Back in 2018, the average Canadian consumer planned to spend around $675 in total during the holiday season, including gifts, travel, and more. While I’m not shaming anyone who spends over $100 in gifts, I think it’s important to put thought into the gifts we spend so much money on. So, create a gift guide for the important people in your life.
Don’t know where to start? Look no further than this ultimate gift guide for all your 2020 shopping needs.
Books
You can never go wrong with buying books for loved ones. There is always the perfect book for someone, even if they claim they don’t like to read. Try searching outside of your own reading preferences to come up with a book that would really suit them.
- Just Kids by Patti Smith
- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
- I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
Skincare Products
Winter is harsh on all of us. So you can bet that your friends would love good quality skincare products. Alternatively, if you know someone who is super into makeup or any kind of beauty products, do some snooping to find out what they like and gift it to them!
- Mask of Magnaminty from Lush
- Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution from The Ordinary
- Colourful Gloss Balm from Sephora
Tech
Tech tends to be on the pricier side, but it can make a meaningful gift for someone in need of an upgrade. It doesn’t have to be a phone or a tablet, but headphones, a new charging cable, or tech accessories (i.e. phone case) are great! Instax Fujifilm cameras are also a good option and don’t require the recipient to be a professional photographer.
- Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 from Amazon
- Phone case from Casetify/Otterbox/Amazon, etc.
Stationery
In addition, stationery is simple and easy-to-acquire. Colourful gel pens or a cute notebook could be the perfect gift for the writer, poet, bullet journalist, or excellent note-taker in your life.
Food/Drink
Furthermore, this is the best time to sniff out cute tea sets and chocolate boxes at pretty much any store. You can never go wrong with a set of flavoured teas or decadent chocolates with a bow on top! Similarly, giving someone a mug that references an inside joke or something shared only between you two can be a thoughtful gift!
- Festive mug from Indigo
- Dark chocolate gift box from Godiva (Hudson’s Bay)
Clothes
People stray away from clothing gifts due to fear of getting the wrong size or gifting them something they’ll hate. But that’s what gift receipts are for! Give someone an article of clothing that they fall in love with. Even if they don’t like it, the item they exchange it for will always remind them of you as well! (Pro tip: Keep the gift receipts, you never know how good your judgment of someone’s style is.)
Do-It-Yourself
Finally, the best category― DIY gifts. Not all of us have a ton of money to spend around the holidays and that’s 100% okay! Homemade gifts mean just as much as the ones you spend money on. The best part of homemade gifts is that there’s no limit to what you can do―hone in on your talents! Good at knitting? Make a scarf! An artist? Paint your parents a picture of something meaningful! Have gorgeous handwriting? Handwrite a playlist for your friend or fill a jar with the reasons you love them!
In conclusion, there’s no limit to the gift options for your loved ones, so don’t be afraid! Follow this gift guide for ideas.
