My dad has taken a liking to coffee during quarantine, so I got him some containers to keep beans fresh and beans from our home country, which are rather sought after. He usually enjoys tea in the morning around Christmas, so I’ll tell him to take a break from that this year.
I’m also getting my mom some kitchen knives since she has broken half of what she owns. They can be a bit pricey but are worth it in the long run. Additionally, I picked up a cute Kate Spade bag that she specifically mentioned wanting.
For my brother, I’m still figuring it out lol.
For friends, I might go for DIY bubble tea kits (which I just learned about) because we all enjoy boba when we go out together. Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to meet up this year, so I think it would be a sweet gesture until we can go out again. These kits are from a local shop, making it a good way to support small businesses.
There are some local jewelry shops in NYC with handcrafted items that would be great gifts for the women and feminine-leaning folks in your life. Just to note, I bought some earrings from Selah Vie a few years ago, and they still look fantastic.
Neve said: @Jordy
Your dad getting into coffee is a great idea! What coffee did you choose, and can you share the website? I would greatly appreciate it.
I chose Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee! It’s a bit pricey, but definitely worth checking out. I used the link below:
@Jordy
When you said pricey, I thought, oh, 20 bucks. Nah. This is pretty expensive. I’ll likely need to go for K-Cups since he uses my knock-off Keurig. I’ll have to think about how much I like him. I’m happy to spend 20 bucks but the estimated shipping means this would hit 40 bucks, which is debatable. Which specific ones did you get? I’m looking at these, but honestly don’t know enough about coffee to decide. https://www.bluemountaincoffee.com/products/single-serve-cup-coffee
@Neve
I purchased the sample pack with different types of coffee, but I got him beans since he has a grinder.
I’m not too knowledgeable about coffee either but gifted this to a friend in college once, and she was thrilled. I’d recommend going for the regular blend first since it seems to be popular. The different names represent special farms and regions on the mountain, which affect the flavor.
I didn’t pay anything for shipping or sales tax, so the total was the amount shown. I’m in NJ, so you might want to double-check if it affects your shipping costs.
@Jordy
I would agree, like a ton of my family just says to pick her something up and keep cash. Thankfully, I can ask. I’m not buying full-price coffee for him, and despite the price, I’m not spending that for myself because it is hard to justify. I’m glad it still ended up being a savings for that coffee though.
I often choose clothes that family members have expressed wanting, which is a little different than most gifts.
This year, I’m getting:
For my parents: a Nespresso machine because they don’t have one yet.
For my siblings: some locally sourced coffee - taking advantage of local farmers’ market, special jam that I found on sale, & all sorts of fun stationary gifts that my sister would appreciate.
I try to spend a bit more on gifts that are unique to the person, like good practice or equipment for a hobby they’ve expressed interest in, rather than generic gifts.
My parents just purchased a Nespresso machine, so I’m putting together a care package of our favorite coffees along with some seasonal varieties.
For my mother-in-law, I sent her an L’Occitane advent calendar, plus I’ll have some poinsettias sent to their house. For my father-in-law, I’m planning on a nice bottle of red wine or a donation to his favorite conservation area.
The girlfriends are doing a secret Santa exchange. I’m sending one friend a low-waste bundle from a local shop: reusable cotton pads, mesh grocery bags, and sponge cloths.
For my husband, I’m considering a Pulse headset for his new PS5!
@Camden
How sweet! Perhaps consider gifting them something for relaxation or something enjoyable together? For instance, locally roasted coffee paired with handmade mugs, a gift card to a restaurant for takeout/delivery, or gourmet snacks for a cozy night in. And perhaps include something nice and cozy for the baby!
Partner: My fiancé knows my Reddit name, so I can’t share what I’m getting him yet
Sister 1 (we are each other’s not-so-secret Santas this year): I’m getting her a plushie of her favorite Animal Crossing character, a small planter, a raw sapphire ring and a high-quality candle, a Halsey vinyl album, plus a LUSH gift card.
Sister 2: a Harry Potter bead craft kit.
Sister 3 and her husband, along with their kids: a fun interactive card game called “throw throw burrito” and a tin of holiday chocolate-covered Oreos.
Parents: a delivery of Christmas flowers from a local florist.
Partner’s sister and parents: my partner is handling their gifts.
Friend 1: a small art print made by me and some of my homemade chocolate crinkle cookies.
Friend 2: chocolate crinkle cookies.
Everyone on this list: Christmas cards.
Overall, I think I’ll spend between $350-$400 on gifts, which is pretty standard for me. I’m also glad that I’m saving by not traveling home for Christmas (a plane ticket back home during the holidays is usually about $350-$400).
I really hope everyone enjoys their gifts. It’s disappointing not to be with my family this Christmas, but giving gifts helps ease the situation.
This year, I will put together gift baskets filled with goodies for my friends, which will include homemade treats and artisanal goodies I found locally. I’m also opting for sustainable products in my gifts when I can, like reusable wraps or kitchen gadgets.
Each year, I try to personalize gifts more, and my friends really appreciate the effort. I believe gifts don’t need to be elaborate or expensive; thoughtful gifts are the best kind.
