Gifts that are Useful
For years, my family stopped giving/ receiving gifts for Christmas. It had gotten to a point where it was overwhelming trying to get the “right” gifts only to return them weeks later, we were overbuying, and it was getting in the way of enjoying the holiday. After a nice break, we started slowly reincorporating gifts. It wasn’t a conscious return; we would just find gifts that we knew the recipient wanted or needed, with no pressure of getting anything in return. It’s gone well, and we no longer “track” spending, number of presents, or anything like that. We focus purely on useful or enjoyable gifts, and it’s genuinely stress-free.
Below are some of the most useful gifts for him, her (with teen-friendly options) parents/ in-laws, college students and anyone on your list.
gifts that are useful
useful gifts for men
Car wash membership
Another great one is a mobile detailing service; he doesn’t have to leave the house and it’s a great one-time refresh if you don’t think he’ll want to go to the car wash regularly
Upgraded razor and/or travel case
Some razors will last forever, but replacement blades or a nice travel case is something that fits into their life, rather than a new accessory (like a massage gun).
Also: beard grooming kit
For all guys, but especially teens: skincare set that is easy to follow and works. You can get super detailed with a multi-step routine, but here’s are the most effective basics I recommend:
Cologne sampler set (they can then exchange the coupon inside for a full-size bottle of their favorite)
Hobby accessories: These gifts typically take a little more research, but are really helpful, especially since hobbies can be expensive.
Fishing: tackle box/ binder, fishing backpack
Golf: Day pass to golf, driver cover, range finder
Cooking/ grill masters: subscription to a meat box or fancy cut from the local butcher, fancy Japanese knife, high-tech meat thermometer, high-quality olive oil
Way more beloved than you think; I recommend getting something niche that relates to their interests on Etsy or making one yourself. Just buy a canvas or set, and fill it with things you know will be used. I recommend picking a theme that relates to a hobby; you don’t want to end up filling it with tiny things that can get forgotten about or isn’t needed (candy, gum, deodorant, etc.)
Clothes
Not ideal if they’re picky, but if you know their style, I like to pick up a few t-shirts, sweats, and loungewear.
Elevate or refresh the basics they wear daily; this is more useful than a new coat or beanie.
Bonus: offer to do the return/ exchange in case it doesn’t work out.
useful gifts for women
Clothes
Upgrade the basics; don’t get something random. Nicer leggings and new loungewear are always ideal, especially if you know she wears them regularly. Leggings are easier to buy than jeans because we typically re-buy the same kind over and over again, and the sizing isn’t as particular. Matching pajamas are a nice refresh, too.
Also popular: Free People Hit the Slopes fleece jacket. Obsessed with mine and try to get a new color every year.
Haircare
Even if she’s not a girly girl, new shampoo or conditioner in a different scent is thoughtful, useful, and can make daily showers feel more special. Davines NouNou and Amika The Kure are good for all hair types, won’t damage highlights/ hair color, and the scents are pretty universal, too. Also love Dae 3-in-1 Styling Cream (for buns, slicked back ponytails, and taming flyaways) and Unite Hair 7SECONDS Detangler (also works as a heat protectant and leave-in conditioner).
Another really nice option: Slip hair scrunchies. These are incredible for hair health and so much nicer than the normal rubber scrunchies. They’re pricier, but worth it.
Nice ones will last a really long time, but these are so nice and unexpected, especially since it means you don’t have to clean your old ones haha. Love these!
Car tune-up or detail
I am extremely self-sufficient and love doing things myself, but car places are still a little unwelcoming and make me skeptical. Whether you just detail their car or offer to get the maintenance done, it’s going to be a really appreciated gift.
They’re meant to filter more than the standard shower heads to improve hair and skin health. These are definitely more of a splurge, but you can typically find them on sale during the holidays. It’s something I’ve always wanted but the installation intimidates me, so offering to install or get it installed is a thoughtful tough, too.
Slippers - love these for home. Ugg Tazz are super popular and can be worn out and about.
Skincare - this is more for teens as I feel like adults have their routine on-lock. The best gift would be a facial with an estethician who can then direct them towards the products best for their skin, but going off of what I’ve learned from my estheticians, any product by Face Reality is gentle yet effective and provides good results. Also love Glymed for face masks; you won’t find them at Sephora, but they actually work and are worth the money.
useful gifts for parents and in-laws
Upgraded appliances or kitchen items
These new pots have changed our lives; they’re so good but expensive, so parents might feel guilty about treating themselves. Upgraded cutting boards and baking trays are also really useful.
Okay, I hate digital photo frames and think they’re so tacky; I also think it’s a little strange to give someone a framed photo of you. That being said, taking the time (or hiring a company) to digitize all of their older printed photos or home videos is a touching gift.
For non-tech-savvy family members, backing up their phone and uploading some updated photos for them to look at is nice, too.
Family photo session
In today’s social media age, professional photos are much more common than they were years ago. We’ll schedule our own shoots, but one of the best gifts I’ve seen is getting the whole family together and gifting parents extended family photos. It’s so rare to get the whole family together that you want to spend time together rather than be on your phone taking pictures; scheduling a photoshoot might seem extra, but it’s worth it.
Shoe inserts
My dad has obsessed with this all year. Our local store is called Road Runner Sports; you may have a location near you. They basically help you get a custom-fit shoe with inserts; it’s much more personalized than what you’d find at Target or Walmart. It seems silly, but it’s helped my dad’s back/ posture, and his joints feel better. You’ll probably have to take them to the store to get it done, but it’s worth it.
The “good” coffee/ tea/ candle, etc.
I think a lot of parents cut corners with themselves because they want to provide as much as possible for their children. I always get my mom a higher-end candle and body butter; it costs way more than she feels comfortable spending on herself, but she cherishes it and uses it all year long. Good coffee from your favorite local shop, elevated olive oil, and artisanal tea are similar options.
Mug warmers can also make for a good stocking-stuffer idea if they don’t have one yet and you know they could use it.
Time
Parents and in-laws are typically at the point in their lives where they can buy themselves whatever they want/ need. Offer to take them holiday shopping, help decorate their house, or cook the holiday meals. My mom always makes cookies about a week before Christmas, and doing the dishes is a small way to help. This isn’t a gift you can wrap, but it’s arguably the most impactful.
PS for parents of kids/ teenagers: bleacher chairs! They spend so much time supporting high school programs (whether it’s sports, theater, etc.) that this little upgrade will make a huge difference.
useful gifts for college students
Good rain jacket. I grew up in Southern California, and literally did not own (or need) a rain jacket until college. I scrambled and bought something cheap, but once I upgraded, I realized that the investment in a nice-quality rain jacket is totally worth it. Patagonia, REI, and The North Face are high-quality brands.
Also: waterproof spray if they don’t wear rainboots/ winter boots. Ideal if you know your recipient loves street shoes like Vans or slippers like Uggs.
Stainless steel water bottle - most people have these, but having a backup or second option is super helpful in case you lose it or leave it in a lecture hall. Owala is my favorite brand (I did a full comparison to Stanley, which you can see here) because it’s easy to clean, more mold-resistant, and the straw tucks in.
Also: stickers to decorate the bottle, plus a cleaning set!
Weighted or heated blanket (especially if they don’t have a heater or can’t have a space heater)
Not the most fun, but the books So Good They Can’t Ignore You and The Defining Decade changed my LIFE and I wish I read them when I was in college and not 30. Highly recommend for overachievers, those who stress about picking the “right” major/ career, or those who get overwhelmed with big decisions.
Local gift cards - the go-to pizza place, coffee shop, etc. A huge part of college is socializing, so friends are more likely to gather at the local coffee shop than Starbucks. This requires a little research, but is worth it.
Also: Uber Eats/ Door Dash if they talk about it or use it (I personally never did).
Spotify Premium - they may have regular Spotify, but this upgrade makes it so they don’t have to listen to ads.
Depending on what their dorm/ apartment allows, some appliances that help: air fryer, panini press, coffee maker + good coffee, parchment paper (makes clean up so easy), crock pot.
Bonus points: a mini book (or even just print outs/ emailed PDFs) of your favorite recipes or signature dishes.
If allowed: essential oil diffuser. More likely to be accepted than candles, and really freshens up the room! These essential oils are high-quality yet not MLM-affiliated.
Customized sick box - not fun, but giving them a fully stocked “toolkit” as they head back to school for the winter months can help should they start to feel under the weather or catch a cold. Include things like cough medicine (AM + PM), cough drops, tea, honey sticks, electrolytes, extra roll of toilet paper, tissues + travel tissue packs, etc.
Lastly, while I know not everyone loves to give cash, it really is the most helpful when you’re in college as the random purchases come about at the least convenient times.
useful gifts for everyone (teens, couples, etc.)
Costco, or Sam’s Club membership
Most people have memberships already, but those that don’t typically don’t want to spend the “extra” on themselves like that. An annual membership is typically not too expensive, and you’ll save them a lot over the year that they get to use the membership.
AAA is another nice membership to gift!
Portable or wireless charger for phones
Definitely pricier, but I’ve never known anyone to not love them. Bose are highly recommended; Apple is another popular option.
AirPod cleaning kit - sounds cheesy, but it’s something you don’t think about and makes a big difference (the sound change is wild after you finish a deep clean). Cheap and can also be used as a stocking stuffer.
iPad, pen, magic keyboard, etc.
Kindle Paperwhite - I was so opposed to e-readers for years, but I’m on track to read 200 books this year because of my Kindle! It’s made me fall in love with reading again, is super easy to travel with, and because you can connect it to the Kindle app on your phone, I rarely scroll social media now.
Also recommend gifting at least a few months of Kindle Unlimited with it. This gives you access to thousands of books for just the monthly fee.
Niche, but if you know someone who works out, these types of things are expensive/ add up over time. A bag of pre-workout or protein powder will last a month, so it’s definitely useful.
Ask for their preferred brands if you can (or someone who knows) since people can be picky about it. But in general, I recommend Ascent Protein Powder (chocolate or vanilla are great flavors). PWDRS is a clean pre-workout formula; Jacked is hard-hitting for the gym lovers.
Another great idea if the person travels a lot: a sampler set of protein powder that is pre-portioned, as it helps with TSA/ security.
Experiences
The older you get, the more you realize that quality time is most important. Experiences are always great ideas, plus it’s an opportunity to spend more time with the recipient (if you include yourself). Go “coupon-book” style; unless it’s a hard-to-get ticket (like Coachella, Beyonce, etc.), you want to give the recipient the ability to coordinate schedules. Ideal experiences:
Sports tickets
Concert tickets
National park annual pass
Zoo tickets or annual pass
Hotel/ vacation - a big ticket item, but even a one-night stay at a semi-local hotel can make for a nice, rejuvenating reset (especially for adult children that still live at home)
Massage/ facial/ spa - these sometimes go unused, so “coupon-book” will let you both coordinate. My parents kind of need me to force it onto their schedules, but they’ll eventually get the massage and wish they went sooner.
Homemade food/ snacks
These take effort to make and you also want to know your recipient, but everyone loves a homemade gift. I recommend steering away from anything sweet (unless it’s a preserve or frozen) since the holidays can be a dessert haven. Fresh bread, homemade ice cream, jams, hot honey (or even local honey), and soup are favorites within my family.
Avoid spice sets; I feel like these just collect dust, unfortunately.
Portioned freezer meals
Not the cutest gift, but it’s really useful. Whether the recipient doesn’t like to cook, is busy, or struggles to make smaller portions for 2 (like empty nesters or those who live alone), having pre-portioned freezer meals can end up being a beloved gift.
Lego Wall Art Kit - not the most useful, but it’s a fun activity for everyone (kids, couples, etc.) A little pricey, but makes a fun gift :)
the best gift cards
Overall, I tend to be a gift card hater. I just feel like they get lost in the wrapping paper chaos or forgotten about months later. Cash is a lot more convenient/ versatile, but if you want to go the gift card route: here’s what I would/ wouldn’t recommend:
gift cards worth giving
Amazon: you can buy literally anything, whether it’s a necessity or something fun.
My dad is a chronic returner. Unless he sends me a specific link to what he wants, Amazon gift cards are the go-to.
Starbucks: but only if they use the app. It’s really convenient to load the gift card balance onto the app, so you don’t have to worry about losing the actual gift card.
Gas cards: Skip the gas card if the recipient always fills up their tank, but for college students, a $20 gas card feels more useful and stretches farther than a $20 specialty gift card.
Grocery: if you know the recipient shops at one store for the most part (or always), this is a really nice, useful option, especially since budgets are typically tighter come post-holiday season.
gift cards to avoid
Visa gift cards: these have always seemed finicky to me; I literally exchange them for Amazon gift cards at the grocery store anytime I get one.
Macy’s: with love, I feel like this store offers less and less each year, especially compared to Nordstrom or Amazon.
Barnes and Noble: as a book lover, books are so much cheaper on Amazon, so you’ll stretch your gift-giving there instead.
Restaurants/ fast food: while I’m a self-proclaimed In-N-Out regular, I feel like most people forget they have these and they end up being wasted.
And a note on hobby/ specialty stores:
Sephora is a great safe bet; they have something for pretty much anyone, whether it’s perfume, makeup, haircare, or skincare. I recommend Sephora over Ulta; it’s just more popular in general.
Know your recipient for hobby stores and If in doubt, ask.
My boyfriend loves to fish but Bass Pro isn’t his go-to; he prefers niche smaller businesses that make specialty items, so a Bass Pro gift card isn’t as exciting. My mom loves to knit, but gets her yarn from boutique dyers instead of Michael’s or Amazon. For them, I will get the specialty store gift card or go with a different type of gift.