Gift for someone who has everything: unique Christmas gift ideas
What do you give someone who has everything? Unique Christmas gifts for adults, Secret Santa tips and comforting ideas for someone having a hard time.
- Updated
- 9 min read
Everyone knows someone like this: you ask what they would like and the answer is always "nothing, I've got everything". Still, at Christmas you want to give something that really lands. That is why a good gift for someone who has everything is rarely about more stuff. It is about attention, a moment together or something they would never treat themselves to.
In this blog you will find unique Christmas gifts for adults, tips for a personal Secret Santa present and ideas for someone who finds the festive season hard. Because that is part of December too: not everyone is looking forward to cosy evenings and full tables.
In short
- Someone who has everything is usually happiest with attention, time and comfort.
- Think of something they would not quickly buy for themselves, or a moment you share together.
- For someone who is having a hard time, a calm, comforting gift often works better than something festive.
- A personal card makes almost any gift more meaningful.
- Order in good time: delivery services are busy in December.
What's a good gift for someone who has everything?
People who say they have everything usually mean they don't need another gadget, another candle or another mug. That makes it tricky, but it also gives you direction. The best gifts for this group tend to fall into one of three categories.
- Something to experience. A day out, a workshop or simply a day together. Memories take up no space and tend to get better with the years, not worse.
- Something personal. A photo book, a letter or a gift that shows you have really been paying attention. It is not about the price, but about the feeling of being seen.
- Something for comfort. Things someone would love to have but doesn't buy because it is "not necessary". A really soft jumper, good socks or a cuddly toy to hold on the sofa.
Not sure? Look at how someone spends their free time and what helps them unwind. That is usually where the answer lies.
12 unique Christmas gifts for someone who has everything
Looking for a unique Christmas gift that won't end up in a drawer? These ideas work for partners, parents, grandparents, friends and colleagues.
- A day together. Plan a walk, a museum visit or breakfast in town. Put it in an envelope with the date on it, so it actually happens.
- A jar of notes. Write down memories, compliments or small promises and put them in a glass jar. One note a week brings joy all year long.
- A workshop. Pottery, cooking, painting or photography. People who have everything often love learning something new.
- A photo book of the past year. Collect photos from family and friends. It takes a little time, but it is a gift people often keep for years.
- Something tasty from close to home. Coffee from a local roaster, cheese from the market or chocolate from a small maker. It is meant to be used up, and that is exactly the idea.
- A donation in their name. Choose a charity that suits the recipient and tell them why you picked that one.
- A voucher for help. An afternoon of odd jobs, getting the garden ready for winter or cooking a meal. For someone with a busy life or an older relative, that can be worth more than any parcel.
- A subscription to look forward to. Flowers, a magazine or a book club. A gift that comes back every month.
- A really soft throw or jumper. For long winter evenings. People rarely buy this for themselves, but love using it.
- A heavy cuddly toy to hold. A weighted stuffed animal for adults comes as a surprise to many people. You don't expect it, but it feels good to have something with weight in your arms on the sofa or in bed.
- A card or board game to play together. Something to play with the whole family over the holidays. The real gift is the evening around it.
- A handwritten letter. Write down what someone means to you. It costs nothing, but it is often the thing that is kept the longest.
A Christmas gift for someone who is having a hard time
The festive season isn't easy for everyone. Anyone who is missing someone, lives alone, is ill or is under a lot of strain often feels it even more in December. There are lights and packed diaries everywhere, while all you really need is some peace. A gift can then show that you are thinking of someone, without it having to be festive.
In that case, choose something comforting rather than something exuberant. A warm scarf, a book you loved yourself, a visit with a pot of soup or a cuddly toy to hold. Our blog on thinking of you gifts has more ideas for a difficult time.
The best gift for someone who is having a hard time is the feeling that someone is thinking of them.
The best gift for someone who is having a hard time is the feeling that someone is thinking of them. You don't need to offer solutions. A card that says "thinking of you" or a fixed date in January, once the rush is over, can mean a lot. Do you notice that someone really isn't coping any more? Then gently help them find support, for example from their GP.
A comfort plush fits well here. Not as a solution, but as something to hold in the moments when you don't feel like calling anyone.
Secret Santa for adults: how to keep it personal
At Christmas, many families, friendship groups and workplaces do Secret Santa. You usually have a budget and just one person to choose for. That is a chance to come up with something truly personal instead of quickly grabbing something off the shelf.
- Wrap it with a wink. Packaging that plays on a hobby or a funny habit already does half the work.
- Add a card or a little rhyme that fits. Not just teasing, but also a few lines that show what you appreciate about them.
- Stay within budget, but choose wisely. Better one good thing than five little presents nobody needs.
Is the perfect Secret Santa gift just over your budget? Then you could team up with someone else in the draw or a family member and give something bigger together.
A weighted stuffed animal as a Christmas gift for an adult?
A cuddly toy as a gift for an adult might sound childish. Yet for someone who has everything, it is often a real surprise. It is something you wouldn't quickly buy yourself, while it can be used every day: on the sofa with a series, while reading or when falling asleep.
A Hugsback weighs 2 kg and is about 45 cm long. The weight is spread across the whole body, so it feels as if the plush toy hugs you back. You can choose the Elephant, the Turtle, the Dog or the Horse. Every Hugsback comes in its own gift tube with a certificate, so there is hardly any wrapping to do. It is suitable from age 3 and not intended for people with breathing or heart conditions.
Not sure which animal suits them? Choose the animal that matches their personality or memories. For many people an elephant stands for strength and loyalty, a horse for freedom. You can read more about that in our blogs on elephant gifts and gifts for horse lovers.
How to make your gift personal
With someone who has everything, the way you give often makes more difference than the gift itself. A few things help.
- Add a card. A few words of your own say more than a standard greeting. For example: "For the evenings when you don't have to do a thing" or "Because you are always there for others, now something for you."
- Tell them why you chose it. "I thought of you when I saw this" turns a gift into a gesture.
- Give at the right moment. Sometimes a gift just after the holidays, when things go quiet, means more than one in the middle of the rush.
A few words of your own say more than a standard greeting.
And order gifts online in good time. Delivery services are busy in December and you don't want to be searching on the very last day.
Frequently asked questions
What do you buy someone who has everything?
Go for time, attention or comfort: a day together, a personal letter, a workshop or something they wouldn't quickly buy themselves, such as a soft throw or a weighted plush toy.
What is a unique Christmas gift for adults?
A unique Christmas gift suits the person and surprises them. Think of a photo book of the past year, a subscription to look forward to or a cuddly toy you wouldn't expect in grown-up life.
What do you give an adult for Secret Santa?
A gift that ties in with a hobby or habit, with a personal card or a little rhyme. Within the Secret Santa budget, one thoughtful gift is often more fun than lots of small things.
What do you give someone who is struggling over the holidays?
Something calm and comforting, such as a warm scarf, a book or a cuddly toy to hold, together with a card that lets them know you are thinking of them.
Can I exchange a Hugsback if the gift isn't right?
Yes, you can return a Hugsback free of charge within 30 days. If you buy the gift early in December, keep that period in mind.
Finally
A gift for someone who has everything doesn't have to be big or expensive. It works best when it shows you have thought about someone, and when it adds something that wasn't there yet: a moment together, a memory or something soft to hold on long winter evenings. Looking for that last one? Then take a look at our 2 kg weighted stuffed animals, each in its own gift tube.
