Advice for the gift-giving season

Graphic by Julianne Cruz

Heartfelt gifts are a great way to show appreciation for your family and friends during the holiday season.

Max Belyantsev, Opinions Writer

Gifts for friends:

  1. Steam Gift Cards: For that gamer friend who loves the action, a gift card to one of the most popular game-buying platforms is the way to go.
  2. Visa Gift Cards: You can’t go wrong with a Visa gift card: let your friend decide what is worth the most to them!
  3. Bracelets: Show your friend you care with a colorful homemade bracelet. Perfect for the holidays!
  4. LED Light Strips: Brighten the mood and keep things interesting with some LED strip lights! An ever-popular lighting trend for many teenagers across the country.
  5. The Balkan Sunset Lamp: For your friends who’d rather have more aesthetic lighting, consider a sunset lamp! Its gorgeous yellow-orange hue will give that soothing sunset vibe.
  6. Assorted Candies: Wish your friends a sweet holiday and give the gift of candy! Kit Kats, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, M&Ms, Skittles, Starbursts, and Jolly Ranchers are just some of the most popular candy brands, perfect for a friend.
  7. Gift of Nothing: Nope, that’s not a typo. For that friend who “wants nothing” during the holiday season, now’s your chance to deliver an awesome gag gift!
  8. Plushies: Gift your friend a fluffy companion this holiday season. From cute animals to fruits, (and even a boba tea lookalike), get a gift that captures their energy!
  9. Phone Cases: A stylish phone case might just be the perfect holiday gift! A wide variety of choices across different brands allows you to choose the perfect one for a friend.
  10.  One Month of Spotify Premium or Apple Music: Save the gift of music for a friend! One month of unlimited offline listening is the perfect low-cost gift that’ll help them get in the holiday spirit.

 

Gifts for family:

  1. Thoughtful Cards: Don’t shy away from a classic! Letting a relative know how much they mean to you will uplift their holiday mood.
  2. The Amazon Echo Dot, HomePod Mini or Sonos Roam: Keep the music flowing in your household and gift a smart home speaker! Perfect for nightstands, kitchen counters or any other spot in the house.
  3. Blankets: For that one brother or sister who’s always cold, keep them warm this holiday season with a comfy blanket!
  4. Slippers: Don’t miss out on the chance to get a relative some soft and cozy slippers! 
  5. Origami or Artwork: Create something unique and special for a family member!
  6. One Month of Hulu, Netflix or HBO: Share a memorable holiday experience with your family by watching a new movie or series together! 
  7. One Month of New York Times Crosswords (Games): Learn some new words and put your minds to work with the popular New York Times Games selection! Complete with several puzzles and over 10,000 crosswords. 
  8. Custom Mugs: Gift a custom mug with a cheerful design to a family member this holiday season. ‘Tis the season for hot chocolate!
  9. Gourmet Chocolates: A tin of specialty chocolates is a great way to spread the holiday cheer in your family! Lindt, Lindor, Godiva and Ferrero Rocher are just four of the plentiful chocolatiers that are renowned for their great taste!
  10.  Doordash Gift Cards: Save your family the effort of holiday cooking and order in from your favorite restaurant with a Doordash gift card!

 

Gifts for teachers

  1. Starbucks Gift Card: With the colder months coming, consider a Starbucks gift card to warm a teacher’s holiday spirit!
  2. Holiday Truffles: Anyone will undoubtedly enjoy an assorted selection of delicious chocolate truffles!
  3. Tea Set: Help your teacher relax after a long day of grading with a selection of fruit and herbal teas!
  4. S’well Water Bottle: Help your teacher stay hydrated throughout the day! The stainless steel frame will keep the water cool for hours and there’s even a cool composition book design available.
  5. Mug Warmer: Keep your teacher’s coffee or tea warm with a mug warmer attachment. Especially useful during the frosty season!
  6. Holiday Pencil Cup: Keep the festivities going at your teacher’s desk with a holiday-themed pencil cup!
  7. Thank You Note: Tell your teacher you appreciate their hard work with a kind and personal note!
  8. Personalized Teacher Keychain: Gift your teacher a nice keychain that’ll remind them every day about how amazing they are!
  9. Anker Power Bank: When your teacher is working late, keep them connected to power with a portable battery, perfect for charging mobile devices quickly!
  10. Snow Globe: One of these is the perfect way to bring a little cheer and magic to your teacher’s desk!