Photo Credit: Flickr / Ben Ashkins
Is it just me, or does gift giving get harder every year? Finding presents for family and friends is already a challenge, but when your shopping list includes something for your new boss, your younger cousins (what do kids even like these days?) or your significant other’s parents (yikes!) you’re probably going to need some guidance.
To help you out with the tricker people on your holiday gift list this year, we’ve gathered gift ideas from This Is Quarterlife’s partners, contributors and friends to offer some suggestions that are sure to please. Read on, and happy shopping!
1) Your Boss
“Gourmet chocolates are a great gift. They are relatively inexpensive as far as gifts go, and they provide that special touch because each box is customized. Phillip Ashley Chocolates has amazing chocolates if you are in the Memphis area and they even offer free shipping if you are looking for a customized treat for a friend. The gift is less than 50 bucks including shipping! -LaTisha Styles, motivational speaker, millennial money expert, and spokesperson
“A donation to a charity they actively support, or to something they may not have heard of before will go long way. Support a Kickstarter in their name, or make a donation to the company’s non-profit sector. It’s instant warm-and-fuzzies, and you don’t have to worry about gift wrapping.” -Katka Lapelosová, Matador Network
“I’ve sent pre-packaged gifts from Eataly a few times, both for colleagues I know well and those I don’t. It’s been a hit! Gifts start at $20 ($30 with shipping). I’ve ordered both the Lidia Bastianich and the Mario Batali sample packs. I mean, what real New Yorker doesn’t love some upper shelf pasta and sauce? This was also an obvious choice to send as a thank you to an old boss — as a New York transplant living in Los Angeles; I knew she would appreciate the taste of a favorite hometown store.” -David Claps, What Lisa Wears
“A small holiday gift basket of nuts, crackers, etc. is usually a safe bet — just make sure your boss is not allergic to anything you might buy!” -Kate Dolan, The Bro Chick
2) Your female boss
“A gift certificate to a nail salon. This is sort of a go-to gift for any female, because who doesn’t like to get their nails done? Or they can use it towards a spa treatment or whatever. They can de-stress around the holidays and get a cool Christmas or New Year’s style.” -Katka Lapelosová, Matador Network
“One of the things that we first notice when walking into a room or a home is the smell, and there is no better way to create instant homeyness than with a candle. Nest candles are elegant, well priced, and have produced many of my favorite scents around. Everyone loves a good scent, and if you stick with the winter smells you will have a season appropriate, nice, yet not overly personal gift. Your boss will love it — and you can grab one for yourself as well.” -Lauren Harbury, Twenty Something Living
“This knitted infinity scarf is cute and cozy, and everyone needs a warm scarf for the winter!” -Nicole Booz, GenTwenty
“A good read! I’d recommend either Ali Berlinski’s A Beautiful Mess or Janna Leyde’s He Never Liked Cake!” -Nicole McArdle, Pubslush
3) Your manly male boss
“For a male boss, some kind of food item. Dudes LOVE to eat. They also love crazy things, like bacon-flavored anything. You can find tons of small, quirky food items at hipster stores.” -Katka Lapelosová, Matador Network
“A small bottle of his favorite scotch/whiskey/booze or a nice bottle of wine. If you know he’s a cook (like my former boss) give him a sauce or rub for meat from your favorite cooking store or even better, give him a jar of your homemade one!” -Kate Dolan, The Bro Chick
4) Younger cousins/nieces/nephews
“If this person is a girl, just go with the 1D Store. There’s a 99% chance this person will love anything you buy. Remember the pop up store at Madison Square Garden? Also, #GetWellSoonZayn.” -David Claps, What Lisa Wears
“All children 13 and under love legos -- fact.” -Kate Dolan, The Bro Chick
5) Your significant other’s parents
“Parents love photos of their kids, especially with their partners. Instead of getting a frame every year, purchase a Fandango giftcard that you can personalize with a photo instead. The parents have to take a “date night” and it also won’t make for an awkward decor-cleanse if you break up.” -Katka Lapelosová, Matador Network
“If you know their taste, you can never go wrong with food! Hit up Harry and David or a similar store and checkout the gift baskets of mixed nuts, crackers, etc. they have, or make your own with snacks you know his/her parents love.” -Kate Dolan, The Bro Chick
6) Your significant other’s parents, who you’re meeting for the first time ever…
“These monogrammed pint glasses are cool for parents you’ve met or haven’t met, or a male boss. The monogram adds a personal touch to the gift and it’s useful — especially for the beer drinker!” -Nicole Booz, GenTwenty
“This is always super hard. Put the onus on your partner to seed you ideas. A bottle of booze never hurts, or a nice bouquet of flowers. Your gift will make a first impression, so you don’t want to it to be too quirky or some sort of inside joke that might not translate at first. Stay away from religious/holiday-themed items unless you absolutely know how they feel about gifts like that.” -Katka Lapelosová, Matador Network
“Bring a dessert — either make one yourself or pick up a festive holiday treat, and make sure it’s presented nicely.” -Kate Dolan, The Bro Chick
7) Host/Hostess Gifts
“Purchase something they’ll use. Nothing is worse than receiving a piece of weird art, or a fancy bowl, and having no use/space for it. Especially for friends in the city, picking up a small kitchen gadget, a set of cool spices or a one-time-use ingredient, or even a recipe book. The MoMa store is amazeballs for that.” -Katka Lapelosová, Matador Network
“I think candles make cool hostess gifts. My favorites are these ones from Etsy, and any of these from Barney’s.” -Nicole Booz, GenTwenty
Have a gift suggestion to add? Tell us about it in the comments below!
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