Not many people might admit it, but one of the toughest, most dreaded tasks is gift shopping. Be it for a birthday, an anniversary, a wedding, or a special holiday, getting the right kind of gift that the receiver would actually appreciate is kind of a challenge. There are those rare people who seem to have been blessed with a sixth sense about what people really want, but for the rest of us, buying presents does not come as easily. And then, of course, there are people who are quite difficult to shop for, making the task doubly complicated.
To help you in your next gift-shopping journey, below is a list of practical items that most people would appreciate, no matter their gender or lifestyle.
Mini Crock Pot
This is perfect for those who bring their own lunches to the office — no need to line up to use the office microwave. But who says this mini magic pot is only for packed lunches? This little gem can be your go-to reheating container for leftovers, small servings of soups, and other foods that you want to heat up in a jiffy.
Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
Everyone who has ever dealt with a dusty table top, a dirty car window, a smudged smartphone screen, or a grimy keyboard (translation: almost everyone!) will appreciate the wonders of a microfiber cleaning cloth. They’re very easy to use — just swipe the cloth over the surface you want to clean and watch the dirt disappear. There’s no need to worry about getting dust everywhere, since the tiny fibers will hold on to all that dirt until you throw it into the wash. They’re very durable so they can withstand hundreds of washings before you have to replace them. Lastly, and perhaps more importantly, microfiber cloths are very affordable, so you can get people more than one cloth or towel to use for various belongings and areas around the house.
Portable Cellphone Charger (and Charging Wires)
We all love our smartphones. We use them for practically everything these days — calling and texting, surfing the web, checking and updating our social media feeds, doing a bit of work, watching videos, listening to music… the list goes on and on. If only the batteries can keep up with all those applications running at the same time! There are phone models with removable batteries, so you can swap when the other one is drained but that’s quite bothersome to do, especially if the phone has a case.
Power banks to the rescue! These portable chargers are lifesavers, especially in emergency situations when you just really need to give your phone some extra juice. And while you’re at it, you might also want to include a spare charging wire to that gift bundle. We all know just how fragile those cords are.
A Waterproof Speaker
Speaking of gadgets — there’s always someone in your friends list who loves to sing (and dance) in the bath. A waterproof bluetooth speaker is the perfect gift so they can listen and sing along to their favorite jams while showering. If you don’t know anyone who sings or listens to music while in the bathroom (really?), most of these speakers can also double as a hands-free attachment for answering calls.
A Multi-Tool
The handymen in your life will most definitely love you for gifting them with a high-quality multi-tool, but even those who aren’t so adept at tinkering will appreciate this gift. You can easily find one with the usual attachments — scissors, a couple of screwdrivers and knives, pliers, a ruler, a wrench, a wire cutter, a corkscrew, and a bottle opener, among others — but there are also multi-tools nowadays that can also serve as a phone stand or a door latch slip. There are even multi-tools dedicated to mixologists, which have a built-in zester, stirrer, and strainer!
A Really Comfortable Pillow
Don’t underestimate the power of a sufficiently soft-yet-firm pillow in giving you a good night’s sleep. What’s more, you also don’t have to worry about sizes — a standard pillow will suit everyone just fine. No need to think about preferred colors, too. Just buy a truly comfortable pillow in white, and let your giftee decide how to dress it up. Although you can certainly add a silk pillowcase if you’re feeling extra generous.
Get rid of the guesswork in gift-shopping. Go the practical route and you’ll be a champion gift-giver in no time!