Best Gift Ideas for People Who Already Have It All
We all have one person in life who buys whatever he wants on his own. They don’t ask for anything and say they don’t need anything, but you still want to give them something to show your love, respect, or appreciation. Here’s what you can do.
Give them memories instead of things
They may have all the material goods they desire, but they’ve probably forgotten some of the good times they had . And people love to remember. Dig into your photos and find an old forgotten photo of the two of you, then buy a beautiful frame or album for it. If all of your photos are digital, Shutterfly Photo Album is perfect for collecting a bunch of memories in one place. If you like, you can attach a card to it with handwritten memory inside.
If you can ask someone to help you, Phyllis Lapidus tells Real Simple that a memory bank is a great gift too . Ask each member of your family to write their favorite memories of the recipient on a small piece of paper, and then collect them all in the jar. When the recipient of the gift wants to remember or needs to cheer up, he can open the can and pull out funny stories, moments of love and other stories about how they have influenced everyone’s life for the better. This may sound a little offensive, but these are gifts that must be cherished. After all, memories are all we have.
Give them an experience they’ve expressed interest in
Experiences are always a great gift and are likely to delight the recipient . The key is to make sure they really want to get involved. Not everyone wants to skydive, so stick with what they’ve talked about or learned about.
Find experiences that will empower them to improve the skills they are passionate about. Drawing lessons, cooking classes, sports training, and dance lessons are a good place to start. If they’re interested in learning electronics, an Arduino, Raspberry Pi, or starter solder kit is ideal . Or give them a chance to relax. Buy them a day at the spa or give them a gift certificate for a massage.
And don’t worry about giving them the experience they’ve already got. Like eating and drinking, another chance to do what they enjoy is always well received. Also, even if they already have this experience, changing one variable makes it completely new. Take them to a different spa this time, buy them an intermediate lesson if they’ve already taken a few beginner lessons, or sign up for a cooking lesson that focuses on a particular type of food.
Give them their time
Time is the most precious thing in the world , so giving some of your own is kind of the best gift. You can spend your time doing everything from planning outings with family or friends you rarely visit, to working to help people you care about.
Do all the research, planning, and paying for your day of fun with them. Invite your parents and grandparents to help with big household chores that they haven’t done yet. Tell your friends that you will watch over them or sit down for them so they can get out of the house and have some fun. Or just offer your full attention and lend a helping hand to them for the whole day. Tell them that you will be their helper and help them cope with everything that hangs over their heads.
Of course, you should always be ready to help friends and family, so make sure these suggestions are taken as big gestures. Make it clear that you are ready to do everything you can for them or help even with what they themselves put off. An offer to take out the trash isn’t a gift, but you could spend the weekend helping a friend clean up their house and then arranging a garage sale for them .
Give them a favorite Consumable With another gift
When someone already has everything, look for consumables . There is never too much of a favorite food or drink. If they love whiskey, buy them a great whiskey. If they love cheese, buy them a piece of gourmet food. If they have an unquenchable love for Doritos and Mountain Dew, pair them. No one will be disappointed when they get things for free that they end up buying anyway.
And if you have a gift idea for someone, but you’re not sure how much they will like it, improve it with supplies you know they will love. Give them their favorite tea while they read the book you have chosen for them. Add their favorite candy and some popcorn to the theater for a movie you’re not entirely sure they’ll love. Regardless, they will be happy when they open your gift. They get what they want and see that you’ve made an effort to choose something for them.
Offer them a membership or service that will empower them
Sometimes giving a great gift means thinking outside the box – literally. Stop thinking about what you can give them and start thinking about what you can give them that will improve what they already have . For most people, the premium service or membership you know they will use, or the paid level of service they like, is a solid gift that doesn’t clutter up their home.
Do they have a good stereo system? Get them a music streaming subscription like Spotify Premium or Pandora Plus . Is home theater their pride and joy? Get them a movie and TV streaming subscription for Netflix, Hulu, or lesser known services like FilmStruck . Do they have a sweet ride they won’t stop talking about? Buy them car wash certificates and car detailing. Or offer to help pay for maintenance if they complain about better times in their chariot. Even an AAA membership can be a great gift for those closest to you who will be on the road all year round.
If you are unsure of what to give your grandparents, think about things that will make their life easier. It’s probably harder for them to get by, so grocery delivery services like Amazon Fresh, Fresh Direct, or Instacart and meal kit delivery services like Blue Apron and Plated can save them a lot of hassle.
Give them something personal
Your recipient who is having a difficult time shopping may not need any items, but there may be a way to update the items they already have. You can turn a useful item into a personal treasure by simply personalizing it with a little engraving or embroidery.
Does your imitating Food Network star have a favorite chef’s knife, or does your fun-loving brother or sister like to keep things under wraps with a flask? Engrave it with your name. Or maybe your friend traveling the world has a favorite luggage that can be personalized a little . Tools, watches, and jewelry are also great candidates for engraving. You can also get garments, wallets, and even magazines embroidered with their name or their favorite quote.