Dear SpaceManAndy,
I love Christmas time, but I really hate all the obligatory gift giving. I mean, I there are some people in my life like co-workers, or family friends, or neighbors that I just don’t like that much. Every December, I find myself obligated to get them a gift that doesn’t make me a look like a cheap asshole. I don’t hate these people (ok, maybe some of them), I just would rather buy presents for the people in my life that mean a lot to me. Every $25 Starbucks Gift mug and coffee set I buy for them, is $25 worth of presents my girlfriend doesn’t get. It’s not that I don’t want to get them anything, it’s that I don’t want to invest, and I am not very crafty or a DIY-er. What do I get these people, SpaceMan?!
Sincerely,
I’m not a Grinch, I’m just poor and lazy.
Dear Poor and Lazy,
I think we are all familiar with this phenomenon. Fortunately, I think I can help with some ideas that are cheap, and yet appear thoughtful. I can also suggest a few gifts that won’t solicit the “Aww, thanks man. You know, we really should hang out more often.”
My first suggestion is booze. Almost everyone on your list enjoys booze. And wine doesn’t even have to be expensive. Go to a wine store, (Online wine
Those 94 cent bags add a world of class to your $8 bottle of wine. Now your gift looks super classy and thoughtful and only cost you $8.94-$10.94. Plus, keep a few handy in a closet in case someone gives you a gift unexpectedly.
Now, some people don’t like booze or maybe it would be inappropriate to as a gift (depending on your work environment, giving alcohol might be a faux pas).
Many online retailers have an “Under $10” section. Personally, I like ThinkGeek.com because I am a giant nerd (feel free to leave your impassioned definitions of geek versus nerd in the comments section, you dweeb). One of the nice things about this is that they have an under $10 section and an under $20 section, depending on whom you are shopping for. Some of the stuff is real unique and not just for geeks. Like the grow your own coffee bean plant kit. This is $8 (on sale!) and makes an excellent gift for a co-worker about whom then only thing you know is that he or she likes coffee.
You don’t have to limit yourself to Think Geek, obviously, just make sure it’s nothing too generic. No one knows how much you spent on wine, or a unique coffee growing kit. But everyone that gift set of bbq sauces came from Walmart/Kmart/Target and was $10. They probably also still have the same set from last year.
Here’s a handy list of gifts that I would stay away from if you’re trying to impress. (Alternatively, this list doubles as the list of gifts for people with whom you don’t want to encourage friendship)
- Bath gift set. All this says is “I know you have a vagina, so I assume you like frilly shit.”
- BBQ stuff. I know you have a penis, and am making the following assumptions: You have a grill, you like grilling, you don’t already own the stuff necessary to grill.
- Gift certificates. The exception being if the gift certificate is to some place meaningful. A gift certificate to your significant other for the place where you had your first date can be a very romantic gift.
- Candles. Any candle that makes a good looking gift is extremely overpriced. Also, if someone wants a damn candle, they’ll just go buy one.
Anyway, good luck friend. If you don’t take any of my suggestions, I hope they have at least pointed you in helpful directions. Just remember, you can do cheap without doing generic (I know a bottle of wine is generic, but most people appreciate getting booze during the holidays).
I don’t know, I guess that could work. Maybe?
Spacemanandy
THANK GOD you discussed the bath set thing. I am not normally one to turn my nose up at a gift (I really do love giving and getting gifts), but bath sets really do say, “I have no idea what to get you, and Target/Walmart/K-Mart told me that you’d like this. Also, it smells bad and will probably make your skin itch.” The only time it is acceptable is when you know that this person specifically likes this kind (for instance, my mom really loves Burt’s Bees).
YES. It’s useless and feels super impersonal. Pretty much the “I’m giving up” gift option, and it shows.
— Bath gift set. All this says is “I know you have a vagina, so I assume you like frilly shit.”
YES. Dear god. There are a few exceptions to this rule (if you know someone really likes taking baths, for example, getting them a few luxury bath bombs from Lush plus maybe a bottle of wine to drink while taking a bath is perfect) but I can’t tell you how many times someone has gotten me some generic shampoo/conditioner/lotion set in a scent I can’t stand and I think “welp, that was a waste” because it will never get used. I have shampoo and conditioner and lotion that I like already, and there are a heck of a lot of things I enjoy doing more than taking showers with different smelly products, so it really tells me you don’t know me well or didn’t try very hard.
I do SORT OF disagree with the gift certificate thing though. I love recieving gift certificates, as long as they’re for a place I know I will enjoy using them.
The only two times I can recall not being happy with getting a gift certificate: One was for Outback Steakhouse (don’t like steak) and the other was for some sports warehouse store (don’t like sports). But every time someone gets me a gift certificate for Amazon, iTunes, the movies, sushi, my favorite spa? I’m pleased as punch.
There are times it is appreciated, but generally, unless it comes with something else, just an amazon gift card means “I didn’t know what else to get you.” Although, thinking about it, it could be sweet as “I know you well enough to know you would want to pick your own gift.” It all depends on context.
I’ve received the “you’re a dude” gifts before, but later in life, as people started to know me enough to know I’m a geek, I occasionally ran into the geek-equivalent of those gifts. “You’re a nerd, so surely you’ll dig this Big Bang Theory mug.”
I appreciate that they were thoughtful, but sometimes it’s not just with gender where people generalize when it comes to gift ideas.