What's your favorite gift to give? I get these great ideas but then blank out on them when it's actually time to buy something.

Question

graham · Answer

Carson Magnifiers: The best tool for removing spiders or other creepy crawlers out of your house. Most people dont have one and every one I have gifted is still in use! But we have a lot of house spiders around here.

Lulu Lefferts · Answer

Keep a “gift box” in your home (and on your phone!): Why wait until it is time to give a gift to buy one? I have a box dedicated to storing gifts I buy for friends prior to an actual occasion. I keep a digital list of gift ideas on my phone when people mention hobbies or things they like so that I don’t have to grasp for gift ideas during the holidays.

Vicky · Answer

Wine & Cheese Picnic Basket: Such a fun a unique gift and something that they can enjoy with others. You can even gift with their favorite bottle of wine.

Sofa · Answer

Quilt: Heirloom vibe

Sofa · Answer

Magazine subscription: It’s the gift that keeps giving

Shannon · Answer

Penguin Server: Vintage, but surprisingly easy to come by at flea markets, antique stores, eBay, etc. They keep anything hot or cold, and make a good ice bucket. My grandfather would buy one whenever he saw one, so I gave away the family stash as wedding presents for years and still own two.

Helen · Answer

Le Creuset Heritage Butter Dish: Perfect housewarming gift that’s affordable and shows a little more thought than a bottle of wine. The sort of thing that won’t be on the top of anyone’s list when outfitting a new place, but they can use (or at least appreciate) every day.

Jess · Answer

TravelCard Plus iPhone and USB-C charger: These tiny chargers come in a range of cute colors and feel great in the hand. I can get two full phone charges out of mine. If you're giving it as a gift, get it in their favorite color and have it engraved with their name!

Sarah Cooney · Answer

Wonder Valley Wild Garden Hand Wash: I love giving fancy hand soaps because I always feel guilty for buying them myself although it's something I use multiple times a day. This is my current kitchen favorite--I'm SO obsessed with the scent and the fact that my hands are NOT DRY after using it!! It's also a good gift for anyone (except a child).

Dylan · Answer

Make a personalised mixtape for your loved one: This is one of my favourite little gifts to make for someone's birthday (or just because!), especially if I'm low on funds or I'm contributing to a group present but also want to give them something just from me.

I spent my childhood taping songs from the radio to make my own mixtapes, and when I was older I would always LOVE receiving a mix CD of songs made especially for me. It's lovely to witness some of these analogue compilation styles returning to the current zeitgeist.

It's not just nostalgic... I think there's something so special about physical media, particularly in this era of low-quality streaming, TikTok trends, algorithm-induced laziness and AI slop.

If you don't have the equipment to make a tape or CD, the next best thing is a specially curated playlist full of your loved one's favourite tracks, or songs that reminds you of each other!

CUTE :)))

Dylan · Answer

Lemon curd + rye toast + flaky salt: the most heavenly gift idea / an indulgent treat

Dylan · Answer

Tarot reading as a birthday gift: One of the best birthday presents I have ever received. This person was truly talented and knew so much before I even spoke a single word to her.

I told my ever-sceptical Dad about some of the things she shared with me, and even his cynical mind was blown. Validating and enlightening.

An incredible gift.

Wine Guy · Answer

Desert Sandalwood Hand Soap: Yeehaw I'm A Sandalwood Cowboy

This luxe sandalwood hand soap with tasteful notes of iris, vetiver, and cardamom will transport your nose to the most delightful version of the American Wild West—a gorgeous frontier fantasyland where the coyotes let you pet them and the cowboys are all horsegirls. Reminds me of Santal 33. Made with olive oil and aloe vera, it cleans effectively without drying out your hands.

Savannah Spoor · Answer

Cabin Nine 20 minute candle: The perfect gift for someone in your life. I love writing a handwritten note that shares how I imagine the person using the candle - whether it’s 20 minutes for new skill you know they are learning, a new hobby they’ve expressed interest in, 20 minutes to journal, 20 minutes to water color. It’s just such an intentional gift for anyone ✨✨

Mary · Answer

Artifact Uprising Photo Gifts: I love to give photo gifts to family members who are hard to buy for because they feel more personal. I’ve been using Artifact Uprising for 10+ years and have always been happy with their quality and price. For Christmas one year, I literally made a photo album from my wedding for my mom because she kept saying she wanted a way to enjoy those photos more. For my in-laws, I’ll get prints from family vacations, frame them and mail them as gifts.

Claire · Answer

Basics, but a little fancy: My go to gift concept is “something this person would use, but a fancier version than they’d buy for themselves” - think nice olive oil, maldon salt, nice vinegar, a fun chili crisp, rancho Gordo beans… clearly I am friends with people who like to cook, but that concept has never steered me wrong!

Emilie Bienvenew · Answer

Hori Hori Japanese Garden Knife: Taking care of my garden with this japanese tool

AMB · Answer

Gifting a Meaningful Mug: Anthropology has these cute mugs with dogs, as well as mugs with initials. Choosing a mug with meaning (whether it be an illustration of their pet, the first letter of their name, or even a mug from one of their favorite places) are easy and thoughtful gifts.

Cicely · Answer

Shiny Spray: This is an amazing all purpose cleaner that has really nice scents, my favorite is the patchouli and bergamot, but they also have a santal one, and a more floral one that smells like orange blossoms.

Jennifer · Answer

A Fancy Candle: It’s one of those things that I have a hard time spending money on myself, so I figure others enjoy receiving them too:)

Aya C · Answer

(Boring but) I have a list of gift ideas in my notes app: When I have an idea or see something for someone, I just add it to my notes app. People I buy gifts for often, like my kid or sister, I have a whole note for. I have a saved folder here for “gifts” for things I think certain loved ones would like. Then, when the time comes, I don’t feel pressure.

Also, if the inspiration strikes, I just gift it then and there.

Paloma · Answer

Undesigning the Bath: One of my favorite gifts to give people who care about what things look like and how they function. Especially if they also love taking baths. Beautifully laid out and written. "Undesigning the Bath" argues that design and architecture often fail or neglect the bathroom/the bathing experience. (Recent reissue by Blunk Books and the original author, Leonard Koren.)

Dubya_Dee · Answer

A loaf of bread: When I can't think of a gift I just make a loaf of bread. Making bread ain't hard, but it takes some effort. This is one of my laziest recipes and makes a great loaf.

Rish · Answer

Handmade Gifts: I made this for my girlfriend for Valentine's Day this year, and she absolutely loved it! I painted a record, broke it, and rearranged it. I'm not an incredibly artsy person, but I'm really proud of this! Besides, the point of a handmade gift isn't a Picasso-level masterpiece; It's the fact that you spent hours making something meaningful for someone. For me, a handmade gift will always mean more than some fancy product. Don't get me wrong, I always love a new coffee gadget, but the fact that someone spends hours on a hand-crafted gift makes it mean that much more. For your next anniversary, a special person's birthday, Christmas, or Valentine's Day, try making your gift by hand. Even if it's a handmade card, I'm sure your person will absolutely love it!