Yet again, I’m buying gifts for people and need gift ideas. This crowd really came through last year and I’d love to try it again!
I don’t want to make rules, but I think we need a couple:
- Let’s at least cap them at $50ish. Telling people you want a DJI Drone, a Steam Deck or PS5 simply isn’t realistic. I’m not looking for ideas in that price range (even though I’d probably love all these, myself).
- Avoid intimate stuff. I’m not talking sex toys (though avoid those too - I’m not buying my sister-in-law a dildo), but more things that are really personal like jewellery, watches and stuff that you need to know the person’s tastes to get right.
One that worked very well a few years back (although around the limit of your budget) was getting a picture of their record collection, with permission, then sending the list to a music-fan non-mutual friend and asking what else they’d probably like.
Easy simple ones are small soaps, food treats like cheeses (yes, especially for the lactose-free crowd, e.g. goats cheese). I think you can’t go too wrong with something that’s quick enough to go through and doesn’t end up cluttering someone’s space if they don’t use it if you give it to them each year and birthday.
But for close family, we openly just ask each other what we want unless we have an outstanding idea.