Who doesn’t love hearing “Oh, it's so me!” when gifting friends or family? When it comes to finding the right present for everyone on your list, it takes a little planning and a healthy head start (hint: right now couldn’t be better!).
A little help from the experts never hurts, either. Gifting is one of our favorite things! We can't wait for you to hear our advice here — and over on our 2022 Holiday Gift Guide.
1. Make a Gift Recipient List
One of the best strategies for giving gifts they’re guaranteed to love is making a list of everyone you plan to give to. Don’t forget all the wonderful people in your life who have your back and who make things just a little rosier. In addition to family and close friends, there are teachers, coworkers, neighbors, babysitters and the hard workers who help around your home.
2. Set a Budget
Once you have the list completed, organize it into groups based on how much you’d like to spend for each person. Start with $35 and under, $35 to $50, $50 to $100 and so on, depending on your overall budget. You can even have a splurge-worthy category for your nearest and dearest.
3. Identify Each Personality
Make a little note to the side of each name that says something about their personality and interests. Now you have clearly defined parameters to help you hone in on what to get everyone. Trust us, this approach will make your shopping so much easier, not to mention make your gifts feel really thoughtful and personal. Here are some common interest areas and a few ideas to get you started.
Gifts For the Frequent Traveler
It seems she’s either always on the road or up in the air ... we wish we could keep up, but we happily live vicariously through her adventures and travel stories. Since she is a frequent traveler, she knows exactly what to take, but she might not have all the right tools. Depending on the type of getaway, she might need the convenience of a weekend bag accompanied by a toiletry bag to stay organized. Our Deluxe Travel Tote features plenty of pockets and a removable adjustable strap for easy carrying.
For a longer vacation, she might need a larger suitcase. Rolling luggage will get her where she needs to go all while staying organized and stylish. Check out our guide to packing efficiently for more ideas that the frequent traveler on your list will love!
Gifts For the Fashionista
We take our style cues from this trendsetter. She’s the kind of woman who’s both easy to shop for and hard to get just right. You’ll want to have an idea of what stores and designers she likes, and it’s always a good idea to consult with a store associate or scroll through Instagram to see what's trending.
Accessories are usually a safe bet since you don’t need to worry about fit. She can add a pop of color with a soft plaid scarf, a unique piece of jewelry or a timeless shoulder bag. A pretty fleece pullover that she can wear while on the go or while cozy at home is a sure hit. If she’s in and out of stores searching for her latest finds, consider a compact wallet or wristlet with RFID technology that will protect her credit card data from being stolen.
Gifts For a Techie
Techies likely have never-ending workdays and sometimes long commutes. A commuter-friendly bag designed to keep all their gear secure is an absolute must. She most likely has her laptop attached at the hip, so make sure it’s the perfect backpack that has a padded compartment designed just for a computer or tablet. If it’s lightweight and easy to carry, all the better!
Tech accessories are a smart call. A stylish case, charger and earbuds are perfect gifts. She can keep them organized in her bag with a handy roll-up tech organizer. The gift of coffee — whether in the form of a gift card to her favorite coffee shop or a travel coffee mug — will speak her language.
Gifts For the College Student
Chances are she’s busy, on a budget and a little bit stressed out. All the more reason to treat her to a thoughtful gift that she’ll cherish and that’ll hopefully make her feel like home isn’t so far away! Comfy apparel and cozy blankets are a smart choice for all the studying she’s doing. A roomy duffel bag or an easy travel bag for road trips and school holidays is sure to get tons of use. We also love gift cards for a spa day, her favorite coffee shop or the movie theater!
It might be time for a new XL backpack that can hold her laptop, water bottle, and all of the essentials as she treks across campus. Check out our backpack comparison guide to find a bag with just the right compartments.
Gifts For the Creative Type
Whether she’s an artist, a poet, a musician or has never met a stage she hasn’t wanted to be in the center of, she needs a few tools of her trade to spark her creativity. We’re big fans of a subscription to a magazine all about her chosen talent. Gift certificates to art, music and book stores are always a hit. We love giving a personal journal to anyone on our list who’s easily inspired, and an organizational tote bag to keep all her tools and art supplies in one place is brilliant.
Gift For the Hostess
She’s always the first to offer to host a holiday dinner, book club or all the neighborhood kids. And she makes it look so easy! She has the natural-born gift of congeniality and she’s more than earned something special in return.
It may take some convincing on her part, but the trick is to make her feel special and pampered and maybe even take a self-care day for herself. We love feel-good gifts like soft and cozy robes to help her relax, or cozy slippers to keep her comfortable all around the house.
If this hostess loves to cook, treat her to kitchen accessories in her favorite colors and patterns. This convenient casserole carrier will help her bring her expertly made dish to the next potluck or holiday gathering. Add a matching planner so she can organize meals or her busy social calendar with ease!
Gifts For the Superfan
She never misses a game, she knows her stats and she shows her pride wherever she goes. Yes, you have a superfan in your midst. For sports fans, we like to either gift them something related to their team or something game-day friendly they can bring with them to the stadium and to tailgating parties. We have so many collegiate styles perfect for any superfan. A plush throw blanket and stylish outerwear will keep her warm while tailgating or at the game. She’ll be moving around a lot, so a crossbody bag that keeps her hands free can’t be beat!
