By Kate Sturgill

Staff Writer

    As we approach the final months of the year, the holiday season greets us with cozy music and quality time with our loved ones. A dilemma many people, teenagers and adults alike, face is how to show gratitude toward their family and friends. This can be done by making food, helping around the house, and, most commonly, giving gifts! Finding the perfect, personal gift can be tricky, especially if the present you’re looking to buy is for someone you may not know super well or who is just really hard to buy for. If you’ve ever found yourself in this sticky situation, here is your solution: The Ultimate Holiday Gift Giving Guide!

Teen Girls:

    If you have a teenage girl in your life– whether she’s your daughter, sister, friend, or girlfriend– chances are you might not have an idea of what to give her for the holidays. One quick and easy present could be a gift card to places like Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, Ulta Beauty, Sephora, Target, or Amazon, to name a few places she might enjoy. If you feel like you know her well enough to appreciate her personal style, think about what kind of jewelry she’s interested in. 

    As far as jewelry goes, there’s a wide range of prices to choose from. For nicer bracelets or necklaces, opt for brands like Kendra Scott or E. Newton. If you’re looking for a less expensive option, Pura Vida or Evry Jewels have cute but affordable pieces. Another great present for any teenage girl is a water bottle. Among the TikTok-hyped Stanley tumbler and Owala bottles, there are various color combinations to choose from if you want to personalize her gift.  

    If you waited until the last minute for holiday shopping, other items for a quick gift from Amazon could include a: skincare mini fridge, sunglasses, a Lululemon keychain, a Labubu, hair claw clips, a Jellycat plush, or a cozy blanket for the wintertime. If you don’t know her well at all, try asking questions like: “What do you do in your free time?” “What is a show you’re into right now?” “Have you seen any fun restaurants you want to try lately?” or “What is one thing you wish you had in your backpack that you don’t have?” These kinds of questions can help you get a sense of what the girl you’re purchasing a gift for likes.

Teen Boys:

    Everyone knows there are endless options for girls’ gifts, but teenage boys, on the other hand, are a whole new category of hard-to-buy-for. For most of the boys in your life, you can’t go wrong with food, sports, or video games. Try getting a gift card for Chick-fil-A, Whataburger, Fortnite, X-box (or PlayStation), Nike, Adidas, Golf Galaxy, or Dick’s Sporting Goods. 

    If you know of a sport, team, or player they cheer for, look into buying a jersey or other team merchandise (hats, flags, etc.). If the guy you’re buying for has other kinds of hobbies, like Legos, board games, or puzzles, search the internet for new things he can build or games he can play. Maybe he is interested in a movie or TV series, like Star Wars or The Office– if so, Amazon has many options of mugs, pillows, T-shirts, posters, figurines, and other paraphernalia for any film or show. The brand Carhartt has a great selection of hats, coats, and other cold-weather or camping accessories if you are browsing for a more outdoorsy teenager. 

Adults:

     Another group of people that students continually struggle to buy gifts for is their teachers. You can’t get them gifts that you would normally purchase for your friends or buy them something you would like, so where do you go from there? What you should get them depends on how well you know the adult you’re buying for. If you don’t know much about what they like but still want to show your appreciation at the end of the calendar year, opt for a Starbucks or Amazon gift card, mug, candle, or school spirit wear (if it’s a teacher). 

    If you know more about them and what kinds of snacks and drinks they like, take a trip to Target and put together a basket of their favorites. For example, if you have a teacher who loves coffee, maybe look for a travel mug in their favorite color or a gift certificate to their favorite café. If you have a teacher who loves tea, maybe opt for an electric kettle for their classroom.

    Adults, in general, are typically hard to come up with gift ideas for. More often than not, most adults appreciate the more practical gifts during the holidays. Gas cards, candles, warm socks, kitchen-ware, warm hats, mittens, or blankets are all generic gifts to buy for an adult in your life for whom you aren’t sure what to get. If the person you’re getting a present for is closer to you, find out what interests them and get something revolving around that. If they’re into Mahjong, look at some new tiles or cards. If they like going to the gym, look for a new water bottle for them to use. 

    Any kind of thoughtful gift will be appreciated, so don’t be too scared to “get it wrong.” The holidays should be a time full of joy and love, so if you don’t hit it out of the park on your gift or someone else gets you a not-so-great present, remember it’s the thought that counts, and be grateful to have someone who cares about you in your life.

    Gift-giving during the holiday season is a great way to show family, friends, and school administrators your appreciation for what they do year-round. Sometimes, it even feels better to give a great gift than to receive one; and hopefully, everyone can do some of both this winter. Good luck and happy holidays!