Giving practical gifts is a great way to make sure you’re giving friends and family things that will actually benefit their lives, rather than giving them away or keeping them in a cupboard.
However, it requires a careful balance. You don’t necessarily want to give a boring, practical gift like paying the phone bill or bringing you some bags of groceries (which, while useful, don’t channel holiday cheer).
These gifts offer the best of both worlds: they are useful and life-enhancing, while still feeling like gifts. You can find them divided into practical gifts for everyone, for her, for him, and for white elephants or stocking fillers.
Practical gifts for everyone
Whether you’re looking for meaningful gifts for moms, dads, partners, siblings or friends, everyone can appreciate them.
Instant Pot
If your friends and family aren’t on the Instant Pot train yet, this is a literally life-changing gift. It saves them time as they can cook without standing over the stove stirring and waiting.
It saves them money by enabling them to do so Make quick, healthy and delicious meals from cheap ingredients So they don’t have to spend on expensive ready-made meals or frozen meals.
It can serve as a frying pan, rice cooker, steamer, and more. They also come in a variety of sizes, from a personal 3-quart Instant Pot to a 10-quart version ready to feed an army.
Reusable bottle
A reusable bottle is a must-have for anyone who frequently drives, travels, plays sports, or does anything that makes them buy bottled water, soda, gas station coffee, etc. Having their own bottle saves them these costs (and saves the Earth more needless plastic).
Stainless steel is by far my favorite material thanks to its great thermal insulation properties. Plastic doesn’t really cut it because the contents get lukewarm quickly.
The Thermos Stainless King will keep liquids hot or cold for a full 24 hours, and the 40 ounce capacity will ensure your treat is hydrated throughout the day.
Rechargeable flashlight
It’s a good idea to keep a flashlight in your home, car, bag, etc., but it often seems like the battery is dead when you need it. The Anker flashlight eliminates the need to search for batteries, because it charges via a micro-USB cable that can be plugged into a power bank, computer, car charger, or anywhere with a USB port.
Portable power bank
Speaking of power banks, this is another super useful gift for charging devices on the go (or keeping your phone powered during a power outage). The PowerCore 10,000 is light and compact and holds 2 to 4 phone charges. I have the 20,000 mAh version, which was great for long travel days.
Swiss army knife
The original multi-tool and still one of the best. This version of the Swiss Army Knife includes a knife (of course), multiple screwdrivers, a bottle opener, a can opener, a mini hacksaw, scissors, a wire stripper, a toothpick, tweezers, and a key ring. It’s the perfect gift for a practical person.
Blue light blocking glasses
For anyone who works on computers all day, blue light and eye strain are common concerns. Some research shows that excessive exposure to blue light can cause retinal damage and premature aging of the eye.
In the short term, it can interfere with sleep. Spektrum glasses block blue light so you don’t have to worry, and they come with optional magnification to further reduce eye strain.
Dash Mini Maker
This cheap kitchen product makes breakfast a quick and easy task. Basically, it lets you “waffle” anything, from actual waffle batter to hash browns to paninis.
Touch screen gloves
I have several pairs of gloves, but only one of them is touchscreen compatible…so guess which pair I always wear?
No one wants to take off their gloves to quickly respond to a text message or present an audio file.
These unisex touch screen gloves are affordable, lightweight, warm and come in several colors.
books
Books will always be useful, there are endless things to learn. As you use a personal finance blog, consider sharing these five books to help your friends and family on their journeys to financial freedom.
Practical and useful gifts for her
Any of the above gifts would be great for the women in your life, but here are some useful gifts for her.
Initially, jewelry is a common gift for women on holidays or birthdays, but these practical jewelry options increase its usefulness.
Activewear Rings
I’m not a fan of traditional jewelry (seriously, don’t get me started on diamonds).
Silicone rings are a great alternative, they are inexpensive and you don’t have to worry about damaging or losing them while running, swimming, traveling, working, etc. Groovelife rings are designed to be breathable and durable, and have a variety of designs to choose from.
Self defense ring
This knife where the ring meets is another interesting and useful jewelry touch. I have a tendency to run at night, which is basically how all the “missing woman” news articles start, so this provides another level above pepper spray with no extra bulk or need for holding hands.
Pocket knife necklace
Whether she needs to open the mail or navigate an emergency, these small pocket knife pendants offer fashion and function.
It’s difficult to open and isn’t overly sharp, which is arguably a benefit for something designed to be worn around your neck.
Candles
Next, a frugal person may not want to spend money on high-quality personal care items for themselves, so these self-care products make good gifts that are more likely to be used and appreciated. Burning candles, a book and a warm drink make for the perfect cozy night in.
Cheap candles can irritate the lungs, so it’s worth getting a better quality one that contains ingredients like soy wax and natural fragrances. These Chesapeake Bay candles found on Amazon fit the bill while still being affordable in the $10 range for the medium. Personalize the fragrance that best suits your gift – from Balance + Harmony to Confidence + Freedom.
Moisturizer with sun protection factor (SPF).
If there’s one thing almost all skin care experts agree on, it’s to constantly wear some form of sunscreen to combat aging and prevent cancer.
I personally don’t want to smell like I go to the beach all the time, so I much prefer using a light moisturizer with SPF instead of traditional sunscreen.
When something goes on your face, ingredients matter, so Block Island SPF Moisturizer With chia, green tea and pomegranate it makes a quality gift (it’s also eco-friendly and cruelty-free).
Throw blanket
If I could speak for all women for a second, none of us would ever feel sad about getting a new, soft, warm blanket in the winter.
This luxurious reversible throw is made of plush microfiber cashmere on one side and faux sheepskin on the other, measures approximately 4 x 5 feet, and comes in a variety of rich colors.
Practical and useful gifts for men
Likewise, the gifts below make great gifts for boyfriends, husbands, fathers, brothers or male friends.
Darn hard socks
Pairs from this brand come with a hefty price tag as socks, but that’s because they are high quality and feature a lifetime warranty. Buying a pair of Darn Tough socks means you’re buying them good socks for a lifetime. They are great for hikers or men with active jobs.
Shoulder massager
Traditional massage sessions are expensive, but they can be an invaluable recovery tool for those with physical functions to loosen muscle knots and relieve pain.
This useful gift allows him to get a Shiatsu massage at home, for less than the cost of one massage session.
It is a wearable electric massager that can be adjusted for use on the shoulders, neck or back and has an optional heating feature for additional therapeutic benefits.
Beard oil
My partner has a beard like a viking, and it’s definitely gotten healthier since he discovered beard oil. Speaking of Vikings, try this beard oil from Viking Revolution.
If he wants to experiment with scents, they also have a variety gift set containing sandalwood, pine, cedar and sage oils.
Waiter kit
He can Save money At the bar and Learn a new skill with this 15-piece bartender set. They make a great addition to holiday parties or a fun night to try out recipes at home.
The best practical ideas for white elephant gifts and storage supplies
Stock up on these useful little gifts to exchange with co-workers, participate in white elephants, and save yourself in those gifts “Excuse me, you brought me a gift and I don’t have anything for you” situations.
Vegetable soap
picks up This 12-pack of holiday soaps has an upscale look And you’ll be prepared for any stockings you need to fill or last-minute gifts for acquaintances.
Beautiful soap is one of those gifts that I hated getting when I was a kid, but am interested in now.
At only $2 each, they’re also great to keep on hand for last-minute gifts.
Hot sauce
The spice lovers in your life will always use hot sauce. Give them a gift to help them test their limits and improve their cooking.
Challenge them to Zombie apocalypse ghost chili Sauce, or go a little less extreme with Bazoudi hot sauce Featuring Trinidad Scorpion pepper.
They also make fun and practical white elephant gift ideas, because during the “steal” phase of the game, hot sauce lovers will compete for them.
Avocado slicer
This message is for my fellow millennials, since we’re always accused of spending all our money on avocado toast.
This convenient tool makes it easy to halve an avocado, remove the stone, and slice it into neat slices. Once you can cook your own brunch, home ownership and retirement are within reach!
Lipsticks
Have you ever managed to do that? He finishes A tube of lipsticks before they melt or go to waste? Me too. It’s always good to have a tube on dry winter days, so these holiday-themed lip sticks will be put to good use.
coffee
These days, you’re the odd one out if you are no You have a caffeine addiction, so delicious coffee tends to be a crowd pleaser. Experience true coffee lovers with Death Wish, “the strongest coffee in the world,” or add holiday flavor with our white chocolate and mint blend.
Roasted chestnuts
We’ve all heard the song lyrics “chestnuts roasted over an open fire”, but how many people know what chestnuts taste like? Now’s your chance to solve the mystery of your gifts with these snack bags.
Kate is a writer and editor who manages her content and editorial work remotely while traveling as a digital nomad. So far, her laptop has taken her to New Zealand, Asia and across the US (mostly thanks to credit card points). Years of research and ghostwriting in the personal finance space led her to the FI community and co-founding DollarSanity. In addition to travel and outdoor adventure, Kate is passionate about financial literacy, compound interest, and grammar.