When you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more. Your guide to avoiding cliche, expensive gifts that feel wasteful — and the better food, flowers, cards, and clothes you can buy instead.
Getty Images/Yulia-Images; East OliviaGift-giving can be a rewarding — but tricky — process. For one, so much of what we’re taught about gifting can be misleading. It can feel like the most expensive or flashiest gadgets are the only gifts that matter, or, conversely, that any random trinket (no matter how much it clutters someone’s tiny apartment) is worth giving.
As someone who covers gifts for Insider, I’m here to tell you that leading with your gut (or your specific tastes) isn’t always the right move. Sure, giving any old card or present feels nice, but you know when someone is truly blown away by what you got them and not just mustering a quick “thank you” to be polite. To help, here are some of the most commonly gifted things that don’t always get the enthused reactions you’re looking for (or are just plain not worth your money) — plus, what to buy instead.
9 gifts to stop buying — and actually good gift ideas instead:Wicker baskets filled with stale crackersGoldbellyThese are frequently given as thank-you gifts, but I guarantee whoever you’re thanking deserves better snacks than suspiciously waxy apples and bland, crumbly cookies. What to gift instead: I cannot stress this enough: there are SO many better options out there. For one, you can grab them a treat from Goldbelly, which allows you to send anything from sweets to full meals from the US’s best restaurants and chefs (if you’re unsure of what they’d drool over most, a gift card is a nice option, too).
If you want to go the traditional gift basket route, you can choose everything from NYC-famous desserts and cheese to fancy olive oil sets. You can find more gift basket ideas here. Clothes or jewelry that are way more your style than theirsDagne DoverIf you’ve ever been gifted a rhinestone butterfly necklace by your grandma and been conflicted about throwing it away even though you know you will absolutely never wear it, you know what it’s like to have clothes and accessories clutter your home out of nothing but guilt.
This situation only happens when someone, with the best intentions, focuses more on their own taste than the giftee’s. It’s not their fault: taste is super subjective and hard to pin down even when you’re doing you’re best to find something the person would like, so there are definitely safer options out there than committing to a fluffy sweater in the wrong size. What to gift instead: What’s so much easier to give is a gift card to a store you know they like (Nordstrom, Macy’s, or Zappos are great for a wide selection of styles) so they can stock up on whatever it is they like and need.
If that feels too impersonal, some styles are generally more universal and easy to pair with almost anything, like Dagne Dover’s minimalist backpacks, Caraa’s convertible tote/backpack, Everlane’s simple flats, or Mejuri’s dainty jewelry. Floral arrangements that’ll die in two days, knowing the gifteeEast OliviaFlowers can get super pricey. And if you’re gifting them to someone who can barely keep a cactus alive, it’s hard to sit with those $150 roses cascading into the trash bin by day three.
What to gift instead: Dried bouquets are having a moment, and for good reason: not only do they offer more variety in colors, flowers, and arrangements, but they require zero care and look incredibly cute year-round. Flower delivery services like UrbanStems (our favorite) and East Olivia boast tons of options. And if you still want to get a plant that is still living, who says you have to get flowers at all? Low-maintenance plants are more versatile and long-lasting with basic care, and indoor herb gardens serve the dual function of adding some edible greenery.
One-use kitchen gadgets that take up a lot of spaceTargetA massive KitchenAid stand mixer in a big suburban kitchen with a marble island? A dream! In a cramped apartment where the recipient’s shower is next to their oven? Probably not as helpful. What to gift instead: If you’re going to go big, get a quality piece that serves as many functions as possible, like an Always pan from Our Place that boasts eight functions, a versatile Le Creuset Dutch oven, or a budget-friendly electric pressure cooker like an Instant Pot. If you want to get more affordable kitchenware that’s still useful, cute silicone spatulas or cookie cutters can be a sweet housewarming gift that’s easy to stash.
Cliche cards you picked up five minutes beforehandLovepopCards are known for being picked up last minute, but it’s a shame when there are legitimately so many beautiful, personalized options out there that don’t involve some cringe-y joke about getting older or glorification of wine mom culture. What to gift instead: Etsy is great for finding pretty much any card under the sun, especially if you’re looking for a nod to their favorite show or movie. Paper Source is a solid go-to for more elevated cards and gifts, and Lovepop creates 3D pop-up cards your recipient can proudly display on a shelf.
Books you have no idea they’ll actually likeBook of the Month; Alyssa Powell/InsiderBooks are hard. If you know someone super well, a book can be a wonderful, bonding gift. But our tastes can often cloud our judgment, and even the best fantasy novel or must-read memoir you’ve ever read can sit untouched on someone’s shelf for the rest of time.
What to gift instead: If they love to read, the best gift you can give is something that makes it even easier for them to do. A Book of the Month membership sends them a new hardcover (out of a choice of five) to their door each month, an Audible subscription helps them listen to audiobooks on the go, a waterproof Kindle lets them comfortably read on the beach or in the tub, and a Bookshop gift card helps them pick their own book to gift themselves while supporting local bookstores. You can also get a nod to their favorite hobby or book, such as a first edition book cover print or a “book club” candle.
Gifts for new (or soon-to-be) parents that are solely for their kidsParachuteGifts to make parenting easier have a time and place, like baby showers and birth announcements. And while it never hurts to gift something genuinely useful to an overwhelmed new parent, sometimes parents of young kids are subjected to baby gift purgatory, becoming the recipients of teddy bears and clothes that their toddlers will outgrow in five seconds. What to gift instead: Having a baby doesn’t mean parents don’t have their own, separate lives.
If anything, they could probably use a little help in getting some nights off. Foods they couldn’t have while pregnant, alcohol-free wine, or just a very comfy bathrobe are all things that can help them take the edge off whenever they have a spare hour. If you think they’d enjoy something a bit more sentimental, you can get them sweet nods to their new role as a parent, from a minimalist necklace to a cheeky card.
You can find more gift ideas for new moms and new dads here. Low-quality, holiday-themed socksBombasKitschy socks are a stocking-stuffer favorite. You know the ones: they have some form of gingerbread men or Christmas lights printed on them and your drawer is currently overflowing with these holey holiday socks you’ve accumulated over the years.
What to gift instead: Bombas socks still come in some fun patterns and are some of our favorites. If you want to branch out of the sock department and still get someone something really cozy, UGG slippers or super comfy sleepwear from Tommy John are gifts they’ll gladly wear way past December. Gifts based entirely on gender stereotypesUncommon GoodsExample: whiskey stones and grilling tools for men, glittery bath bombs and makeup sets for women.
Obviously, there are plenty of men and women out there who are perfectly content with getting those gifts, but unless you know that for sure, it can be a huge miss (and waste of money). What to gift instead: Hobby-related gifts are great because they can tap into someone’s specific interests, whether it’s guitar-playing or watching movies. There are also many great, gender-neutral gifts out there, from a national parks pass to a DIY hot sauce kit.
And if you’re still stuck, many of the gifts above work for pretty much anyone. Read the original article on Insider.
From: insider
URL: https://www.insider.com/guides/gifts/good-gift-ideas