25 affordable family gifts for impossible-to-buy-for relatives

Most bottle openers are relegated to a life inside a drawer–but not this one! Like a functional little sculpture, this gravity-defying bird-shaped top popper balances perfectly on its perch when not in use. And it truly looks just as chic on a bookshelf as it does a bar cart.

I’m sorry. Kitschy vases > kitschy mugs. Ban.do’s Newspaper Vase punches up any flower arrangement and brings an extra dash of sweetness with its cheery crossword solutions of “friends”, “joy”, “optimism” and “smile”.

From camping trips to parking lot tailgates, this set of four stainless steel shot glasses and carrying case easily goes anywhere they want to take it. (And they’re pretty much built to survive an apocalypse.)

With all my baking, movie-binging and online puzzle-playing, my tablet and I have gotten unexpectedly close these past couple years…in a way that’s probably not great for my posture or my neck. That’s why this sleek and stylish tablet stand is a perfect gift for anyone else in your family who’s been having a lot of quality time with their iPad: It’s got eleventy thousand everyday applications but it still feels luxurious enough to give as a present.

Even if they’re puzzle obsessed, I guarantee they don’t have a puzzle like this one. The 1000 piece Magic Puzzles are packed with dozens of find and seek scenes and when you think you’re done, think again! Inside a second envelope is a smaller puzzle that makes for a twist ending. (Just be sure to leave plenty of table space to unfold the magic.) There are several titles to choose from, but The Mystic Maze is still my personal favorite. The scene is fun and whimsical and it’s just challenging enough.

Ok, so we realize no one needs more to argue about, but how about a little healthy debate on low stakes topics like is Die Hard a Christmas movie? (Unequivocally, yes.) More iconic Christmas tree. Charlie Brown or Rockefeller Center? (Charlie Brown, duh.) Be prepared to disown at least one of your loved ones.

Delectable bite-sized “tea cookies” from a small, woman-owned Brooklyn bake shop have been my go-to gift for years. Each cookie in the One Girl Cookies Classic Tea Cookie Collection is named for a long-ago relative (or at least, they sound like they are) and is absolutely delicious, from the hazelnut with cinnamon chocolate ganache to the oat cookie with crystallized ginger.

You love edible gifts. You have no baking or candy-making skills. You also do not have the PhD in Pinterest required to make “cookie dough mixes” or “hot chocolate mixes” look like anything other than what they are, which is a bunch of powder in a plastic baggie. Here is your solution: a beautifully packaged set of toothsome chocolates made by a small confectioner in Philadelphia. Special, affordable, tasty. Done.

If they love design as much as they love wine, the industrial glass bottle stoppers from Brooklyn-based Fort Standard are like a functional objet d’ art.

Instantly elevate their pizza nights with Brightland’s obsession-worthy Pizza Oil. The slightly spicy, herbaceous oil zhuzhs up everything from their regular pie to their morning eggs. We’re kind of addicted.

I love old-school, vintage-y holiday decorations, and The Vermont Country Store always comes through with holiday knick knacks I could swear I saw last at my grandmother’s house. This charming hand-painted ceramic tree makes a cute present: all the festive flair, none of the guilt of buying yet more festive flair for yourself.

A little ugly, a little chunky, a little cozy…like your favorite sweater, or your elementary school art teacher, and destined to be just as beloved. Picture your gift recipient on a wintry morning cupping a hot bevvie in this handmade handwarmer mug, and you already feel a little bit like a benevolent elf, right? And for us left-handed coffee addicts, there’s basically nothing more exciting than a left-handed mug designed just for us.

Each library card-inspired tote bag purchased helps support literacy programs for communities in need, so this gift will please the book lovers in your family while also giving back. And if you or your intended recipient aren’t old enough to remember actual library cards, consider this one a throwback gift, like, you know, concert or movie tickets. Or a dinner party.

I admit that even when I (finally) became a grownup, with non-IKEA furniture I actually wanted to protect from damage, I never really “got” coasters…until someone gave me a set of coasters that I like a lot, and now I use them all the time.

As plastic bags have fallen out of favor, reusable totes that pack up small and light have proliferated, and Loqi makes some of the very best. Sturdy, machine-washable and designed to hold over 40 pounds of stuff—while still lightweight enough to pack up into a small 4-inch-by-4-inch zipped square—they come in a variety of cool modern designs. This is the very definition of a practical, helpful, affordable gift that will be used and reused until it literally disintegrates.

There’s nothing more priceless than the gift of connection. Like a more refined (and grown up) version of Truth of Dare, this clever deck of cards from Alleyoop is made up of 100 bond-inducing prompts that are either questions or actions. Whether you’re playing with people you’ve known for decades or only recently met, be prepared for hilarity, insight and fresh perspectives.

Coffee itself is nice, but if you really want to give them an unexpected treat, the pure vanilla paste from Heilala is the key ingredient in the most amazing vanilla latte ever. Just add a tiny bit along with milk, mix with a frother and they might even delete the Starbuck’s app before they finish.

Artwork always makes a stellar gift and there’s obviously plenty out there to choose from. For holiday gift-giving, we love this colorful Rifle Paper Co. print that’s sure to become part of their annual decor.

What’s sweeter than the gift of maple syrup? How about sparkly maple syrup? Turn any breakfast into a David Bowie approved spread. Mixed with pearlescent food-grade mica, the all-natural Vermont maple syrup from Runamok Maple is a treat that is sure to delight the entire crew.

Take away the complicated scoring and unwieldy board aspects of Scrabble and you get portable, fun and easy-to-play Bananagrams. Whether playing with kiddos who are just learning to spell or fellow word-nerds like myself, it’s a family hit!

Make their next family movie night healthy and delicious with this clever silicone popcorn popping bowl. Unlike air poppers which take up more than their fair share of space, this collapsible bowl acts as the popper and the serving bowl. Just drop in some kernels and microwave!

If their love of peanut butter is equal to their frustration at leaving any trace in the jar, this is the gift to give. Part spoon, part spatula it gets in there to get the job done lickety-split.

Pencils may not seem like the most exciting gift, but hear me out. The super cool eco-friendly pencils from Sprout are more than just a way to jot down notes. The green tip is actually a seed capsule! When the pencil is too small to use anymore, just stick it in a pot with soil and watch it come to life. This particular pack includes one of each of the following: sage, thyme, carnation, chia, coriander, daisy, forget-me-not and basil.

No one needs another complicated, oversized water bottle. Instead, the minimalist but hyper-functional Stainless Steel Cold Cup from Created lets them hydrate without the hassle. They’ve become my round-the-clock vessel of choice for everything from smoothies to wine walks (don’t judge me, they come in smaller sizes!) and keep drinks cold like a champ. The top never gets grimy, it’s survived several drops with no dings and it fits in every car holder. Basically, it’s beverage delivery perfection.