The 7 Presents Practically Guaranteed To Please Everyone On Your List

December 2, 2014

Last year I decided against gift guides all together. This year, I’ve decided to participate, but in a slightly unique way (unique is the LS way, hello).

In no particular order then:

Can't lose with this list of the 7 presents practically guaranteed to please everyone on your list!

1. Most people would love to be gifted an experience

Taking classes, attending workshops, receiving private instruction–such things have never been more popular and mass appealing as they are now. The experience of a class-like set up is fun, doesn’t intimidate by way of expected long term commitment, and also usually offers the added bonus of social interaction (most people consider that a bonus, anyway).

So find your friends and family an interesting class to take–something outside their usual realm of expertise but within their general field of interest: pasta-making, rock climbing, gift wrapping, etc.

2. Most people would kill to be able to outsource most anything–cooking, cleaning, dusting, carpooling, shopping, and all the other ings. 

Give your people the gift of things being done for them; line up a personal chef to cook for them a couple nights a week, a housekeeper to clean for them a couple of times in the coming months, a laundry service, a grocery delivery service, an aquarium cleaner, dog walker, car detailer, home repair-er, firewood stacker–I could go on.

If you don’t feel comfortable pulling the trigger without your recipient’s consent, consider gifting your people a list of the service providers that are out there.

Research 5 or so services or companies in the field in which they’d love the help, outlining the pros and cons of each and the main differences between them. Give them the list and the chance to review it, and then follow up with them in a week’s time in order to line up whichever service they’ve chosen.

If, after a week has passed, and they still haven’t remotely glanced at the list (this is highly likely) kindly say: “Would it be alright if I made the choice based on who or what I think would be the best fit for you?”

Then book those bananas.

3. Along those lines, I can pretty much guarantee you that anyone born before the year 1980 has a whole tub or two of CDs, which they have absolutely no clue what to do with. They don’t want to just get rid of them, but they don’t want to take the time to import them all themselves; find and gift a service for that situation if you want to convince everyone you’re Moses this year.

4. Parents would very much love for you to come and take their children away for a couple of hours.

You know, to do some fun, interesting things! Just saying.

5. Most people would really like some luxurious loungewear.

Standard, shmandard.

Pajamas, slippers, and other such garments are in fact not the yawn of the gift world, but the undervalued marvel. Because everyone–but everyone–wants mostly to be comfortable, at home.

Their current loungewear situation is haggard at best guys, take it from me; I’ve folded it.

6. Most people want the things they say they do.

If they’ve got a gift list going for themselves, adhere to it. If you’re lost in left field, ask around. Don’t try to outsmart or doubt what people actually want for themselves. Because what you want to give them or what you think they ought to have is far less important than that what they think they do. Remember that.

7. They want them some you.

I’m sorry this has all been leading up to such a corn-on-the-cobby note, but I can’t deny what’s true: people who love you? What they really need and want most? It’s some you. Your time, your attention, your love.

It costs nothing, you can skip the gift wrap, and need ye no malls; your present energy is the most important gift you can give.

Lucky number 8.

Oh and most people? What they really want is to Live Simply.

Make like the man, Clause, and share this blog with them, eh?

P.S. Add your no-fail gift ideas in the comments below.

Image credit: Elle

6 Comments

  1. Sara on December 2, 2014 at 9:36 am

    I love this list but especially #3. Do you (or any readers) have a service you recommend? I have a tub of those waiting patiently in my garage….I would also love to be gifted (or to gift to my spouse) someone to organize our digital lives including photos, including making them shareable across multiple computers and backed up completely.

  2. Leslie on December 2, 2014 at 6:08 pm

    Excellent list. In fact, it’s the best one yet that I’ve come across as far as gift guides go – am so tired of seeing yet another beautiful but totally forgettable and unnecessary list of luxury chotkes, soaps & candle b.s. Thank you for the inspiration (as always). 🙂

    • Annie on December 2, 2014 at 6:58 pm

      This comment just made my whole night! Suffice it to say I feel you on the gift guide front. Thanks for the comment lady!

  3. Fran on December 5, 2014 at 2:19 am

    I like that you wrote that “most” people would like to be gifted an experience (with the added bonus of social interaction!!) as in #1. “Most” is not everyone, which you obviously know (otherwise you would have written “everyone”, duh!) 😉 Introverts like me would not appreciate that kind of gift (unless they have actually put it on their wish list!). Hello mental clutter with all the “omg what am I going to do with this” kind of thinking all the while smiling nervously to show how much you appreciate the thought . Pretty, comfy loungewear on the other hand… Now you’re talking!! 😀

    Love your blog by the way!

  4. Alla on January 12, 2015 at 1:45 am

    A gift of the decluttering expert spending an afternoon in their house!

    • Annie on January 12, 2015 at 6:30 pm

      Word. How did I not include that one??

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6 Comments

  1. Sara on December 2, 2014 at 9:36 am

    I love this list but especially #3. Do you (or any readers) have a service you recommend? I have a tub of those waiting patiently in my garage….I would also love to be gifted (or to gift to my spouse) someone to organize our digital lives including photos, including making them shareable across multiple computers and backed up completely.

  2. Leslie on December 2, 2014 at 6:08 pm

    Excellent list. In fact, it’s the best one yet that I’ve come across as far as gift guides go – am so tired of seeing yet another beautiful but totally forgettable and unnecessary list of luxury chotkes, soaps & candle b.s. Thank you for the inspiration (as always). 🙂

    • Annie on December 2, 2014 at 6:58 pm

      This comment just made my whole night! Suffice it to say I feel you on the gift guide front. Thanks for the comment lady!

  3. Fran on December 5, 2014 at 2:19 am

    I like that you wrote that “most” people would like to be gifted an experience (with the added bonus of social interaction!!) as in #1. “Most” is not everyone, which you obviously know (otherwise you would have written “everyone”, duh!) 😉 Introverts like me would not appreciate that kind of gift (unless they have actually put it on their wish list!). Hello mental clutter with all the “omg what am I going to do with this” kind of thinking all the while smiling nervously to show how much you appreciate the thought . Pretty, comfy loungewear on the other hand… Now you’re talking!! 😀

    Love your blog by the way!

  4. Alla on January 12, 2015 at 1:45 am

    A gift of the decluttering expert spending an afternoon in their house!

    • Annie on January 12, 2015 at 6:30 pm

      Word. How did I not include that one??

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