15 Gift Ideas for People Who Are Hard to Shop For

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At this time of year, a lot of our attention is focused on buying gifts. There isn’t a lot of time left to pick out what you need to get for the people in your life. You may already have several gifts picked out and even wrapped for some individuals, but there is almost always someone that you haven’t yet been able to figure out. While some people are always going to be easy to buy for, and you’re always going to be able to find the right things for the right people, sometimes it can seem impossible to find the perfect gift for people who are hard to shop for!

When you’re buying a gift for someone that you don’t always know, or a person completely different to you, that has everything, or someone who is just really, really fussy with what they do and don’t like, it can create an awkward gifting situation. But, awkward or not, you still have to come up with a solution. The gifts need to be bought and people need to be kept happy. If you’ve found yourself wracking your brains for hours on end and you still have no idea what gift to get someone, you’ve come to the right place. We’re going to talk through five different awkward gifting situations and how to get over them.

Secret Santa

The office Secret Santa is often something that we love to hate. When you draw your work BFF, you’re always happy, but when you get someone you hardly know – or have never even met, it’s hard to know that you’re picking out the right gift. So, try one of these co-worker friendly gifts.

Gift Basket

An easy gift idea for your Secret Santa is a gift basket. It doesn’t have to be big or expensive, but when you have no idea what someone might like a holiday gift basket that has a variety of goodies can be a real winner. You could even think about making something yourself with some homemade cookies or a few handpicked items that you think someone might like to receive.

Gift Certificates

A lot of people will say that gift certificates are impersonal. But it’s not like you’re gifting one to your mom! When you don’t know what someone likes, or you really don’t even know who the person is, then gift certificates are an ideal gift. With something generic, like a major store or even a restaurant voucher, you’ll find that the intended recipient will always be happy.

Stationery

You work with this person, right? So why not get them something they can use around the office? It might sound a little lame at first, but stationery gifts can be a lot of fun. Whether its a notebook or a fancy pen, or even a mug with their initial on it, it’s something that’s cute and useful – so what’s not to love?

Grandparents

As much as you love Granny and Grandpa, seniors are notoriously hard to shop for. They’re not always happy with what you get them, so you really need to work on something that could wow them.

Gourmet Chocolates

Most seniors tend to love sweet things. Whether it’s something that they turn to as they get older or not, a box fancy chocolates is usually a winning gift. Or candies! They’ll be excited to try something new (hopefully), and you’re still showing them that you know what they like. If for some reason your grandparent doesn’t have a sweet tooth, an assortment of gourmet meats, cheese and crackers is a good alternative.

Reading Material

Elderly people also like to read. They often have a lot of time to fill, and reading is something that they would have spent most of their lives doing. So why not get them a book? If you’re not sure what they’d like, this list of popular books for senior citizens could come in handy. Or, you could just snoop through their current reading material to get a sense of what they might like to read next.

Trip Certificates

Another thing that most seniors love is to go on trips. If you know that they tend to go out often, or that there’s somewhere in particular that they really want to go, why not pre-pay for their trip for them? Sometimes, the gift of experience is so much more meaningful.

Neighbors

How well do you know your neighbors? Maybe you’ve just moved in and so and so next door has really helped you out, and you want to get them a gift. But what should it be?

Fancy Fruits

Giving your neighbors food is always quite a personal present. Because you don’t always know what they eat, or what they might like. However, it’s safe to say that most people like fruit. And, it’s healthy. So if your neighbors happen to be clean eaters and conscious of their health, you know your gift won’t be wasted. There are lots of different fancy fruits you could consider, or even fruit baskets too. It’s generic, but still thoughtful enough to work.

Handmade Gifts

Another great idea is to go with something handmade. This can often be a great idea for when you know your neighbors a little bit more. Handmade Christmas gifts always add a bit of a personal touch. Whether it’s something that you’ve actually made yourself, or something you’ve ordered especially, it will work. If you really want to give a gift with a lot of heart, pick something handmade.

Speciality Wine

Of course, the gift of wine is always a good idea. At this time of year, alcohol baskets tend to be popular – especially with neighbors. People are always having parties and will love that they have something special to open for the occasion too. Consider some wines that will impress and pick out something that’s going to show your neighbor that you care and you’re grateful for knowing them.

In-Laws

Whether it’s your spouse’s parents or your brother’s wife, you don’t always know them well enough to pick out a perfect present. Sometimes, they’re your opposite, and that can make buying harder. Stick to these ideas to get it right.

Concert Tickets

Live events, particular music events, are always a great gift idea. Be sure to have some kind of idea about the music they like before buying tickets. If you know they might like country or jazz, then you can go for something local or something that’s very mainstream. If all else fails, ask a family member or try to get a look at their most listened to playlists.

Household Gifts

Gifts for the home are also always nice holiday gifts. Chances are, you’ve been in the home of your in-laws. Or, your spouse will have at the very least. So, you will a) know their decor, and b) have an idea of what they might be in need of. Whether it’s a coffee bean grinder or a sterling silver photo frame, you know your in-laws will be touched by the thought that went into their gift. Score!

Flowers

Finally, there are always flowers. Maybe you don’t your in-laws all that well – or you’ve just met them. You could find that you have no real idea of what to get them at all. When that’s the case, stick to flowers. Plants as gifts are always thoughtful and well received, so it’s great for when you have no idea what to give.

Little Ones

In most situations, little ones are relatively easy to buy for. But not always. Sometimes, the kids in questions are of friends, or of distant family – and you know you have an obligation to buy for them, but you don’t know where to start. Here are three final gift ideas for you.

Something Personalized

When you’re looking at getting a gift for a baby, then working with something personalized is always a cute idea. With so many Baby’s First Christmas ideas to work with, like these on Zoey’s Attic, you’d be crazy not to at least consider giving a personalized gift. From onesies to matching sets, personalized gifts are always thoughtful but super easy and simple to pick out.

Old-Fashioned Favorites

Picking out toys for kids can be challenging. You don’t always know what characters they like, or what toys they already have. Keep it classic and you’ll always impress. With things like puzzles and books, they’re very old-fashioned and simple, and kids can never get enough of them! Plus, they’re not so generic that they look thoughtless.

Something One-Off

Laslty, you’re have the option of going for gifting something unique or unusual. One-off presents can often be a really sweet and kind idea. Whether you opt for something from a craft fair, or a locally, independent made present from a Christmas market, you won’t often be able to find these kinds of gifts anywhere else, so they’ll always be special.