7 Unique Gift Ideas for People Who Are Difficult to Shop For

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I absolutely love shopping for gifts during the holiday season. Thinking of thoughtful, unique, and surprising gift ideas for my loved ones gives my heart the warm fuzzies! But there are always a few people on my list who seem impossible to shop for. Either they have everything already, they are super particular about the stuff they like (and their tastes always seem to be changing), or they buy things they want or need before anyone else can.

Do you need help shopping for those impossible gift recipients this holiday season? I’ve got you covered! This list of unique gift ideas will suit anyone’s taste, no matter how hard they are to shop for. Keep reading for unique gift ideas that are perfect for everyone on your list!

An Ecard

When someone is hard to shop for, it’s sometimes best to give them a card with a sweet sentiment inside rather than a random item you picked up last minute. Unique gift ideas don’t have to be something you can hold in your hand! Send your loved one a cute and funny message with an Ecard. The plethora of designs means you will easily find a card that matches your friend’s style.

Unlike paper cards, Ecards feature video, and audio elements to make them exciting and fun. You can write a personal message inside and some even let you add photos or other personalized elements. Choose one with your pal’s favorite holiday tune or character to really make them smile.

If you hate fighting the crowds at the mall or waiting anxiously for packages to ship, digital greeting cards are the perfect Christmas gift to give. Ecards let you send a thoughtful message to everyone on your list without having to leave the comfort of your own home. Total holiday win!

The best part?

American Greetings has a huge selection of Ecards for every occasion. From get well to graduation, birthdays to babies, you can stop back all year round and send a quick and easy note to your friends and family members.

You can find a wide array of digital options for staying connected on the JibJab website.

The Art of Stopping Time: Practical Mindfulness for Busy People

Books always make awesome gifts. Who doesn’t enjoy snuggling up in a blanket with a good read when it’s cold outside? But if your gift recipient already has an enormous book collection, deciding on a title can feel like a major chore.

One great go-to no matter who you are buying for is The Art of Stopping Time by Pedram Shojai. This book recognizes how most of us feel super stressed all the time. It also offers solutions on how to fix that. Using programs called Gongs to reprogram your habits and make the most of each day, the book teaches readers how to both be productive and get out of auto-pilot and enjoy life.

The book’s method is based on a Chinese practice in which you designate a certain amount of time each day to do a certain task. By doing so, you can become more mindful, reduce stress, and learn to control your own time instead of time being master over you. It might sound a bit New Age and hokey at first, but give it a chance! If you have a pal who always feels spread too thin, she will benefit from The Art of Stopping Time.

Everyone can benefit from a little help organizing their life, no matter how on top of things they are. Many people are also too embarrassed to buy themselves a self-help book, so this is the perfect pick for even the most hard-to-shop-for person. Who knows, maybe your friend will even let you borrow the book when they’re done!

Pick up a copy of this book here.

23 & Me Kit

Exploring your heritage is so much fun, especially as Americans. Our country is such a melting pot of cultures and nationalities that you never know who your ancestors might have been! Even if you think you know your family tree inside and out, doing a DNA test could surprise you. That’s what makes 23 & Me one of the most unique gift ideas you can give.

A lot of people wonder about where they came from but worry about spending their own money on this service. Now they can find out something about themselves they never knew thanks to you! It’s a whole lot easier and more accurate than scouring old records at the library. You could help your pal discover a whole new side of themselves!

Not only does 23 & Me offer ancestry services, but it can also reveal personal health information based on their genetics. The ancestry service takes your loved one’s DNA sample and breaks it down into regional ancestry percentages. If you purchase the Health + Ancestry package, they’ll also find out genetic health risks as well as the likelihood of traits including things like taste preferences, hair loss, and soundness of sleep. Science is cool!

Because these kits require a DNA sample, they are a little bit harder to give as a surprise. However, they’re still so interesting and would be fun to do together with your partner or BFF.

Grab a 23 & Me kit here.

Blue Apron Subscription

Let’s be honest:

No matter how much you love cooking, some days you’re just too busy. With a family, work, a social life, and hobbies, preparing food is often the last thing on your mind when you get home.

Help out that hard-to-shop-for person by giving them the gift of grub with Blue Apron. This service sends the recipient all the ingredients they need to make healthy meals from scratch, plus recipes to guide them in the kitchen. With premeasured ingredients, step-by-step instructions, and recipes that cater to different diets, you can’t go wrong with this gift!

Meal kit boxes like this mean less food waste, fewer trips to the grocery store, and no staring at the fridge wondering what to eat. Plus everything is nutritious and fresh, making it an exceptionally thoughtful gift after the booze and treats of the holiday season. Who could say no to free meals that are super easy to make?

If your loved one is totally not into cooking (like AT ALL), check out Blue Apron’s monthly wine delivery service instead. They’ll get six yummy bottles, perfectly sized for pairing with a meal and sharing with another person (or, you know, getting a little “festive” on their own). The wines come from around the world and each bottle includes background info so your pal can become the sommelier of your friend group.

Check out all Blue Apron has to offer here.

Surprise From FTD

Nothing says “I like you” the way that flowers do. There’s just something about a pretty bouquet that brings a smile to peoples’ faces. Though they are not the most unique gift ideas, flowers and plants definitely show you care. A pretty Christmas arrangement of red and white flowers adds a festive touch to any room, so you’re really giving the person a gift and a decor piece in one!

If flowers aren’t your friend’s thing, maybe a tiny Christmas tree would get them into the holiday spirit. Do they have a green thumb? A gorgeous orchid adds some color to gray winter days. Is your pal obsessed with Instagram? Succulents are super trendy right now, look modern, and are easy enough for even the busiest gal to care for.

FTD carries tons of non-plant gifts too, including snack gift baskets, chocolates, cookie assortments, and fruit arrangements. Feeling super extra? Send her a cuddly teddy bear. There’s something for everyone! The best part is, you don’t even have to bother getting the gift to your friend yourself. Send it straight to their house or office for a happy holiday surprise. You get to shop and give the gift both in your underwear if you want to. Talk about a seasonal time saver!

Order some beautiful flowers, gifts, or plants at FTD here!

California Delicious Gift Box

When you can’t think of the perfect present for your loved one, always go with the one thing everyone loves: snacks. California Delicious creates terrific gift baskets full of tasty treats for every taste. These unique gift ideas do the hard work for you by compiling tons of gourmet munchies into one pretty package.

No matter what your gift recipient likes to eat or drink, you’ll find the ideal basket for them. Whether it’s coffee, wine, charcuterie, cookies, chocolates, or all of the above, it’s easy to score a gift they’ll love! Each package is full of high-quality snacks; no weird off-brands like in some gift baskets. This company has a great selection of basket sizes and price points, too, so no worries about sticking to your holiday gift shopping budget.

As if you needed another reason to shop with this amazing company, California Delicious is a family-run, woman-owned business based in the Bay Area. Every one of their baskets is put together by hand and can include customizations like personal messages, pretty ribbons, and cute gift tags.

Check out all the tasty options California Delicious has in stock here.

Canvas People Photo

Though it might sound cheesy, it really is true that heartfelt, personal gifts are the best kind. No matter how much stuff the person already has, a meaningful present will warm their heart. If you’re not crafty or creative (or just don’t have time to make DIY gifts), a special photo print is the next best thing.

Put a smile on your difficult-to-shop-for person’s face with a gift from Canvas People. Here you simply upload a photo from your computer and they will create a gorgeous canvas print for your loved one to treasure. You can even add color effects, enhance the photo, and add a pretty frame. Precious memories! Just grab a picture of you and your gift recipient together, and you’ll have a special gift for them in a matter of minutes.

Because it’s so fast and easy to do, ordering canvas photo prints is the perfect last-minute holiday gift. Are you a huge procrastinator? Did Christmas sneak up on you? Did you suddenly remember you need a present for your friend group’s Secret Santa? Head over to Canvas People’s website for a quick gift!

Create an easy yet thoughtful present with Canvas People here.

Still, need more ideas?

Here’s the deal.

Maybe none of these gift ideas sound like something your hard-to-shop-for friend would love. Or perhaps they don’t fit your budget. Whatever the reason, I feel you! Holiday shopping can be crazy stressful, especially if you have no clue what to buy.

For more unique gift ideas that (almost) everyone would be thrilled to receive, check out the video below. In it, you’ll learn about 5 more awesome gift ideas, all under $25 so you can actually afford to treat all your loved ones this year! Check out the cool suggestions:

If you have someone on your Christmas shopping list who is difficult to buy for (and we all do), try one of these unique gift ideas. They would probably never think to buy these things for themselves, so they’ll be pleasantly surprised to receive them! Each of these presents is thoughtful and sure to make spirits bright, no matter who you give it to. Happy shopping!

Which of these presents is your favorite? Do you have a loved one who you always struggle to shop for? What are your suggestions for unique gift ideas? Let us know in the comments below!