Finding gifts for adults shouldn’t feel like solving a mystery, and yet… here we are. We either treat ourselves year-round or we’ve got our eyes on something that’s pretty far outside most people’s gift-giving comfort zone.
So I rounded up some thoughtful ideas across a variety of interests to take the guesswork out of gift giving. You’ll find options at several budget levels to make your holiday shopping a little easier (and a lot more fun) for every adult on your list. Consider this your shortcut to stress-free gifting.
Pssst… Jessy and Cassie, stop reading unless you want early spoilers for your possible gifts this year. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. 😉
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Stocking Stuffers
Some folks recommend things like Apple AirPods as stocking stuffers, but my rule of thumb is: if it’s over the $20-ish ballpark, it belongs under the tree as a primary gift. So every idea on this list is under $20 and perfect for stuffing those stockings.
As always, your person’s favorite snacks or sweet treats are a classic. It’s an easy way to make them feel seen without blowing the budget — or trying to fill the bottomless pit that is a giant stocking. Bonus: you can grab a variety pack (like this) and pick something different for everyone.
If your person travels a lot or eats in the car, a Saucemoto Dip Clip is a funny but genuinely useful option. Now they can dip those chicken fries on the go without decorating their whole console in buffalo sauce. (Hopefully my super specific situation resonates with another buffalo-sauce lover out there. LOL)
Practical items like High Speed Phone Charging cables and Screen-Cleaning Wipes are always a win for the tech-lover in your life.
Cozy items such as Fuzzy Socks are another foolproof choice. They’re basically a tiny hug for their feet every time they put them on. These particular ones are lavender and vitamin E–infused for extra coziness- I have these same ones and love them!
Travel-size versions of your person’s favorites are also great additions. You could try Touchland Hand Sanitizer Spray, Travel Aquaphor, or a Travel Size Tower 28 Spray (more on this awesome spray in the self-care friend section)!
A gift certificate to a local spot for some ice cream or boba (local friends, we love Leafly Boba Bar!) is another fun option that also creates a built-in moment together later. If you celebrate on a day other than December 25th, many places will still be open making it perfect for a post-present family outing.
For The Self-Care Friend
I’m a big proponent of leaning into self-care. If you don’t take care of yourself, it will come back to bite you when you physically or mentally tap out later. Help your loved one embrace their self-care era with some of these tried-and-true favorites:
Cozy Comfort
This Saranoni Blanket is a dream. I have this oversized one and love it. The bamboni material is unbelievably soft, and I cannot overstate how cozy it is. This oversized one is 60″ x 80″ that I have is a bit pricier ($160, but some colorways are on sale), but if I didn’t have one it would be at the top of my wishlist. Saranoni has other sizes available at varying price points as well – 50″ x 60″ , 40″x60″, 30″x40″, and even a 15″ x 20″ baby or lap blanket.
Bonus: They can pre-warm their blanket in this Towel Warmer! We bought ours in early 2022, and it’s still going strong here at the end of 2025. We rotate it between the living room (for blankets) and the bathroom (for towels). Pure luxury.
While they’re snuggled under their warm, ridiculously soft blanket, why not enjoy some delicious tea? If black tea is their jam, they will absolutely love the Harney & Sons Paris Black Tea. It has notes of vanilla, caramel, and a hint of lemon, and wow… I can’t get enough. When the cold weather hits in January and February, I basically live on this stuff.
Snooze Support
This Cervical Pillow may look totally bonkers, but it is so comfy as a side sleeper! I bought this earlier this year and now whenever I fall asleep on William’s bed or I’m traveling and staying at a hotel, I find myself waking up and regretting not bringing this pillow along with me. I realize typing that that I sound like a complete grandma, but honestly? A good night’s sleep, and not waking up with a sore neck, is worth every penny so even though it might cement my middle-aged status, I’ll not delete this whole pillow bit. 😉
Smaller Self-Care Favorites I Truly Love
These are items I’ve purchased, used, and would absolutely rebuy:
– Bath Oil: lasts forever because you only use a capful at a time and it’s so helpful to unwind at the end of a long day
– Dr.Melaxin Peel Shot Ampoules: White Rice for a gentler exfoliation or Black Rice for a deeper clean. These loosen blackheads and whiteheads and help clear your pores. I was shocked when I used this the first time how much build up came out!
– Hydrocolloid Roll: Okay, okay this one may seem odd at first, but hear me out: You know those pricey little acne patches? WELLLLL, they’re just hydrocolloid! You can buy Hydrocolloid in rolls for way cheaper and then cut it to whatever size and shape fits your need. It’s amazing for breakouts and for small cuts, blisters, or burns. Three rolls come in the pack, and I’ve barely made a dent in the first one since I bought it in October. Affordable, customizable, and it works.
– African Net Sponges. If you want an exfoliated body, these are an amazing at-home solution.
– Tower 28 SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray – This spray helps calm skin and reduce redness. Great for using post-workout to prevent breakouts. It’s even friendly for skin conditions such as eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis!
Spa-Level Care
For a deeper whole-body exfoliation experience, if you can find a seshin (Korean body scrub) near you it is so worth it! Seshin Korean Scrub Spa in the outskirts of Salt Lake is an amazing spa if you’re ever in the area! A gift certificate to your local spa is a great option!
A final self-care recommendation
One last recommendation for the self-care lover: I have been loving Riddle Oil. I’ve been using it for about a year and a half now and frequently get compliments on the scent. I personally use the original, but they have a variety of scents you can try out with the sample kit. As a bonus, the sample kit comes with a $10 credit towards a full-size bottle once they decide which scent they love the most. It’s non-toxic, cruelty-free, and comes in a high-quality glass roll-on bottle.
For Tech-Loving Friend
I really love tech and have a few well-loved favorites I want to highlight for you.
Andar fantastic small business based in Arizona that makes beautiful full-grain leather goods. Their AirTag holder is one of my go-tos. It’s a stylish, secure way to attach an AirTag to my bag, wallet, keys, and more. They have tons of colorways to fit any style!
My Sony over-the-ear WH-1000XM5 over-the-ear headphones are still a major favorite and get used constantly. They’re noise-canceling, which makes them perfect for zoning in on work, and I use them at the gym every week.
If noise-canceling isn’t your thing but you still want to quiet the world a bit, these Loop earplugs are great. They soften background noise without completely drowning out what’s happening around you. I use mine while blog-writing on the couch or at Dave & Buster’s with the kids (why is D&B so dang loud? I’m really cementing my grandma status in this blog post, huh?).
This year I upgraded my iPad situation. I previously had a pre-owned and well-loved older model I had picked up at Unclaimmed Baggage (iykyk) years ago. It had definitely seen better days, and because the kids used it for Lingokids and Netflix, it was constantly being commandeered by little hands. I upgraded to the iPad Mini. Eddie’s first reaction when I told him I wanted to buy an iPad mini was basically, “Why get a mini? Phones are almost that size now; just get a bigger one.” But my gut told me the Mini would be more portable without sacrificing usability… and my gut was right. It’s the perfect blend of size, portability, and function for me.
Admittedly, I do all my heavy-lifting work on my MacBook Pro, so I’m not editing videos or creating vector graphics on the iPad. But for drawing in Procreate, reading in the Kindle app, and casual Pinterest browsing? The Mini is perfect.
I also picked up the Apple Pencil Pro (with a grip), and it has made drawing in Procreate amazing.
One last tech item I cannot skip recommending: the Moft Tripod Stand. I recommended it last year, and it’s back again because I genuinely love it. It folds down incredibly small, and I toss it in my purse for any on-the-go photos or videos we want to capture. Whether we’re out and about or trying to use Netflix to keep the kids from going full chaos-mode in a public place, this little stand is an all-star for us year-round.
For the Friend Who Has Everything
If your friend is anything like some of mine, they seem to have everything — so what on earth do we get them? Here are a few ideas that might surprise even your most maximalist friend.
Bring back a little classic style with a locket they can fill with photos of their favorite people. This exact one is on my wishlist this year so I can tuck pictures of my kids inside.
The Fujifilm Instax Mini Link 3 Smartphone Printer lets you have the best of both worlds: gorgeous smartphone photos and adorable, Instax-style mini prints to hang, clip, or display. (Yes… also on my wishlist. I promise my personal wishlist isn’t too long this year)
Next up: the Casabrews Espresso Machine! I bought mine in April 2025 and have been obsessed. It’s way more affordable to make lattes at home. I did my iced-latte-with-cold-brew-and-a-frother era, but sometimes a hot latte just hits differently, you know? This machine isn’t super fancy, so if your person is a major coffee connoisseur, it might not be their forever machine, but for a latte-lover like me, it’s a great, budget-friendly upgrade.
These Car Headrest Hooks are excellent for helping keep a car organized. I grabbed a set earlier this year so the kids can hang up their backpacks, and carline instantly became less chaotic. No more reaching into the floorboard for rogue bags.
And finally, this flat-plug extension cord allows you to upgrade that outlet that would otherwise be blocked by your couch, buffet table, or hidden behind your headboard. It has standard outlets, USB-C, and USB-A plugs so that you can plug in any device or accessory no matter where they choose to use it.
Let me know what you think!
I truly hope these gift suggestions bring joy to your crew during this fun-filled holiday season.
Let me know how it goes – I’d love to connect, hear if these gifts were a hit with your family as much as they have been with ours!
Follow me on socials, comment on the social media post letting me know which one you loved, and even pop into my DMs to reach out – you can find me @appmanda on all platforms!