If pressed, we can all recall an occasion where we’ve had to get a gift for someone we don’t know very well.
New partners and spouses, acquaintances and extended friends, someone’s child or pet; they may all be shadowy figures on the periphery of your life, but if you’re invited to their event or a bigger party like Christmas, it’s universally bad form to turn up empty-handed. And no, a rictus grin doesn’t count.
You want something that looks like you’ve made some effort. Not a lot perhaps, but some. It should also be low spend because this is essentially a token offering - nothing to bankrupt yourself over.
A gift to hand over will skim over any awkwardness, smoothing the social fabric while making you appear incredibly generous - rarely a bad way to be perceived. And ideally, the perfect small gift will be something that gets used or has a function instead of being chucked into the back of a drawer the second you leave the room. It’s a funny brief to tick - but not impossible.
The first step is to pick at any thread that’s dangling. Bookworm? A pretty bookmark is a thoughtful non-committal offering. Always in the kitchen? A tub or pot of something gourmet should be right up their street. Wellness fanatic? Well, who doesn’t love a scented candle?
And if you’re in a serious bind or only have a moment’s notice to come up with the goods, you won’t go too far wrong with a nice box of chocolates. Get the priciest your budget will allow.
After all, it’s the thought that counts.
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Amazon Gift Card
If you’re completely stumped, you can always pull a gift card out of your bag. Put them in the driving seat with an Amazon gift card, which can be loaded up with a custom amount or set from £20 - £150. The card can be sent via email or text message and comes with a variety of cover illustrations for the occasion. It’ll come in useful for major sales like Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday or renewing their Prime subscription.
Buy now £20.00, Amazon
F&M Piccadilly Chocolate Pearl Biscuits, 200g
Who is going to frown at a tin of biscuits, much less a tin from royal grocer Fortnum & Mason? These chocolate pearls are made from an all-butter recipe and finished with drops of Valrhona.
Buy now £11.95, F&M
A Little Something 12 Months of Hand Creams
Boots has outdone itself with this gift set of a dozen hand creams, the perfect little treat for everyone. The scented 30ml tubes are designed to chime with the seasons, from Pumpkin Spice in autumn to summery coconuts and floral mixes to herald the start of spring.
Buy now £8.00, Boots
Wildrace Deep Sleep Candle
What’s the one thing most of us could do more with? Sleep. A calming candle that sets a relaxing vibe for a restful eight hours is going to go down a storm no matter who you’re giving it to. This one is made from soy wax spiked with essential oils, unleashed with a 100 per cent cotton wick.
Buy now £15.95, Amazon
NOTHS Personalised Initial Leather Heart Page Corner Bookmark
Personalisation is typically pretty pricey. Yet, if you’re shopping on a budget, it doesn’t necessarily mean your options are limited. This petite heart page corner bookmark is a unique, playful gift for avid readers. Available in nine hues, there are plenty of options to toy with before checkout. No crumpled pages here.
Buy now £12.00, NOTHS
The Original Black Garlic Peeled Cloves 150g
Gourmet gems for the larder are rarely ill-received and black garlic is one of those ingredients that shines in practically any diet. It can be used in veggie, vegan and meat dishes, delivering deep, rich, umami flavour to everything from gravy and a casserole to a festive cheeseboard.
Buy now £8.50, Amazon
Oliver Bonas Smiley Face Ceramic Chrome Ring Dish
It'll be smiles all round when they unwrap this sweet little dish finished with a smiley nodding to 90s style. It can be used for all sorts of things, from keeping jewellery to holding the perfect portion of almonds for afternoon snacking.
Buy now £6.50
Monopoly Hasbro Gaming Grab & Go Game
Age range: 8+
We know what you’re thinking – Monopoly has far too many bits and pieces to make a suitable travel game. Thankfully, the innovators over at Hasbro have created a version of Monopoly specifically designed for use on the move by shrinking it down. We just wouldn’t recommend playing during turbulent plane or car journeys.
Buy now £6.40, Amazon
Prezzybox plant life support
Best for: fledgling plant parents
According to the Office for National Statistics, 35 per cent of Britons bought a houseplant in 2021, spending £7.6bn on garden, plants and flowers - that’s a whole lot of greenery to keep alive. If you know someone with a foliage fixation, help them keep their plant babies thriving with this plant watering gadget from Prezzybox.
Designed to resemble an IV drip, the automatic system is the perfect gift for regular travellers, social butterflies or just forgetful types who haven’t quite cemented the chore of watering in their daily routines.
Buy now £13.00, Prezzybox
Floral Street The Discovery Set
- Take to: rural France
- Volume: 8 x 1.5ml
Intended as a taster session for Floral Street’s bestselling blends, there’s no reason why you can’t slip a few of the 1.5ml vials into your hand luggage for streamlined spritzing while you’re away. There are eight scents to try including Wonderland Peony and Sunflower Pop, a warming combination of bergamot, mandarin and honey that smells of sweet sunshine.
Buy now £18.00, Floral Street
