No matter what you do, December is a pricey month for most people. Not only are you buying gifts for the holidays, but you may have to spend on food, travel costs, holiday parties and Secret Santa at work. You might even have the added challenge of shopping for someone who has everything.
Photo: Deposit Photos
If you find yourself banging your head against the wall out of frustration to shop for these people, this year might call for more creative measures. In an effort to combat brain drain or the equivalent of writer’s block for gift giving, I compiled a list of gifts for people on your list that don’t need much:
Gift cards from restaurants with 15 minutes of fame
To make a regular gift card a little more interesting, buy some from restaurants that have been featured on television. Look for places to go on a site like TVFoodMaps.com. It showcases 30 different food shows and 4,000 restaurants all under one roof on their website. Look for places there or through their mobile app. You can search by the actual food shows where the restaurants were featured like Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, Man Versus Food, Chopped and many more.
You can also search by location or the TV Guide Listing on the site. I visited a diner featured on the show Drive Ins, Diners and Dives with Guy Fieri as the host. I wasn’t able to see the show when it aired but found out about it later through the site. The restaurant was just under an hour away. The food was great and it broke me out of visiting the same old places.
If your recipients are traveling by car to see you for the holidays, perhaps you can locate a restaurant on the site that is en route when they head back home. Base your recipients itinerary around a restaurant that was visited by famous food show stars like Michael Symon or Anthony Bourdain.
Photo: Deposit Photos
Help fuel up for those on the go
Avid road trippers and college students may like a practical gift like a gas card. This useful gift can help defray costs for those who travel often. Whether they are headed to a place with sand and palm trees or just going back and forth to college, they might appreciate this gift.
Giving a gas card might mean that money from a part-time job can go towards other needs or a little fun. Feel out if the person would enjoy this type of gift in advance so you don’t get a big thumbs down come holiday time.
That’s the (show) ticket!
Getting tickets to a play, musical or an area movie theater is a desirable gift. Maybe your nephew hasn’t seen the Lion King yet, or your auntie is a movie buff who would love a pair of tickets to see a movie at her area cinema. You can buy tickets based on the recipient’s interests and use it as your trademark gift to give year after year.
Photo: Deposit Photos
Those you exchange with on a regular basis can plan what they want to see in advance and tell you what to buy. They will have something to look forward to each year as well as cherish the memories for years to come. You will also have the added bonus of not having to scratch your head to come up with a new idea over and over.
Redecorate your child’s room
If your child is that person on your list that happens to have everything they need and want, consider revamping their bedroom. As kids get older, their tastes change. Maybe your daughter has outgrown that princess pink paint or all of a sudden is into animals and wants cat posters all over her room. Or maybe the Thomas the Tank Engine theme needs to go. Give the gift of room reinvention. Check out sites like Pinterest or glean inspiration from design blogs for age-appropriate ideas. This can be just what the decorating doctor ordered.
Photo: Deposit Photos
If you find it hard to shop for certain people on your list, try the tips mentioned to get them something useful. The best part about these kinds of gifts is that the pricing varies and can fit any budget. The point is to make the recipient feel special and to enjoy the process of gift giving.
If you liked this article, you may also enjoy:
- Homemade gifts: 11 easy ideas for drink & sweet mixes
- 10 thoughtful gifts that keep on giving
- Practical gifts they will appreciate
- Gifts for organic gardeners
- The best gifts cost nothing
