November 27, 2025

How to Find The Perfect Gift

5 gift ideas for the creatively stifled.

Source: The Office

As great as it is to receive a shimmery box of holiday goodness, it’s pretty special being the giver. Do it right and you get something better than a box with a bow: a face that positively glows with appreciation.

Now, you might think having more money makes gift-giving easier. But as we all know from hours of endless scrolling, more options lead to more decisions.

More decisions lead to more comparison.

And comparison is…

The thief of joy.

Then you have Black Friday. And Cyber Monday. And Boxing Day. Seems like a good time to save, but like every marketing campaign, they’re designed to make you spend. How do you find a glow-inducing gift without turning into one of “those people”?

“Those people.”

Well, for one thing, don’t rush it.

Take it from a WIRED reporter who’s been covering Black Friday for more than a decade: “Price research is important, and if you miss out on a deal, don’t fret; there’s a strong chance it will come around again at some point in the future.”

We’re gonna go…

We’ve all been there…

Swinging by the liquor store to pick up a gift on our way to a dinner-party. “If only I had more time,” we sigh, beaten down by a grueling year. Is it really your fault you couldn’t go shopping between work and family to buy a shiny toy for a professional acquaintance?

Add up every birthday, wedding, anniversary, and baby shower, and you’ve already spent more than you budgeted and saved less than you’d hoped. We’re made to feel like gift-giving is a shopping spree, when it’s actually a ritual that predates “the biggest sale of the year”. Gifts exist in every known culture around the world.

When someone surprises you with a kind gesture — a “thank you” note, a sincere compliment, your go-to coffee — you don’t wonder how much it cost them. You sit there, basking in the warmth of your own “glow”.

Gestures like that teach us the true meaning of a gift: the little moments that stack up. That make us feel seen and heard at the busiest time of year.

“In my own life, I’ve found the best gifters tend to have their lives together: they’re often super competent, organized and seem to have ‘adulting’ down to an artform. Peggy Liu, associate professor at University of Pittsburgh, who’s studied the psychology of gift-giving, agrees.”

— Why some people are great at giving gifts (BBC)

Sure, you could take gift recommendations from influencers and magazines. But the best thing about presents isn’t “what” you get; it’s about “who” you’re getting it for. No one knows your loved ones ones better than you. So before you go shopping, turn your attention to your favorite person. Step into their shoes and ask yourself: Who am I and what would make me “glow”?

Here are my best (tried and tested) gift ideas for 5 types of people. 🎁

1. The Foodie

(The Simpsons)

If your gift can be eaten straight out of the box, you’re doing it right. A small box of candy is simple, customizable, and it’s one of my favorite things to give and receive. Besides, who doesn’t like food?! It doesn’t have to be big, it doesn’t have to be expensive, and it doesn’t have to be “romantic” (unless you want it to be 😉).

Throw in a little bow and you’ve got a festive treat that says: “Indulge yourself.”

Worried about the flavor? Choose an assortment. Worried about diabetes? Switch to a savory option. Whatever you get, make sure it’s suitable for that person.

The best part about an edible gift is it can be as personal (or impersonal) as you want it to be. If they don’t appreciate it, someone in their family certainly will. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

2. The Talker

(The Office)

Everyone loves to talk… but there’s always that one person who goes on and on at a party while everyone else zones out. It’s too bad you can’t give them a mute button. (Trust me, I’ve tried.) This time, don’t kill the act. Instead, be the best audience you can possibly be.

Pay attention to the details. What are they really saying? Is it “I’m stressed” or “I’m lonely” or “I don’t believe in myself”?

Nothing motivates a talker more than an opportunity to respond. Which is why prompt journals and personalized planners are a great way to keep the talker talkin’. Even when you’re not there. Feeling ballsy? Go old-school with a handwritten card and watch as they take it all in, one word at a time. No ChatGPT, just you and your limited vocabulary keepin’ it 💯.

3. The Workaholic

(The Morning Show)

Last week I wrote about The “Work” Nightmare Before Christmas. Let’s just say it was timely.

In November, Amazon announced plans to slash 4% of its workforce (roughly 14,000 employees) after ramping up spending on AI. Meanwhile, UPS disclosed 48,000 job cuts. Nestlé? 16,000 jobs. Verizon? 13,000.

And let’s not forget Microsoft, who laid off 6,000 employees back in May and another 9,000 just months later, marking its biggest round of layoffs in more than two years.

Holidays should be a time to enjoy the fruits of your labor. But it’s hard to do that with the looming threat of a company layoff. Maybe you know someone who lost their job. Someone who works their ass off. Someone who’s crushed. Disillusioned. Exhausted.

Choose a gift that reminds them: “Work is what you do; not who you are.”

Losing a job without a warning can be debilitating. But sometimes it really is a blessing in disguise — especially for folks who sacrifice a little too much for work. Invite them to dinner, introduce them to new people, talk about possibilities. A future.

The best gift for someone who’s lost something valuable is to show them the value of what they still have: people and purpose.

4. The Aficionado

(Pulp Fiction)

OK, these are my favorite people to shop for.

They know exactly what they like and no matter how many times you give them the same thing, they love the absolute shit out of it. Aficionados get a bad rap for being picky and hard-to-please. But, really, they’re just super-fans who geek out over every incarnation of their favorite thing. That one movie, that one brand, that one artist, that one show.

You can’t go wrong buying something for a super-fan because they’ll remind you what they love.

Already got a mug with their favorite thing on it? How about an autobiography? A vintage hoodie? A collector’s item? A never-before-seen version of the thing? A version they can taste, touch, shove up their…?

Don’t complicate things. Just give ’em what they want.

They asked for it. Literally.

5. "Don't-Get-Me-Anything"

(Curb Your Enthusiasm)

Here’s the thing: nobody has “everything”.

Someone who works long hours may not have time for self-care. Someone who travels the world may not have the right company. “Everything” is relative — and not something you can find in luxury retail.

Can’t tell what they’re missing?

The trick is to notice what they complain about. Is it stress? Boredom? Poor sleep? Relationship issues? Your job isn’t to fix any of it. It’s to show that you listen. Gift them a special moment, a meaningful experience. A cooking class, a day trip, maybe tickets to see a childhood-favorite film in a dusty ol’ theater.

The rarest gift doesn’t cost a ton of money. It costs you your time.

Wouldn’t you agree?

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FILM RECOMMENDATION

An elderly couple visits their children in the city, miles away from home.

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