It happens every holiday season: You realize you need to buy a gift for your sister-in-law or Secret Santa recipient or friend’s parent who’s hosting, but you know absolutely nothing about them. You don’t know their T-shirt size, what their home looks like, whether they have a gluten sensitivity or a nut allergy, whether they drink alcohol, what fragrances they enjoy (or whether they hate things with fragrance). You think they have a dog — or was it a lizard? Put down the whiskey stones. This guide can help.
I’ve gone through the Strategist archives and my own personal Rolodex of tried-and-true gifts that walk the line between being low context enough to work for anyone and genuinely exciting to open. They’re all non-generic and under $100, because I assume you’re not breaking the bank for someone whose middle name you don’t know. And if you have the benefit of more context on what your gift recipient likes, we’ve got plenty of other gift guides full of ideas for everyone — from teenage girls to birdwatchers to chefs.
Update on December 12, 2024: Updated prices and checked stock for all products.
Everyone can use an extra set of oven mitts. These are made from deadstock flannel by L.A. upcycled-textile company Suay.
These raw-edged marble cutting boards are a great multiuse kitchen item — they could be used to roll out pastry or serve charcuterie.
An elegant brass tool for the most universal experience: trying to get the last little bit of toothpaste (or skin-care product, or makeup) out of the tube.
Recommended by Tembe Denton-Hurst, president of the Strategist books caucus.
A festive green-and-white striped bag with a more interesting profile than your standard canvas tote.
It’s a pen and ruler in one, and it’s lightweight enough to clip onto a notebook or slip into their pocket.
Because no one’s mad to get an extra blanket. This one is made of 100 percent wool and comes with a carrying case.
I love these strangely beautiful massage tools from Wax Apple, each designed to serve its specific, esoteric knot-loosening purpose. They’re so pretty that I couldn’t pick just one; check out the full range here.
A cute solution to tangles of phone chargers on the living-room floor (a problem I’m convinced everyone has).
A candle shaped like an Italian cow’s milk cheese — unscented and safe for the lactose-intolerant.
Lip balm can be a boring gift — but not monogrammed lip balm.
A Japanese book of absurdist inventions that solve for common inconveniences, like slippers with a small dustpan and broom attached to the toes and a glue stick of butter for spreading on toast.
This well-designed nesting cutlery set (the knife is also a bottle opener) can travel with them wherever they eat on the go, whether that’s at the office or on a hike.
Recommended by fitness writer Jeremy Rellosa, this water bottle also works as a travel foam roller to get out any aches and pains.
Artist Josef Albers’ seminal color theory work is a deeply enjoyable read, whether they’re artistically inclined or not.
An unfussy candy in a crowd-pleasing flavor.
The thing that unites us all: the passage of time. This old-school clock is a delight to have in your home, especially if you catch the moment when the numbers flip to the next minute.
The Strategist is designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read about here. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
