We all have hard-to-shop-for people on our Christmas lists! Check out these unique gift ideas for the person who “wants nothing”!!!
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You know that person on your list? The one who cannot ever give a satisfactory answer to the “what would you like for Christmas?” question? Well, this list is for them.
I have put together a list of gift ideas that are sure to work for anyone on your list— from your grandmother who likes to keep things simple with hot tea and reminiscences about your childhood, to your friend with young kids and minimal free time, to your mom with the long commute, and even to your young hipster brother.
There is something here for everyone!
Unique Gift Ideas for The Person Who “Wants Nothing”
1. Handwarmer Mug
(this is the one I have)
Hot tea, coffee, cocoa drinkers...this mug makes a great gift for them all. We have two and I LOVE that they make ones for lefties like me. These mugs are beautiful and well made. Put one together with a bag of coffee or box of tea and you have a winning gift idea for all ages.
2. Fountain Pen & Notepads
We love good pens in our family and our children have become pen snobs themselves. Which is why my husband began having a difficult time locating a pen when he needed to– they were all being hoarded by my little artists.
So he decided to buy a pen that only he could use. And everyday I hear about how wonderful it is. (I’ve since asked for one to be in my stocking this year too).
If you have someone on your list who writes, makes lots of lists or notes, or is just generally pen-snobbish like we are, then this fountain pen would make a really fun gift! You can pick from a dozen or more colors of ink and choose different tip sizes too. Throw in a fountain pen friendly notebook and your loved one is ready to go.
(Here is another more user-friendly version that uses cartridges for ink).
DEAL ALERT!! My notebook I’m currently using and loving is on sale today for 40% off!
3. The Gift of Subscriptions
Subscriptions are truly the gifts that keep on giving. In the past, I have always given magazine subscriptions for gifts. Cooking magazines for my mother-in-law, fishing magazines for my husband, kid magazines for my (you guessed it) kids.
I love now that there are so many more types of subscriptions with which you can gift people! These are three of my favorites.
Plan to Eat :: A subscription for ANYONE who likes to eat.
Plan to Eat is AHHH-MAZING. It is everything you need to make sure food is ready to cook in one place. The service provides a seriously user-friendly place to organize recipes, make shopping lists, and put together meal plans. There are videos to help you figure it out and great customer service if you get stuck.
It would be an awesome gift for anyone who buys their own groceries and tries to make meals at home. AND THIS WEEKEND IT IS 50% OFF! SUCH a great deal! That means it’s just $20 for a year’s subscription and they have gift subscription available too, so you can buy it now and it will not begin until the recipient activates their account.
Kindle Unlimited :: A subscription for readers of books & magazines.
If you are shopping for someone with a love for good books and magazines, you should consider gifting them with a subscription to Kindle Unlimited. You do not even need a Kindle to make use of it because you can simply download the free Kindle app to access your books, magazines, and more.
Check out the service and see all that it has to offer!
Stitch Fix :: A subscription for the well-dressed.
Did you know that Stitch Fix has a service for men too? And pregnant women?
With Stitch Fix, you get to sign up, choose styles and clothes you like, and have a personal shopper put together a box of clothes and accessories to be sent to your doorstep. Try the clothes on, keep what you love, and send back the rest. Easy, peasy.
A gift certificate to Stitch Fix is the PERFECT gift for a guy on your list who likes to look put together, a mom on your list who gets hives at the thought of taking her kids with her to buy clothes, a daughter or sibling who you have NO IDEA what they would like to wear, and anyone else who finds putting on pretty clothes and trying new things fun.
(Hint: I wouldn’t mind this under the tree).
4. Moka Pot
We LOVE coffee, but have not had a coffee maker since ours broke at the beginning of summer. Instead, we have been putting our stovetop espresso maker to use multiple times a day. The Moka Pot is easy to use, takes about ten minutes to brew, and then can be mixed with water or a little milk for an amazing cup of coffee.
My husband was at a friend’s house just this week, and his friend even said he preferred the coffee from his Moka Pot over coffee from his expensive countertop espresso machine!
This is the perfect gift for any coffee lover on your list!
*the Amazon description says 6-cup, but it means 6 shots of espresso, not 6 cups of coffee!
5. Man Crates
Guys. These crates are SO COOL. There are literally hundreds of gift ideas on the Man Crates site to choose from. This is where I’m doing most of my shopping for the men on my list.
Personally I love the project idea crates. You can gift your husband, brother, or father a crate to make their own hot sauce or beer, carve their own pipe or knife, or even cure their own bacon! It’s like the gift that keeps on giving– process and product.
There are pricier options and less expensive options. Whichever you choose, you’re sure to end up with a unique gift.
6. Milk Frother
Ok, so maybe I’m adding this because I want one for myself. But, it does seem like exactly the kind of thing that would be so much fun to have around, and yet unlikely that you would buy one for yourself.
I first got this idea when Crystal Paine (aka Money Saving Mom) shared about how she was loving hers.
A milk frother is not just for coffee drinkers. It is also great for warming milk for tea and hot chocolate! What a great gift for keeping warm in the winter months!
7. Edible Gifts
If all else fails, give food. Sweet treats, tasty baskets, and salty snacks always make good gifts.
Make it yourself ideas:
Build a basket ideas:
- butter cookies, coffee, & a chocolate bar
- summer sausage, hard cheese, crackers, & fruit
- fresh baked bread, herb butter, & sparkling lemonade
- pickles, stuffed olives, nuts
- “around the world candy”– try to find candy from as many places as you can, include a map and highlighter to mark off countries
- loose tea leaves, a tea ball, and biscotti
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This is very useful gift idea. All the gifts is very useful. I like the post. Thank you for the post.
No no no,
When I say I want nothing as a gift. That is exactly what I mean!
I don’t want mugs or pens or crates etc.
I want nothing, nada.
What I want is the other person to listen to my request of ‘nothing’.
Thank you so much for such a wonderful piece of content. You have saved me a whole lot of stress trying to figure out what to get for my nephew who doesn’t want anything.
Thanks for sharing so great ideas,
I prefer to give away, subscription boxes, they are just great.
Personally I find these items a horrible idea, especially for someone who dislikes clutter.
For someone you don’t know well, ask if they’d like to go get a coffee or lunch and have a chat. For someone you know better, offer to take them out to a dinner or a night on the town on you or organize a picnic.
For one of my closest friends, I offered to help him write a book for his business. Although it took 6 months of intermittent work to complete, he unequivocally stated it was the best gift anyone had given. It also grew his group.
The investment of your time is the most valuable thing you own, and they will appreciate it.
At the point they no longer want for anything, they begin to seek experiences and new ideas over tacky junk as offered above. Everything, including a basket requires storage, management and becomes an impediment to their enjoyment.
By offering your time, you show that you value them and their company above material things.
100% agree. If someone insists they don’t want anything, they are often trying to reduce clutter or their impact on the environment. Instead of getting them something material, offer to have an experience with them, like seeing a movie or going to a baseball game.
Oooh! Such great ideas. I especially love the hand warmer mug – they’re beautiful! I really like the basket ideas too. I’ve pinned for future reference!
Thanks Angela! I’m using my mug right now!