2021 SMGN Holiday Gift Guide

For our 2021 Holiday Gift Guide, we’ve once again come together to bring you the best gift ideas we could find. All of the wonderful bloggers on this gift guide have searched high and low, to help you find what we believe are the best gifts to make everyone on your gift list happy & and filled with delight. This holiday season, everyone is sure to love the presents that we’ve found for you. As they sparkle, surprise, & are sure to impress even the grumpiest recipient.

Thank you for taking the time to stop by our 2021 Holiday Gift Guide. There is still much uncertainty in the world we now live in. But we are still going to be busy this holiday season with shopping, baking, and making merry at in-person and virtual parties with family, friends, and coworkers. As we embrace the new traditions that we began last year and continue to create new ones, we need to get ahead start on our gift buying.

Although, we still won’t have as many invites this year the question of what gift to give still weighs heavily on our minds. This year as you celebrate be sure to show your appreciation with a thoughtful gift that will not only warm their heart but guarantee you an invite to next year’s festivities. With the creative and thoughtful gifts that you find on our guide, they’re sure to be bragging about the amazing gift they got from you! And, everyone will want to be on your gift list!

To help you find the perfect gifts some of our favorite bloggers have come together to bring you this year’s Holiday Gift Guide. Presents of all kinds, from jewelry and last-minute ideas to technology and the latest trends, our guide will make your shopping a breeze this season. Grab a glass of eggnog and wrap up some of these unique presents and personalized gifts for everyone on your list. 

BLOGGERS WORKING ON THIS GIFT GUIDE

GIVEAWAYS

CHILDREN UNDER 5

CHILDREN 5 – 12

TEENAGERS

WOMEN

MEN

PETS

BEAUTY

HOME

TECHNOLOGY

HEALTH/FITNESS

ARTS/CRAFTS

SUBSCRIPTION BOXES

DVDS/BOOKS

STOCKING STUFFERS

FOOD/BEVERAGE

MISCELLANEOUS

Need more ideas? Check out our previous gift guides. All our GIFT GUIDES & LINK UPS can be found on the menu at the top of the page.

Holiday Gift Giving Rules

Gift-giving during the holidays, for birthdays, graduations, or weddings are a great opportunity to reinforce our relationships with others. But it also presents a veritable minefield of scenarios that don’t exactly promote peace on earth and goodwill toward men—and that includes both giving and receiving of gifts. The holidays are stressful enough without having to worry if you’re going to offended someone so here are some rules to help you stay off Santa’s naughty list.

1. Don’t add a small gift to a big gift. When we receive gifts in a bundle, we tend to unconsciously average out their value, so a small gift tacked onto a big one will devalue the big gift and lessen its impact.
2. Gift experiences rather than things. Research shows that money spent on doing provides more enduring happiness than money spent on having. Many of us already have tons of stuff and the last thing we need is more stuff. Consider taking them to dinner at a nice restaurant, having a spa date with your besties, a trip to the new art exibit at the museum, etc. Build memories instead of stacks.
3. Spend more on others than you do on yourself. It’s true, spending money on others does promote happiness. And, the happiness that you feel when giving can last longer than the happiness you get from getting. Most people don’t a lot of money spent on them. They just want you to think about them when you select their gift.
4. Think like you’re the receiver. Purchase something that the receiver would want to buy for themselves. The best way to get it right is to ask, “What would you like?” And, buy what is suggested. Especially when parents request that you do not give specific gifts to their children.
5. Don’t compare nor expect anything in return. Give generously, give with an open heart, and truly don’t expect anything in return. Also, avoid comparing what you give to what you receive. If someone gives you a gift and you don’t have one for them, don’t draw attention to the fact that you don’t have a gift for them. Instead, focus on showing gratitude for the person and the gift that they have given you.
6. Do not pre-purchase gifts. Don’t purchase items as gifts without a specific recipient in mind. Just because you see something you like, it doesn’t mean that you should buy an extra one thinking that there will be someone on your list that will like it too. These types of gifts often end up as candidates for re-gifting.
7. Gift cards and cash are okay. While cash can be perceived as lazy by some and gift cards aren’t perfect — billions of dollars worth of them go unredeemed each year, both are a better option than a rushed or poorly chosen gift that has no value to the recipient.
8. Avoid Self-Improvement Gifts. It is best not to give gifts that imply some type of self-improvement is needed. Gym memberships, diet cookbooks, self-help books are often not well received.
9. Don’t try to impress with the cost of the gift. Just because you can afford to give an expensive gift doesn’t mean you should. Extravagant gifts may send the wrong message to the recipient.
10. Avoid gifts that require a commitment from the receiver. Don’t give gifts that burden the recipient with unwanted responsibility, such as, giving them a pet as a gift. It is best to avoid gifts like this unless you’re really sure the recipient wants it.
11. Understand the meaning of the gift and the beliefs of the recipient. You wouldn’t want to give red roses, which represent love and desire to a co-worker as she might get the wrong impression. You also need to understand the recipient’s culture, as gift-giving customs vary greatly between all cultures. Have a Portuguese friend? A red poinsettia would be a no-no since red is the symbol of the revolution and is considered offensive to them. Don’t forget to consider the religious beliefs and lifestyle choices of the gift recipient when shopping for the perfect gift. You wouldn’t want to give a gift card to a local steak house to someone who is vegan.
12. Make sure it’s age-appropriate. When choosing gifts for children ensure the gift is appropriate for their age. Also, you wouldn’t want to give something to a teen or young adult that is childish and meant for someone much younger.
13. Don’t Buy A Gift. If they say “Don’t buy me a gift,” sometimes you need to take it seriously. You need to know the difference between someone just saying that to make sure you come and the person who is really asking you to not get them a gift. Perhaps they can’t afford to buy gifts in return. Respect that, and don’t buy them a gift.
14. Don’t Give Early. You’re excited and can’t wait to give the gift. But remember, that gift-giving is not about you. It’s about the recipient. Give them the gift to open it on the date — holiday, birthday, anniversary, etc. — so that date doesn’t arrive and they don’t end up with no gift to open.
15. It’s Never Too Late. While on-time gift-giving is preferred sometimes circumstances outside of our control happen. Like they say better late than never. If a gift is delayed it’s okay to print a picture of it and wrap it up with a small token gift so they at least have something on the special day.
16. Stay Within Your Budget. It is okay to give a gift that you can afford. A well-thought-out gift can be more meaningful to the recipient than an expensive new-fangled gadget. As long as it’s thoughtful and focused on the recipient, don’t apologize for your gift. No matter how small, they will appreciate it. You do not need to be ashamed of the size or cost of the gifts you give.
17. Always Wrap It. No matter what you give, always take the time and effort the present your gift the right way. Wrap it, put a bow on it, use a nice gift bag and tissue paper… Whatever, you do… Make It As Special As They Are To You.
18. Address The Gift. Add a gift tag, note, or card. It is your chance to connect with the recipient and make the gift more personal.

We often give gifts to re-confirm or establish our connection with others. This means gifts can be a reflection of the giver and the receiver’s unique relationship. Most importantly, giving a gift to someone we care about allows us the opportunity to communicate our feelings and appreciation to them.