What is everyone planning to give this year for the holidays? I’m still searching for inspiration for gifts for my partner, friends, and family members that are budget-friendly and fit within our quarantine lifestyle. I think active wear, candles, and kitchen supplies always make good gifts, but I’m interested to hear what others have in mind. Any recommendations for small businesses online for the holidays, or useful presents for parents and that one friend who seems to have everything?
I’m considering giving my friends bath bombs, homemade baked goods, edibles, masks from a local designer in NYC, and funky socks. I’m still figuring out what to get for my parents. I know everyone here always has excellent suggestions.
My partner made a silly drawing he’s quite proud of (not an art person at all), so I had it converted into an embroidered logo on a t-shirt. We also got a window bird feeder during lockdown, and it’s been lovely watching the little birds come by, so we’re getting one for his parents! My parents don’t really celebrate Christmas, so I’ll just send them a nice card and have a long video chat
For friends, most of us agreed to donate to a local food bank instead!
@Ariya
It’s from an online company called Banana Moon clothing, they have a variety of t-shirts, and they charge based on the size of the embroidery. I spent about £28 total, and I’m really happy with how it turned out!
I’ve been trying to cut back on gift-giving with family and friends when it feels like it’s just filling the moment because the calendar says it’s time. I love giving meaningful gifts, but I really don’t care for so-called ‘space-filler’ gifts. If they’re financially stable, they likely can get anything they want that fits my budget. For instance, my sister and I agreed to get things for each other but won’t feel pressured for gifts just because it’s a specific date. And when we do get items, it needs to be something we know will be appreciated or is based on special insight we have about the other. This change has made gift-giving much more satisfying for me; I’m not bound to find filler gifts but can share when I discover something worthwhile.
So my gift-giving list is very personalized and not all holiday-timed. I’ve recently moved to a state my family hasn’t visited, so I might look for local specialties to send them—things they don’t easily find elsewhere.
I try to give thoughtful yet practical gifts. While I’m not a minimalist, I see Christmas as a great moment to upgrade essential items for family members that they wouldn’t splurge on for themselves. Here are some examples from this year:
For my younger sister - a HUGE box of Trader Joe’s seasonal snacks and goodies. She’s a nurse, works crazy hours, and lives two hours from the nearest TJ’s, so she always misses out on fun snacks.
For my dad - Waterproof Merrells, as he just adopted a rescue dog that chewed his favorite sneakers! He has arthritis, so supportive shoes are important for him.
For my mom - Nothing big, as she requested no gifts. I’ll send her a bouquet during the week of Christmas since she loves plants and flowers.
For my fiancé - LL Bean slippers, a fleece vest, a pizza stone, and a sous vide cooker. We both work from home, so I wanted to keep him comfortable and make daily meals more exciting. I also found him a wool pea coat because he keeps commenting on how much he likes Paul Hollywood’s jacket while watching Bake Off. I also got him some new Jack Black skincare to try and bath bombs from Lush for his stocking.
@Pippin
Thanks for the idea of the TJ goodie box! They don’t have one anywhere near my family, so I’m totally going to use this idea to create a care package and send it to them.
Joey said: @Pippin
Thanks for the idea of the TJ goodie box! They don’t have one anywhere near my family, so I’m totally going to use this idea to create a care package and send it to them.
I looked through /r/traderjoes for ideas and found numerous delicious options! Chocolate peppermint cake mix, snowman hot cocoa bombs, and beauty advent calendars are among the many cool holiday treats this year made filling a large shipping box super easy.
My boyfriend and I are exchanging gifts (I can’t reveal too much since he knows my Reddit name ). This year, 13 households in my family are doing a Hanukkah gift box organized by my cousin. Each household will send 12 of something small to her, and she will package them all and distribute them, so every household receives a box with the gifts from the others. We’ll all gather on Zoom nightly to light candles and open presents together. My boyfriend and I are gifting some of our handmade glass and ceramics.
I love holiday gift giving! We have a budget this year but are spending more than ever before. Here’s my list:
For my nieces and nephew: Studio Ghibli t-shirts and fun onesies from Box Lunch, plus plush toys from their favorite shows (Ponyo and Legend of Zelda!) and some books!
For my mother-in-law: An international cookbook from a local bookstore because she misses her friends abroad.
For my brother-in-law and his fiancée: Video games from Steam, which often go on sale, plus a cozy socks set.
For my mom: A Cocokind skincare starter kit. She enjoys beauty products but doesn’t treat herself to nicer items.
For my brother: A gift card for a Nintendo Switch game.
For my dad: A new computer monitor since he works from home and is upgrading his setup.
For my fiancé: A nice bottle of Scotch, new Glencairn whiskey glasses, a metal distortion pedal for his guitar, and a handmade ceramic pint glass inspired by Lord of the Rings.
). This year, 13 households in my family are doing a Hanukkah gift box organized by my cousin. Each household will send 12 of something small to her, and she will package them all and distribute them, so every household receives a box with the gifts from the others. We’ll all gather on Zoom nightly to light candles and open presents together. My boyfriend and I are gifting some of our handmade glass and ceramics.