on a call.
The modern version of horseshoes that anyone can play. This is a travel pack, and only $65 with two other designs.
They will also love...
Gifts for Nerds
We all love shopping for our nerdy friends, or at least I do, because they are so easy to find gifts for. Pick two or three of their favorite hobbies/ shows/ games/movies/ characters/ books/ comics/ etc. and combine them to create an unforgettable gift they will thoroughly enjoy.
Here are some common gifts I am sure the nerd you know will say “this is so cool!”
The price is perfect for a mug that can you can play with. You could even use it to hold pens on your desk.
The price is perfect for a mug that can you can play with. You could even use it to hold pens on your desk.
Know any movie buffs? They will love this game! We play it with our friends all the time and everyone gets involved.
For $20 you can make any nerd smile with these 3D lights. There are tons of themes to choose from.
This handheld arcade console holds 200 video games. For less than $30, your friends will nerd out hard.
Harry Potter fans will go nuts over this wizards chess that looks like the one in the first HP movie!
They will also love...
Gifts for Musicians
Musicians are unique in their own right, and we love to support their creativity and passion. Here are some gifts to help spark joy in what they love to do and we love to hear!
Just a simple book with 1,000 record covers. A great conversational piece and helps bring back the nostalja.
Let your musician make their own guitar picks with 15 strips included in their pick puncher.
Now you don’t even need a band for your favorite singer to belt out a tune. It comes in a variety of colors.
How often do drummers get caught drumming with their pens at their desk? Now they have a reason to!
I usually stay away from gift cards, but when in doubt, a gift card to the Guitar Center is always a wonderful gesture.
Gifts for Animal Lovers
Animals are often referred to as our friend’s children if they don’t yet have any. Let them know how much their “child” means to you with these cute and cuddly gifts for their relationship with their pet(s).
A double camping seat is useful for any family, but especially for those with pups who love to cuddle.
You can either give this as a gift, or use it to make gifts for all your puppy parents.
Coworker Gifts
When you have friends who are celebrating their first christmas with their child, you can find some pretty wonderful gifts for them to cherish every year.
A desktop beverage warmer? Count me in! Keep your coworker’s coffee or tea and their hearts warm.
I love having a personal blender at work. Fill it up at home, stick it in the fridge & blend at work. Such a unique gift.
My mom has this and thinks it is hilarious. And yes, it actually works through a USB connection.
Gifts for New Parents
When you have friends who are celebrating their first christmas with their child, you can find some pretty wonderful gifts for them to cherish every year.
New parents are so busy keeping up with their child, they tend to forget this staple. A keepsake for every Christmas.
This is a keepsake your new parent friends can open on Christmas years from now when their child is grown.
My husband and I love the mugs we received from our friends. These mugs look very similar to ours.
I bought a pair for me and my daughter. It is so cute and we receive so many compliments when we wear them.
I always make one for all my friends with new babys. Because it includes all the small details, they will cherish this forever.
How thoughtful is this personalized necklace with their baby’s birth stone? IT comes in a variety of options.
Perfect White Elephant Gifts!
These gifts are all under $50 (on Black Friday) an guaranteed to get stolen in a game of white elephant by both the women and men!
Mother-in-law Gifts
Yes, we have some gifts for her too.. Unless you are really close with your in-laws, they can be extremely hard to shop for. This is especially true your mother-in-law. Well, I am going to show you what I how to win over your mother-in-law with a few thoughtful gifts that give her all the feels for her children and now grandchild. You’re welcome.
Besides actual gifts, one year I scheduled a photo shoot for my mother-in-law and her sons. She had always wanted Christmas cards with both her children and they never wanted to do it, until I convinced them it was going to be easier than buying her a gift.
When we came to pick her up “for dinner” they both surprised her by wearing their military uniforms. She burst into tears when I told her why they were dressed and what we were really going to do.
My mother-in-law had no idea, and to this day she brings it up as “the best Christmas gift she has ever received”.
Simple and to the point. This frame comes with a beautiful phrase and will touch her heartstrings.
If your M.I.L. has a lullaby she sang to your spouse, find the music box. place a photo of him like a baby in her arms.
Who doesn’t love a soft blanket? Combine that with thoughtful words. It’s like you are giving her a hug.
Preload your images & video to the SD card for her to open. Then give her cards with more memories later.
Personalize your state and theirs for only $20. It comes with a beautiful poem on the back.
This prompt journal is an inexpensive way to get your M.I.L. to cry. She fills it in and your kids keep it.
