Dear Devil’s Advocate,

Obviously, I love the holiday season. I like opening gifts I’ve been wanting, along with seeing my family and friends’ faces light up when I get them a great gift. It is an unmatched experience. The problem for me is that I have run out of gift ideas for those I buy for every year. I feel like I’ve given certain friends and family all the gifts I think they’d like. Is there something niche but special I can do for them? I need help before break so I can buy everyone’s gifts.  Any advice would be great!

Sincerely,

Gallivanting Gift-Giver

Dear Gallivanting Gift-Giver,

While the holiday season is primarily about people excited for winter break and gifts, there is also the lesser-talked-about feeling of being lost with your gift ideas. In middle and high school, it’s tough to know which friends you’re supposed to get gifts for and what to get for people when it seems you’ve already given them their wish list in the past. 

If you’re in a friend group, I recommend doing a Secret Santa way: you only need to buy for one person and nobody gets left out. It’s important to note that if you are doing a Secret Santa, you should set a price range so there’s consensus on the type of present to get. Also, many Secret Santa websites let participants create their gift lists so their gifter knows exactly what to get, which is always helpful. 

When you don’t know what to get for someone or aren’t close with someone you got in a Secret Santa, a great choice is to focus on what they love and get them a niche reference or version of it. This strategy works for someone you’ve already bought presents for in the past, who is similar to the current gift recipient you’re not as close with. For example, last year I bought my friend, who was always talking about kimchi, a pack of four kimchi flavors from a kimchi-specific seller online. Not only do these kinds of gifts add uniqueness, but they can also make people feel seen.

Another way to please someone you aren’t very bonded with is to use a go-to tool: the internet! Every year, The New York Times’ Wirecutter section has gift guides for every person on your gift list. This year, Wirecutter gave some great options, including: “The Birthday Edition” by The New York Times (a book of The New York Times front pages from all their birthdays), a fake book box for safekeeping and a Japanese snack box. 

A specific guide for those you don’t know well can also be found in Vogue, where they have an article listing tchotchkes, which means they are a great, neutral option for someone you know close to nothing about! Some examples in the article include a facial spray, a frame, soap and a puzzle.

Sometimes, the hardest person to get a gift for is the person you spend the most time with, have the most memories with and know the best: your closest friend. We buy a present for our best friend every year: for birthdays and holidays throughout your whole friendship. You may ask yourself, what more can you get them? 

There are two excellent routes for gift-giving that you could go when thinking of what to get your BFF. The first being my typical idea: getting crafty. I always like to make something for those closest to me because your best friend (or a parent) is the one who will appreciate a heartfelt, handmade gift the most. Because of a DIY gift’s flexibility, there are endless possibilities for pleasing those around you. One of my favorite ideas is to make a framed collage. A collage can be a creative option because it is inexpensive to make and you can center it on anything you think the person cherishes, maybe it’s an accomplishment of theirs, a moment you had together, or a collection of funny text exchanges. If this idea doesn’t speak to you, the Paper and Stitch blog has a wide range of little projects for those you love, including clay bowls, scrubs, and candles.

Often, the best gift is an experience, so a great option when you either have a tight budget or don’t want to get artsy this holiday season is to plan a day to go to a cool spot your gift recipient has been talking about. One place I’ve loved taking friends during the winter is the Bryant Park Winter Village, where there are many small business stands and cool food options. 

Any gift-giving route you go, the gesture of thinking of someone is a great way to show them that you love and care about them. Hopefully, these ideas ease the stress of the hectic holiday season. 

Sincerely,

The Devil’s Advocate