What do you get for the person who has everything? It’s often more difficult to find suitable gifts for adults because they can usually buy anything they need throughout the year. And who knows what teenagers want these days??
So it’s important to consider getting them something they don’t necessarily need, but that would be a fun present or a luxurious treat. Something out of the ordinary. And that’s where this gift guide comes in.
I’ve come up with some ideas to get your Christmas shopping started with a flourish. You’ll find presents that’ll give them a treat, are experiential, deliver the fun and allow them to use it during the rest of the year. Let’s get started…
Festive pyjamas
Having new pyjamas on Christmas eve was always a thing we did when I was growing up. Judging by the volume of PJs in stores at the moment, I can only assume that everyone is doing this now. I know I still enjoy getting a new set for Christmas every year, it’s a tradition I love to keep going.
But why not make it a luxurious moment by gifting your partner or teenager a gorgeous set of pyjamas that they won’t find anywhere else. They make a very special Christmas gift for her and this year, I’ve chosen these sumptuous satin pyjamas – the kind I’ve always admired but never treated myself to. They’re so luxe that they even come packaged in a drawstring bag within a fine paper wrap – it feels like such a special moment to unwrap them and slip on the silky pieces.
Plus, they’ll use these opulent new pyjamas all year round. Let’s face it, those festive PJs covered in snowmen are fun for the Christmas period but will then be put away until next December. So at least you’re getting a good cost-per-wear with these pyjamas.
Let them choose their own gift
Much more personal than just handing over money is a gift card for their favourite store. I’ve chosen one that’s a little bit out of the ordinary – for vintage online store Scaramanga. They not only source and sell unique items and one-off antique pieces, but they also stock a large range of gorgeous leather goods.
I previously got my husband a backpack and an artist’s apron from this shop and they were very successful gifts. The prices are really reasonable too – that’s what you get when you’re not paying for the designer label on top of the leather handbag or purse. Plus, at the moment there’s 25% off all Christmas gifts with the code 25XMAS.
Their favourite foodie treats
I often find that, with adults, consumables go down really well. They don’t have to find somewhere to store the new gift as it’ll soon be enjoyed and used up – plus, if you choose something that they wouldn’t buy for themselves, it can feel like a real treat, such as an opulent box of chocolates, a trio of mini festive tipples, or something that elevates their usual favourites.
For example, tea and coffee lovers will enjoy an elevated take on their favourite morning brew. A gift that I particularly liked the idea of is this Make Your Own Tea kit, which contains everything needed to create a special blend of tea – yes, even the fillable tea bags! Plus, it’s not too pricey so could even be a handy stocking filler, with a rather luxurious feel.
Ideas for teenagers (that adults will love too)
Let’s turn our attention to the teens. Of course, I’m sure they would love the suggestions above (maybe not the alcoholic tipples, though!) which is why I’ve included all these gifts in the guide. But let’s bring a bit of fun with a game they can play with friends, but that won’t take up too much space; neon table football!
Plus, although teens would love these ideas, I know that I would also love to receive something fun as an adult so I’d say that they’re relevant for everyone. In fact, some of the gifts I enjoy the most are the ones that remind me of being a child at Christmas – games, vintage toys, stocking fillers – so definitely consider getting a fun game that’ll bring a pang of excitement when it’s unwrapped by an adult, especially if it’s something they always wanted as a child but didn’t get.
Another luxurious treat that I think and teen or adult would love is a travel jewellery case. Again, it’s the kind of treat that they wouldn’t have thought of buying for themselves but that they’ll cherish, especially because it will keep all their precious accessories organised and in good condition.
This one from Joules is actually a birthday gift that I’ve chosen for someone special so this is the one time that I hope that particular person doesn’t read this gift guide for ideas!
Exciting experiences
I’ve always been an advocate of giving experiences as gifts so this is one of my go-to ideas for adults and teens. Sometimes, it’s hard to know what kind of experience they would want, so tickets to a theatre show might be wasted or they might not like eating out at the place where you’ve bought a restaurant voucher. So, the safest bet is to get a ‘choose your own’ experience voucher – that way your teen or family member can log onto the Buyagift website and find something that suits them.
Plus, they can choose a location that they’re happy to travel to, and they can enjoy the experience at a time that suits them. If they select an experience ‘for two’ you could also go with them to enjoy an afternoon tea, a spa day, or a stadium tour.
One voucher that I think is particularly good is the English Heritage annual membership, as that gives the recipient year-round access to any of the properties managed by English Heritage around the country, making it a present that they can enjoy every month of the year.
Festive flowers
Something that’s always a luxurious treat is a bouquet of flowers. We never think to buy ourselves a bunch of blooms, so it’s such a lovely surprise when you unexpectedly receive some from a friend or family member.
This is a particularly good option if you live far away from the person you want to send the gift to – organising a delivery of Christmas flowers means you can treat them to something special, let them know that you’re thinking of them and also bring a colourful, festive touch to their interior decor for the Christmas period.
You can source sumptuous bouquets of British-grown blooms from a company like LovFlowers. They also provide a letterbox delivery option so that your bouquet will easily be delivered even if the recipient isn’t at home to receive it – meaning they’ll get a lovely surprise when they spot your festive bouquet on their doormat.
Fun and games
I think that anything fun makes a good gift. A board game isn’t something that most people would think of buying for themselves throughout the year but they’ll definitely enjoy playing with it all year round. Plus, that week between Christmas and New Year is always a great time to get the board games out.
Choosing a game like Popmaster (my favourite radio quiz – I listen to it every day!) not only brings the fun, it’s also really inclusive for many age groups, so it’ll help to bring together the family, with teens competing against grandparents and so on. It can also provide opportunities for social events – invite friends round for a games evening or get kids to join in with a board game with the family after Sunday lunch.
I love presents like this that can bring people together, create a fun atmosphere and that can be enjoyed at any time of year.
I hope these ideas have given you some food for thought when it comes to choosing a present for the adult or teen in your life. Let me know if you have any other thrifty ideas for fun gifts in the comments below. I’d love to hear what experiences or treats you’ve got planned for friends and family.
Some items in this blog post have been gifted to me and the pink links indicate a gifted product, affiliate link or information source. All thoughts and opinions in this post are based on my own experience and I am not responsible for your experience 🙂
