When it comes to great gift ideas, I always struggle — especially for people who have everything.
My family draws names every year as part of our annual Christmas gift exchange. It’s typically done a year in advance, on Christmas Day, long after all the presents have been opened, and everybody has stuffed themselves on our traditional cavatelli dinner.
I remember one year when I had the misfortune of pulling Uncle Paul’s name out of Santa’s hat. That put me in a tough spot because he’s a nonagenarian who has all the money he’ll ever need — so when the guy wants something, he buys it.
Anyway, as soon as I drew his name, I pulled my Aunt Mary Jane aside to get some gift advice, but she was no help. “Paul’s had everything he’s ever wanted since 1979,” she said. Great.
For a moment, I considered trying to make a homemade Christmas gift; but truth be told, I quit working with bird seed, paste and toilet paper rolls after I graduated from kindergarten.
Eventually, I came to realize that there are plenty of great gift ideas for people who have everything — you just have to be willing to think outside the box.
Here are nine of them:
1. Car Washes or Detailing
Why It’s a Great Gift Idea: Who doesn’t love a nice shiny clean vehicle? Buy some gift certificates to a local car wash. If you’re looking to spend a little more, then consider a mobile auto detailer who will work at the recipient’s home or place of employment.
What’s It Gonna Cost? That depends. The cheapest hand-dry car washes are typically $15 a pop. Detailing can run from $100 to $250, depending on the size of the vehicle, interior style, and other service options.
2. Car Repairs
Why It’s a Great Gift Idea: Most people don’t have the luxury of their own car mechanic. Auto dealerships and many other repair houses typically offer gift cards that can be used for anything from routine oil changes to major car repairs.
What’s It Gonna Cost? That depends. A gift certificate for $100 will certainly cover the cost of a couple of routine oil changes — or help defray the cost of large repair expenses.
3. Hot Air Balloon Rides
Why It’s a Great Gift Idea: If you’re looking for a gift that offers a truly unforgettable experience, then this is it! I’ve taken two hot air balloon rides: a sunrise trip over Southern California wine country, and a sunset journey along the San Diego coastline. Both trips were absolutely magnificent and included post-flight champagne and hors d’oeuvres. You can find local balloon ride companies with FAA-licensed pilots on the Internet.
What’s It Gonna Cost? In Southern California, one-hour balloon rides usually run in the neighborhood of $150 per person; weekend ride prices are about 15% higher. Private two-person rides typically start at $400 per person.
4. Art, Cooking, or Dance Lessons
Why It’s a Great Gift Idea: If dear old Dad can’t make a piece of toast without burning it, try buying him a few cooking lessons. If he has two left feet, then dancing lessons would be a good bet too. Art lessons are another idea.
What’s It Gonna Cost? A four-hour in-house private cooking lesson for two from Chef Professor begins at $500. The tuition cost includes all food products needed for the class. Private dance lessons usually start around $75 per hour; group lessons are considerably cheaper. Private art lessons typically start at $50 per hour.
5. The Gift of Charity
Why It’s a Great Gift Idea: Perhaps Aunt Edna is passionate about a particular cause. If so, consider giving them a TisBest Charity Gift Card; they currently have more than 300 charity partners!
What’s It Gonna Cost? Of course, that’s up to you.
6. Membership in a Gift of the Month Club
Why It’s a Great Gift Idea: Wine clubs such as the original Wine of the Month Club are perfect for wine connoisseurs and newbies alike — not to mention a great way to build a wine collection. Then there is Amazing Clubs. They offer 32 different monthly clubs to choose from. This year, their most popular clubs are: beer, wine, variety, coffee, and hot sauce. Other clubs include cheese, neckties, tea, salsa, cigars, pasta, flowers, and even dog treats.
What’s It Gonna Cost? Again, it depends. Obviously the cheese club is going to run more than, say, the doggie treats. Depending on which club you choose, expect to pay between $20 and $40 per month. Memberships run for three, six, or 12 months.
7. Spa Services
Why It’s a Great Gift Idea: Almost all day spas now offer specials and customized mix-and-match package deals; for example, a massage and facial. Some spa treatments often include lunch.
What’s It Gonna Cost? Generally speaking, prices at luxury resorts and hotels will cost more than other day spas. A one-hour Swedish massage in smaller markets will typically run you between $125 and $175. The same massage at a luxury resort can run upwards of $300.
8. Something Personal
Why It’s a Great Gift Idea: Unlike me, a lot of folks have real talent. If you’re a skilled painter, use your skills to create a special painting. If you enjoy scrap-booking, assemble a memorable collage. Just remember: Whatever you create, the more you personalize it, the bigger the “wow” factor will be.
What’s It Gonna Cost? Obviously, material prices will vary — but the labor is free!
9. Groceries
Why It’s a Great Gift Idea: Trust me; grandparents on tight budgets love gift certificates for groceries. Better yet, consider having their groceries delivered through services such as Amazon or WeGoShop.
What’s It Gonna Cost? That’s up to you. Of course, the home delivery option will be more expensive, but hey … aren’t Nana and Papa worth it?
BONUS:
10. Immortality (Well … kinda sorta.)
Why It’s a Great Gift Idea: Almost nobody has a heavenly body named after them! So dub a star after Uncle Joe by having his name included in a star registry. You can also immortalize him with his very own mathematical theorem. (No, that’s not a mistake.)
What’s It Gonna Cost? TheoryMine.com will name a mathematical theory after anyone for approximately $20 — even those who have trouble doing long division. If you prefer, you can also get a star named after your special someone for as low as $15.
As for my Uncle Paul … he thoroughly enjoyed his pedicure.
Photo Credit: sociotard
Pretty much everyone reading this already has more than they will ever need, so buying a traditional gift is pointless. For Uncle Paul, I suggest a song. Yes, compose a song in his honor (It does not have to be about him, specifically), and sing it for him on Christmas Day. If you sing like my wife, everybody will be thrilled (not just Uncle Paul). If you sing like me, well, they’ll all recognize that it’s the thought that counts.
Another great idea, David! There’s nothing wrong with tossing in a couple of ear plugs if your voice is less than, um, on-pitch.
Good list, I don’t know about the Hot Air Balloon Rides, though. I’m a bit scared of heights, lol. I would recommend something like a canoe trip at a State/Nat’l park. A lot of them have rentals for around $15~ a day.
The first time I took a ride, and the balloon was first rising into the air, it had me a bit nervous. But before I knew it I was completely carefree and enjoying the beautiful views. It is so tranquil up there that I found it hard not to be relaxed. I think the idea of a canoe ride is a great idea too. Thanks the tip, Derek!
I think it would be great if you could share other ideas you may have. Assuming you have a few more.
I do, but I was saving them for a follow-up post. I hope you can hold out a while. If you can’t, drop me an e-mail and I’ll dish a few more for you. 🙂
My favorite gift to give during Christmas day is a fruit basket with toys and gift certificates. they can really put a smile on someone’s face.
I also love strawberries for NY holidays.
I’m glad you put this list together, because I know several people in my own life, too, that have pretty much whatever they could ever want.
Car repairs were a surprising addition (didn’t know you could gift certificate those), and hot air balloon rides sound wonderful. I also like the idea of classes–most older folks are always looking for things to do, so that’s perfect.
Finally, I think the gift of charity can be absolutely amazing and very personal when given to the right person. It can give someone an enormous sense of gratitude, even though you didn’t actually get THEM anything.
baseball txs!
LOL!
Car detailing is what I need badly right now
I think books and music work well as gifts because new ones are coming out all of the time–he can’t possibly already have all the books and recordings he’d enjoy having. Ditto for movies.
That is a good idea, Susan.
I bet a lot of people would enjoy reading the Steve Jobs biography this year.
A gift certificate to their favorite restaurant is good too.
I am always looking for clutter free and well thought out gifts. Generic gift certificates seem like a cop-out to me. Thanks for this list!
I’ll add a few of my favorites to your list. Being a consummate knitter and yarn snob one of my favorite gifts ever was a membership in a sock club. Every other month for a year I received an unique pattern and an exquisite skein of yarn from a designer I admired. Perfect! One year, at a loss for what to get my mother I took her shopping. Not only did we enjoy the time together and a nice lunch but she picked out a sweater pattern and bought the yarn with the intent for me to knit it for her. She got exactly what she wanted/needed and I got to put love in every stitch of something I *knew* would be appreciated. Magazine subscriptions are another winner. I just got a gift card with a 2 year subscription to a knit design magazine from the SO. And as a kid I remember the monthly deliveries of National Geographic and fighting with my siblings over who got to read it first. This year I had my mother in tears over a gift I made for her. I gave her a hand printed and designed coupon book for a monthly mother/daughter lunch sans grandkids and SOs.
Yakira
Fabulous ideas, Yakira. Thanks for sharing them with us! I had a subscription to NatGeo when I was a kid too. I learned a lot from that excellent magazine.
Love it! here is another fun idea Search TickleMe Plant Greenhouse
In it you can grow a real pet like plant that moves and closes its leaves when you Tickle It!
I have the same problem with my parents that you have with your Uncle Paul. They have everything they need.
Gifts I’ve given them include prepaid hair appointments, gift cards to their favorite restaurants and onboard credit for their cruise vacation.
Thanks for the additional ideas!
You’re welcome! I think your idea about prepaid hair appointments is a good one! I also like the on-board credit idea! 🙂
What about the person who doesn’t WANT anything? Having that issue with my husband, who is perfectly content with his TV and his Netflix subscription. Doesn’t care about music, lessons, hot-air balloons. Still pondering this one!
You have to be careful here. There are some people out there who say they really DON’T want anything and actually MEAN it. If that is the case, then I would give them a Christmas card and a hug.
HOWEVER… I find there are MANY MANY people who SAY they don’t want anything, but they really do. You have to do your due diligence here and make sure hubby isn’t playing coy with you. Tell him that playing coy is not such a good idea, because if he is he may get what he asked for!
My 96yo grandfather is one of those guys who have everything. I noticed he was complaining about his rough skin and not getting a close shave and I bought him one of those little battery-powered skin buffers by Nivea (in pink!) and he LOVED it! I think he enjoyed the sensation and us fussing over him doing it at the Christmas table(!) but he uses it every day. Soon he’ll look like a 20yo…
That’s a great idea! I think your story also goes to show that if we all spent just a little more time listening carefully to our “hard-to-shop-for” loved ones, maybe finding a gift for them wouldn’t be quite as hard as we make it out to be. 🙂
I certainly appreciate the list since the year is already starting with birthdays that go all through the year. I never thought about groceries for the grandparents (or other elderly persons), but you are right, that’s an excellent choice and so timely and needed. I am going to put your list up and have it especially for my Christmas shopping.
Groceries are great for college kids too! (Younger people in general.)
This list is perfect! Thanks for the great ideas.
My pleasure, Mary Ellen.
Those are some nice ideas for gifts that they will never forget. Most gifts I’ve ever received fall into the fog of memory, but one year my wife got me a 1-hour helicopter training ride for Christmas. Man oh man was that ever awesome.
Wow! That is a GREAT gift, Chet! Although to be honest, I would never get inside a helicopter unless it was as a Medivac passenger.
Some great ideas here. Ever since I was given a track day driving amazing supercars I have bought experiences for friends and family who are hard to buy for.
Another great idea, Glen! I had a neighbor who used to work at a race track and she used to tell me that they would let people use the track for a fee. How expensive is a gift like that?
I love your blog! Thank you for the great gift ideas.
There are guides to finding the best wine clubs online, whether you are looking to expand your wine collection or are sending your friend a wine club gift. I believe there is no better way to experience the world of wine than with a wisely chosen wine club.
Great post! I myself think that finding the right gift can sometimes be difficult. What I think is that people tend to like unique gifts that are hard to find and not sold in stores. People like the gifts more this way since they cannot be replaced. I have been buying a few items from thinkfuntoys.com and giving it away to friends and family. They all love it. The stuff there are pretty cheap and unique and they deliver fast.
My kids used to ask me what I wanted for my birthday, Christmas, etc. I am one who is totally happy to get the card and a hug, and I don’t really need the card — and they know this. But my daughters love to give gifts. So I went on Amazon and created a Wish List. Now they just go check my wish list. My wife gave me two great gifts that fed my need for speed: 10 laps in a genuine NASCAR at 160 mph and an hour ride in a North American T-6 Texan (I was a passenger but got to control the stick for almost 45 minutes). These were a little pricey for us, but gifts I will never forget.
I’m with you. I tell my family all I need is a hug and — maybe — a cake baked by my daughter for my birthday. I bet my dad would love the ride in a T-6.
These are great ideas for those who we feel have everything. I love this list and will most likely borrow one or two ideas. If it helps anyone I gifted my dad a platinum cheese club and it was the perfect gift for him (igourmet.com). I also gave a luxury candle of the month club as a gift to my Mom and she loved it (raincollection.com/categories/candle_of_the_month_club. Both of these clubs are a little more expensive than what is listed in the post, but the products were exceptional. Great list of gift ideas, thanks for the post!
This is a great list! I found some great ideas that I am going to be using for this upcoming holiday season…no more last minute shopping for me. I also found some great ideas and info on blog.pickypresents.com. It is always good to have a bank of sites to get information on when Christmas shopping! Good luck to you all
I know a great place for some unique gifts that include 19th century animation devices that are fun and magical for anyone!
This is an awesome list of gift ideas for people whom we thought to have “everything” that they need. We especially like point number 8, on something personal, in particular, scrap booking. Put in the photos of the happy times we have, and it sure would bring back fond memories, and some tears. A good way to strengthen the relationship.
Thanks for the greats ideas, the car wash is the best
Experience gifts, like you mention here, are so good for people who have everything. Some of my favorite gifts to give: spa gift certificates, cooking classes, yoga classes, concert tickets and theater tickets. For kids, a pass to their nearest zoo or children’s museum.
I came across this article when I was looking for wine club gift ideas. I mainly wonder if people tend to give them more as personal gifts or business gifts. Maybe both? They are not cheap! I guess if you didn’t want to spend the money for an actual wine club, you could put together your own “wine club gift basket” of sorts. Buy a couple of bottles of wine and then research the wineries to create a cute little “tasting notes” newsletter and throw it all in a basket with some cheese or chocolate (depending upon the type of wine). I would not complain if someone gave that to me!!
Gift certificates for movies. Fandango gift certificates are great. you can order them online, personalize them, and have them send to you or the recipient immediately.
message2space.com is a great gift for the person who has everything. You can send a birthday greeting into space and they send you a commemorative certificate of transmission. It’s a very unique gift that people really like (you can also just do it for yourself!)
Interesting stuff for sure-as Tricia said this article is coming for wine club gift ideas. It would be great to get a few ideas about smaller clubs next time!
Amazing gift ideas, I like most Art, Cooking, or Dance Lessons. Last month I gifted wine club membership to my sister on her birthday. She like wine so much. It made her so much happy.
I named a custom drink after my dad on drinkmydrink.com, its pretty cool, I told them what he likes and they came up with a unique drink, they sent me the certificate and posted it online. So it ended up being like one of the most personalized gifts I have ever given…kind of like a work of art if you think about it…
I agree. Experience gifts, like the ones you describe in this article, are the best gift ideas for people who have everything, plus they take up no space and won’t add to anyone’s clutter. I love to give movie tickets, along with dining certificates to a restaurant near the theater. Present it in a gift basket with some popcorn, BluRays of old movies and, for a more extravagant gift, a Whirlypop old fashioned popcorn maker.
MOVIE NIGHT A gift for a family or a couple or kid who is recovering from an illness like mono or a broken leg is to buy some DVD movies (for those who are not yet streaming everything ) and put them in a gift bag with microwave popcorn and movie candy like Junior mints and Mike and Ike’s and Raisinets, etc. Target stores sell the movie candy. The idea is for the family’s to watch something together. Hitchcock films or Christmas classics like miracle on 34th St. You can get lots of great films for a good price this time of year.
You can always try giving them a whole night of fun. Have a mafia movie marathon! Start off with a great dinner at a local Italian restaurant, then follow it up with the classic (the Godfather, Goodfellas, Scarface, etc.). End the night with a few good quality cigars and they’ll feel like Al Pacino
Yeah you’re so right about these interesting gift ideas. I have the same problem too… Indeed it’s really hard to think of what to give a person who truly have everything. You’ve got a great list here. Thanks for sharing, you’ve made my life easier.
I love these ideas whether the person has everything or not! I like the idea of services, consumable goods, and memberships as gifts. They are super helpful and won’t add to a person’s stockpile of stuff 🙂
Hot air balloon ride is an awesome idea. It’s a bit cold right now though. It’ll probably be better in the summer. I’ll keep that in mind for our next anniversary.
Joe, I took the Honeybee for our anniversary, and she had a great time!
I’m sure your wife will love it too.
I love the hot air balloon idea, and the charity contribution is something a lot of charities promote. Something I like to give is family photos put into a nice frame. Its something they’re bound to appreciate.
You have to think past the “they can buy whatever they want” and think about what they WOULDN’T by themselves – regular car washes, spa treatments etc all fit into this.
It’s all about the experience for someone that has everything as physical goods they probably buy whenever they want them, the lucky things.
Great Leonard: I’ve been wondering what you have been doing with your time lately! Honestly, you actually had some good idea. The only reason I clicked on your Blog was that I recognized the name – – – of that little boy who used to live next door!
Have a Merry Xmas – and give your family my love.
Merry Christmas, Rae Jean! Nice to hear from you!
Car washes and detailing are a great idea for the guys on my list I struggle to find something for. I also love the idea of Art, Cooking and Dance lessons… what a fun gift idea.
I could do with a hot air balloon ride right now! These are awesome ideas! Thanks
I’ve never heard of anyone picking names a year in advance. That’s terrific. It gives you a whole year to wait until the last minute 🙂
Ha ha! I’m sharing that observation with the family at this year’s name draw, Valerie. (And you’re absolutely right.)
I’d be careful of giving a ride in a hot air balloon to a senior. I did this for a 70 year old lady. When she arrived at 5AM at the appointed place and they discovered her age, they refused to let her aboard. Landings could be bumpy and they were afraid she might break a bone. No one asked about the age of the rider when I made the reservation. Ask about restrictions when you book.
I really love the items on this list of that anyone would be glad to have, groceries and car detailing being on the top of what I would want. I’ve been on a hot air balloon ride and I can’t imagine anyone saying “I wouldn’t really want that.” Great choice for anyone who is difficult to buy for.
My husband would refuse a hot air balloon ride. I’ve tried to get him to try it out and he flat out says no. Just food for thought.
I compiled a list of the best gift ideas on Amazon with a bunch of extras like free shipping and deep discounts.
I’m really impressed with these gift ideas, but I think a man who has everything would love to have gifts that are more of value rather than any materialistic gift.
I loved the ideas you have mentioned here specially the charity one.
Carwash and detailing is a GREAT idea!
Good Ideas. Thanks a lot!
As someone who was gifted a “Wine of the month” membership, it might be more of a hassle than the gift-giver realizes. While it is nice that I am receiving a nice wine every month, my state, and probably others, has some specific rules on how it is delivered.
Fedex is required to have an adult 21-years of age or older sign for the package every time. For people who have a door guard, or porter, or something similar, this is probably not a problem. Delivery to a single family home when all the adults work during the delivery time window of 10am to 5pm means more often than not it take 2 or 3 days of missing the package. After so many missed times, Fedex will ship the package back to the sender. Lest you think paying for a delivery window is the ideal option, I would like to point out that my “delivery window” was the Tuesday before last and it’s taken 7+ phone calls to get a new one scheduled and I still don’t have my package for November.
Based on my experience, I would never gift a “of the month” anything unless I knew 100% the person had the ability or desire to wait and sign for the packages.
These are really cool ideas particularly the star registry idea. It’s awesome to have a star named after you. There are practical gift ideas here too like groceries, car repairs and even spa services.
More on practical gifts, I think giving gadgets to your elderly loved ones is pretty cool. Smartphones, tablets and other gadgets can keep them safe and can also help them carry out their daily activities much easier. Seniors nowadays are more receptive to technology. According to a study done by William Chopik, 72% of older adults with an average age of 68 welcome the idea of learning new technologies. I hope this can help those are still looking for last-minute gifts to their loved ones.
Hi Len, great list! I love the idea about experience gifts, especially for older folks. To make it extra special share the experience with the recipient and chauffeur them both ways. Very happy new year!
Thanks, Amanda. Great idea … What a nice touch!
Time goes by so quickly, and kids don’t stay young too long! Spend as much time together laughing and having fun. Ideas for kids birthday gifts are easy if you put some though into them!
I agree, Alan. Time definitely passes much quicker after you become a parent.
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