8 FUN OR THOUGHTFUL GIFT IDEAS FOR ANY STYLE OR BUDGET

Don’t know what to buy this person or that person? Let us throw some spaghetti at the wall for you! Our eight gift ideas are funny, sentimental, personal, practical, and more. There’s really something for everyone. Buy a gift that costs next to nothing but means everything. Or blow them away, no expenses spared! Whatever your style or budget, the perfect gift awaits...

THOUGHTFUL GIFT IDEAS THAT HARDLY COST A THING

You can’t buy a big gift for everybody. You might not have the budget to buy at all. Maybe you object to gift-giving on philosophical grounds?! Who knows. Whatever your reasons for spending less and thinking outside the box, we salute you. Treat loved ones to a more thoughtful gift this year with a personalised note or poem. Place it inside a new journal or gift card. If you’re not confident writing, use a famous quote you think they’ll relate to instead. For a perfectly personal gift, create a word cloud! Ask friends to each choose a word that reminds them of the person you want to celebrate. Pick an online tool to create it, then print, frame, and voilà!

THOUGHTFUL GIFTS CONTINUED: GET CREATIVE

Not a natural artist? Don’t worry, art is a bit like karaoke. It's more fun if you’re a bit rubbish at it! For a funny gift that people remember for years, why not do a portrait for your loved one, and include all the bits that went wrong! Frame it and throw in a personal message or a signature and date. You’ll have so much fun over ‘is that how you really see me?’, and it’ll cost you the price of a frame and pencils. Go bigger and throw on some paint if you’re feeling really brave. This creative gift is sure to impress, and it’ll mean so much more than the latest phone or tablet.

STOCKING STUFFERS AND GIFTS UNDER £20

Little gifts are so much fun to open! From books and writer’s notepads to vintage vinyl's and thrift shop ornaments, there really is something for everyone! Candles holders are a good gift idea, especially during winter when you can never have too many. Posters often come in at under £20 and can be a really personal gift if you choose right, or even a fun gift if you find something silly! For tech-lovers, you can buy a small gift like a fancy new charging cable or phone case. For food-lovers, why not treat them to a novelty kitchen gadget or seasonal preserve from your local deli? Homemade treats also make good gifts for people who seem to have everything they need.

GIFT IDEAS UP TO £50

Forget socks this year and upgrade your bestie to a sophisticated new scarf, some elegant suede gloves, or a wooly winter jumper. A leather belt or wool hat can also be a great gift for the winter and is both fun and practical. Keep a gift receipt if you’re not entirely sure you’re going to nail it. Or, if you’re friend or loved one likes to be in control of their own wardrobe, why not buy a gift card so they can shop their own new top, dress, or accessories. Jewellery and cufflinks also make nice gifts for under £50.

LITTLE-BIG SPENDERS!

You want to get them something memorable. But you don’t wanna blow the doors off. We understand. Our idea: treat your loved one to a personal gift like a poem that you wrote, a portrait you drew, or even a reasonably priced piece of jewellery or cufflinks. Then, slip something extra inside the gift box. From tickets to their favourite local band, to dinner reservations at the restaurant you’ve both been dying to go to, you can find great deals on experience gifts on the web. If you’re active, treat them to zorbing, ziplining or even ballet lessons. Creative types? Buy a pottery making experience or a cookery class. Experience gifts make a big impact and are especially nice when wrapped up with something you can hold and keep. It’s the perfect gift combination!

BIG SPENDERS: THE STATEMENT GIFT

Whether this is the first year you’re buying them a present, it’s an important year that you really want to celebrate, or you’ve just been really rubbish for the last few years – if you’ve got the budget, go for the statement gift. From that designer dress or suit jacket they’ve had their eyes on, to the antique cabinet you passed in your local vintage store, statement gifts are all about surprising and delighting! If they’re not in to ‘things’, go for the gift experience. Like that mini break in Paris you’ve both been talking about for ages. With so many destinations to choose from, the gift ideas are endless. Simply buy a travel bag, hide the tickets inside, then watch their face as they open it.

BEST GIFT IDEAS FOR KIDS (BESIDES TOYS!)

Backpack. Get them a backpack. Here’s why: there are so many fun, bold, unique backpack designs available now, it’s so easy to find something for any taste, style, and budget. They’re super practical and great for growing kids who are still experimenting with their identity. If you’re not sure about a backpack, take inspiration from the season and shop something warm and woolly. From bright, patterned tights, to thick woolly hats and jumpers, they’ll love that feeling of thick material moving around under the wrapping paper! Just make sure it’s not socks. That’s Gift Ideas 101. (Unless, of course, they really like socks).

GIFT IDEAS FOR TODDLERS

No idea what to buy your niece, nephew, godchild, friend’s child, (any child)? You can’t go wrong with something colourful or creative. From bright patterned clothes (avoid white, their parents will thank you for it) to colouring books, puzzles, and craft sets, there’s actually loads to choose from when it comes to present ideas for toddlers. Do they like helping Mum and Dad in the kitchen? Why not get them a cookbook for toddlers? If they’re active and creative, get them some washable sidewalk chalk? (It may save their parents’ walls!) Why not buy a gift you can enjoy together? Puzzles and crafts are a great way to spend quality time with your favourite two-year-old. And that, of course, is the perfect gift!