| by Courtney Mizak | 11/26/08 | 41 views |
Three–hour classes are tough for me to get through, so to help ease the time, I started listing gift ideas for my family and friends. I absolutely love shopping for others this time of year, but there are certain categories of people that are difficult to buy for. I have reached out to people for help in this present giving predicament and have compiled a list according to their responses and my experiences. If you’re in the same boat as me and can’t wait to get holiday shopping but are having some trouble in the idea department, hopefully this list will come in handy.
Father
This may differ between son to father and daughter to father, but here are some good ones:
–Clothes—as parents may have trouble in this department. Also, for those snowy days where Dad is stuck shoveling, sweatshirts and fleeces are a good choice.
–Tools—As a female, this has been difficult for me in the past because getting the details from him discretely about what exactly he’s looking for is difficult, but tools to men are like jewelry to women.
–Cell Phone accessories (i.e. blue tooth, a cover, a car charger, etc.)
–Gadgets
–Football Jersey (or other sports jerseys)
Mother
My mom tends to be modest and is not forward about what she wants for Christmas which makes gifts for Mom require a little more thought. Here are some classics:
–Clothes—again, a little help with the current trends are usually appreciated by parents.
–Helping around the house may not be a gift she can open, but it will be appreciated, especially if you are having company
–A book that applies to her interest—whether it be a recipe book, a self help book, or a novel
–TiVo or some other cool program (make sure to set it up for her too!)
–Jewelry
Sister
From sister to sister it may not be so tough—I often buy my sister clothes I would want for myself (and maybe I will borrow later on…). This may not be as easy from brother to sister, so here’s some help:
–Clothes are very good, but to guarantee a unique gift, check out www.vintage-blue.com for hot tees that are eco-friendly and made by a small company attempting to make it big
–You should know enough about her, so what are her hobbies? My older sister is an outdoor person, so I head straight to L.L. Bean!
–Scarves, mittens, boots, and other winter gear!
–Gift certificates to their favorite stores so they can hit them up the after–holiday sales
Brother
From a family of three girls, I could not be much help here. However, other people’s input led me to this list:
–Electronics
–Movies
–Video Games
–Computer accessories
–Clothes with his favorite sport team logo
Boyfriend
Ah the dreaded boyfriend gift! The pressure is on and the stakes are high: how much do you spend? What if he hates it? Here are some helpful hints:
–This can be used by both parties. Planning something to do together in the future, l like a dinner or a weekend trip instead of exchanging gifts is always good.
–It’s nice to do something personal and sweet, like a framed picture or some other memorabilia. Just keep in mind that many people will be asking your boy what his lady friend got him, so if it’s very personal, make sure to couple it up with something else that he can share with friends and family.
–iPod
–Watch
–Clothes– I know many college guys are not ones to get ecstatic about receiving clothes, but they will most likely wear it and appreciate it since they aren’t too big on shopping either.
–Coat
–Movie (perhaps one you saw together, or want to see together)
–This may sound weird, but blankets are always a plus.
–Wallet
Girlfriend
I may have never had a girlfriend, but I’ve been one. So here’s my advice:
–Again, a weekend getaway or a special date can sometimes be worth more than any gift.
–Jewelry is always great—it doesn’t have to be expensive or jaw dropping.
–“It’s the thought that counts.”– If she is interning in the city next semester, get her a crossword puzzle book to do on the train. If she is studying abroad, perhaps get her a journal to record her trip. If she has been complaining about how she always loses her pen, get her a 100 pack of them. No matter how small the gift, the thoughtfulness will mean a lot.
–Wallet
–Buying clothes for girls can be VERY difficult, but it would be nice to get a gift certificate to her favorite store and pick a date to bring her there and pick out things together.
Good Friends
These are often fun gifts to buy but can still be difficult sometimes. In that case:
–Framed picture of you two together. This becomes special as time goes by and people move away
–Homemade gifts
–Gag gift of an inside joke
–Gift certificate to a place you two like to go
–Try to pay attention to things that my friends point out in stores that they just aren't willing to treat themselves too
Not-so-close-with friends
Have you ever been in the situation where you’re not really good friends but you think they will get something for you so to be polite and avoid an awkward situation you get something for them but you realize they are just getting something for you for the same reason….help!
–Gift certificates but try to make it personal. Make sure they actually enjoy the place you are buying it for, and maybe include in the card your intention (With an iTunes card, say “Thought you may want to add some more great party tunes to your mix!”)
–Make them cookies or some other delicious treat! It’s a cheap alternative and will be much appreciated!
     
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University of Delaware
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