When it comes to giving gifts, I find myself reaching for the gift cards in order to avoid buying something a friend won’t ever use, or worse, will be re-gifted later. I think I really know my friends until it’s time to shop for them based on their interests.
It shouldn’t be that hard! But it is for me.
For the mom who just wants a break from playing with her children, give her a morning out while watching her children without expecting anything in return.
For the grandmother figure wanting time with her grandchildren, give her time with her grandchildren complete with a fun craft for them to work on together.
For the single woman who doesn’t always feel seen and is full of love to give, give her the gift of time and invite her to do a fun activity with your family, paying her way if it costs anything.
For the Pastors’ wife who is drained from interpersonal ministry and needs an emotional break, invite her out for coffee with a list of questions to truly check in on her, seeking to see how she could be served on a regular basis.
Time over gifts is something I can always afford. But if you’re wanting to simply gift a friend, a mom, a grandmother, a daughter with something tangible, here are some simple ideas that will give you some ideas.
1. Makeup Remover Wipes
I got these this year because of how much I travel for work.
I literally pull out however many I need according to the number of nights I will be away from home. It alleviates me from having to pack my big pack of wipes or my bottle of liquid.
2. Sunlight Lamp
I mentioned this in my last newsletter. I’ve been waking up at 5am each morning, and this lamp has really helped wake me up when it’s still dark out.
The cold, dark, winter months contribute to season depression. This lamp WON’T fix that problem, but it mimics sunlight and can help restore your circadian rhythm.
3. A Good Moisturizer
Clinique’s Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel has been my favorite for the last 10+ years. It only takes a super small amount, and I like that it’s unscented.
If you have a friend who lives in dry climate, this would make for the PERFECT gift.
4. Beaded Bracelet
The ones pictured in this post are from my friend’s etsy shop. The friendship bracelets have become extremely popular, and I love the style/color contrast of these beads.
Here’s the link to check them out. She also sells stickers, hand-painted Bibles and notebooks, and some cute keychains.
5. Stanley Mug
Okay. This is a controversial item for me. I don’t care to spend gobs of money on trends, but can we all agree this tumbler is ascetically beautiful and makes you want to drink more water?
I put a little post together with some other fun accessories you could get to go with the mug. Or if you know of someone’s obsession with Stanley is a little extreme, consider gifting them a little extra something to increase their enthusiasm.
6. Skull Candy Headphones
As I’m writing this post, I’m currently listening to a podcast on my favorite headphones I’ve even owned.
These Hesh Evo headphones are comfortable and have a great sound. They have a long battery life, and they don’t cost what you would pay for Apple products.
7. Lip Mask
A friend of mine gifted the popular Laneige lip mask to me a couple of Christmases ago, and it is definitely what it’s hyped up to be.
The cost is honestly worth it if you have super dry lips like I do. I can literally wear it for a few nights and my lips are in much better shape.
8. Taste of Home Cookbook
This would be a great gift for someone who, like me, isn’t very confident in their ability to creatively put a side dish together for a potluck.
These delicious, and doable, recipes can give anyone the confidence to show up at an event with something that is edible.
9. Reusable Dish Clothes
This is a great gift for someone trying to cut back on paper towels and the like. You can use these for washing dishes, but I solely use these for wiping my counters down every night (well, most nights) before bed.
They last a long time, and I’ve become slightly less wasteful now that I’m not always reaching for the paper towel to wipe up messes.
10. Gifts for Spiritual Growth
If you’re gifting a friend who is a Christian, I have a simple post RIGHT HERE for some practical gift ideas that would bless her.
I hope this post was helpful! I’d love to hear if any of you gifted your friends with any of these gifts, so please share in the comments.
