When it comes to holidays and birthdays, men are notoriously difficult to buy gifts for. Whether the man in your life is your husband, brother, father or a favorite uncle, shopping for the opposite sex usually leads to a lot of head-scratching, hours of online searching and usually a last-minute panic buy.

There is another way, however, instead of leaving him last on your list, start your shopping early this year and find your man something he will love. Not convinced you can crack it before Christmas? Here are ten unusual gift ideas that are guaranteed to put a smile on his face:

Posh Vaping Kit

Ideal for: Those who vape, or anyone who is trying to quit smoking.

Vaping has become incredibly fashionable. What’s more, studies have shown that it’s far better for our health than smoking traditional cigarettes.

If there is a man in your life who’s permanently attached to his vaporizer, why not treat him to a new vaping kit? Mount Baker Vapor sells advanced starter kits that are ideal for the seasoned vaper.

Virtual Reality Headset

Ideal for: technology geeks and gaming enthusiasts.

Invite your man to leave the ordinary world behind and immerse himself in another dimension. VR headsets are changing the future of marketing, healthcare and the gaming industry, so he’ll thank you for letting him ride the trend.

Music Pillow

Ideal for: iPod-lovers and music buffs.

A music pillow is a great gift for those who love to drift off listening to their favorite podcast or playlist. If you know someone who permanently has their headphones in, this could be the choice for them.

Personalized Chopping Board and Knife 

Ideal for: budding chefs.

If your man is a whizz in the kitchen, why not invest in some personalized cooking equipment so he can practice his skills? You never know, he might even offer to cook Christmas dinner.

Beer Subscription

Ideal for: you guessed it, beer lovers.

Sometimes, we must resign ourselves to buying food and drink for those we just cannot find a gift for, but for many people, this is the best gift they could receive. Why not treat your man to a gift that lasts by buying him a beer subscription? There are some great sites around that will send him different craft beers to try every month. Companies like Craft Beer Club search out beers from some of America’s finest breweries every month.

Beard Grooming Kit

Ideal for: anyone who has a beard, or is trying to grow one.

We all know a man with a beard, so why not indulge him in a little pampering and buy him a posh beard grooming kit? You can find some nice-smelling ones that will make him feel great and keep his facial hair in check. Look for kits that include beard balm, moisturizers and some handy trimming scissors so he can refine his look.

You Can Find Him a Gift He Will Love

With so many innovative ideas for gift items for men, you’re bound to find something he will like without having to spend a fortune. Why not avoid the mad rush of the shops this year? Instead, spend some time browsing the web over a glass of wine for the most innovative gifts on the market.

 

We all know a man who pays more attention to their appearance than almost anyone else. Women might have a reputation for caring about their looks, but some men can preen with the best of them. Whether they like to be suave, suited and booted or they prefer a louder, flashier style, there’s no reason they shouldn’t get to work on their appearance as much as anyone else. If there’s a man in your life who loves the finer things available, choosing a gift for them can be intimidating. You don’t want to get it wrong, after all. But there are lots of things you can consider to make him happy.

Smart Tie Pins and Cufflinks

Some men prefer a more buttoned-up style than others. For those suave James Bond types, you can’t go wrong with some sort of accessory they can use for their sharp suits. Even without a suit jacket, a tie pin or a pair of cufflinks can add a stylish edge to an outfit. Plus, they can be full of personality. They don’t have to be plain, with lots of different styles available for modern gents. Whether you get them a tie pin shaped like an arrow or a pair of cufflinks with little mechanical cogs, you’re sure to find something that will finish off his outfit.

Image from Wikimedia

A Watch with Bling

Watches are the ideal accessory for the modern, fashionable man. They come in all sorts of styles, from smartwatches to classic pocket watches. If you know a man who likes things a bit more flash than some, consider going for a watch with a bit of bling to it. Gemstones and shiny accessories aren’t only for women, you know. A stand-out watch can be a great statement piece, especially when it doesn’t have to compete with several other pieces of flashy jewelry. Try a diamond watch from Citizen or another designer brand.

A Pair of Flash Earrings

It’s more common than you might think for men to wear earrings, and even for them to have both ears pierced. While a lot of men only go for one, having both ears pierced means they can double up on the bling. Just like women’s earrings, there’s a huge range of different styles, shapes, and sizes. But if you’re looking for something that’s sure to catch people’s eyes, you can get earrings for men here. You can’t miss a pair of sparkling diamond earrings, especially when there are some flashes of color in them. And they work well with either sharp suit or a more casual look.

Chain Necklaces

Choosing the right necklace for a guy can be hard. You need to get the right style, especially for a man who might not wear necklaces often. Simple chain necklaces can be a popular choice because, even though they don’t seem like much, they come in lots of different styles. You can choose something thin and understated or a chunkier, more attention-grabbing necklace. They can be expensive, solid gold pieces or you can find something more affordable if you’re on a budget. Whether a man is suave or a bit more flash, there’s sure to be a chain necklace for him.

Image from Pixabay

A Pair of Suspenders

Suspenders are a flexible accessory that you can wear casually or formally. Hipster to some and hip-hop to others, they’ve been around for a long time. A man might not need them to hold up his pants (not if they fit properly) but they can make an outfit look pretty sharp. They can be worn with a polo shirt for a more preppy look or with a dress shirt and suit. They can also be used for a super casual look with a pair of jeans – maybe for some country chic! The right pair of suspenders can be a stand-out signature accessory.

Something Colorful

Some men who like to play it cool keep to neutral and safe colors. But for some fashion-forward gentlemen, there’s no point dressing well if you’re not going to try out something riskier. If you know someone who’s happy to experiment with different colors, you should look for something with a strong shade to gift them with. It could be anything from a hat to a shirt. Take a look at a range of colors and think about what you think they could pull off. It could be an electric green or hot pink, or it might be a deep red or sunshine yellow. Consider his personality as well as his style.

Image from Flickr

A Cool Cardigan

You might think that it takes a certain type of man to pull off a cardigan. But, in fact, there’s a cardigan out there for every man. They just need to find the right one – preferably one that doesn’t make them look like a granddad. There are many different styles, so finding the right one could be easy or hard, depending on if you know what you’re doing. Some guys look good in a thin, simple button-down cardigan. Others can rock a chunky knit cardigan and a pair of hip glasses frames. They can look good buttoned up or worn open as an alternative to a sweater.

The Right Pair of Shoes

If you decide you want to buy shoes for someone, you have to be very careful with your choice. Shoes not only need to look good, but they need to be comfortable too. If you know his size, that’s a good start, but some people like to try shoes on before they buy them. There are so many different types of shoes that you need to give some thought to what style could be right for a gift, or even if it’s a risk worth taking. There are formal or more casual styles to explore, including some big trends and brands you might want to take a look at.

A Pair of Shades

Wearing sunglasses in the wrong place at the wrong time can make a guy look like an idiot. But when the sun’s out, they’re the perfect accessory that’s both practical and stylish. They go with anything, from three-piece suits to baseball shorts and t-shirts. If you want to gift a guy a pair of shades, think about what he might wear them with. If you go with a pair that is fairly simple, they can be worn with almost anything. Consider the shape of his face to get the right style of shades. Aviators don’t look good on everyone.

Image from Flickr

A Bag

Ah, the controversial “man bag” or, as some might call it, “bag.” While some men might prefer to only carry what they can fit in their pockets, there’s nothing wrong with a man having a bag. Typically, men’s clothes have bigger pockets than women’s (which often have no pockets at all), so if all they need are their keys and wallet, they’re all set. But sometimes a dude wants to take his tablet, a book or his favorite cologne out with him. When he needs a bit more space, a stylish bag is useful, and it’s extremely easy to find one that doesn’t look like a handbag.

Car Accessories

It’s not just clothes that make the man. A lot of stylish guys care a lot about their car too, so something for their precious motorized baby can also be a good gift. If something to help them keep their car clean and shiny seems a bit boring, you could pick something else to jazz up their car. Retro fluffy dice might be a bit much, but you could consider some in-car gadgets and accessories.

Surprise a stylish guy you know with a great gift, and they’ll look sharper than ever.

Now that the holiday season is behind us we have a full year ahead of other opportunities where gifts may be purchased. Valentine’s day is round the corner, birthdays to think about and then Christmas will be here again before anyone realizes. Many people have someone in their lives who is notoriously difficult to buy for, they may have everything, or just be a little fussy. Whatever the reasons many people will be able to relate to this matter. With that in mind, here are some of the best gift ideas to offer some inspiration in this time of need.

A personalized docking station

Practically everyone these days has a phone and a set of keys to contend with. They may even have items they wear all the time like a watch or a necklace and ring. So a great gift idea is a personalized docking station for all of those things. It provides someone with a place to store those important things that we need with us each day. Plus the station could even be transformed into a charging area. Perfect for a bedside table or the kitchen this could be a unique gift idea that shows thought and consideration for any time of the year.

Image source

Something more unique than a photograph

Giving someone a gift of a photograph is always a nice touch, placing them in frames and editing them up is a great way to do. But some people like to think outside of the box and do things a little different. This is where a custom bobblehead could make the perfect as it takes a personalized gift to a different level. Luckily custom bobbleheads all have 25% off at the moment. Unique gifts can be found online by just doing a little research.

Image source

A gift associated with their favorite drink

Maybe the person loves a particular drink like wine or gin perhaps. Then a gift associated with that could be the way forward. Engraved wine glasses and personalized bottles all make great and alternative gifts for those people who simply have everything.

The latest upgrade of a gadget

It can be hard to think outside of the box when it comes to someone who has everything, so why not look at their existing items? Their smartphone might be due for an upgrade, or they need a new tablet or laptop to name a few items. Sometimes the inspiration is right under your nose.

Image source

Quality time together

The gift of time can often be the most greatly received and appreciated. With busy work schedules and deadlines in daily life, it can be hard to to get quality time with them. So organizing a meal out or time together could be a great gift.

What about something for the home?

Finally, it doesn’t always have to be a gift that is personal to that person. You may find that the perfect option is something to do with home decoration. It might be an ornament or vase for flowers, or it could simply be something that they have had their eye on for some time. People can often think a gift should be for that person, but a gift for the home can be just as much appreciated.

 

Coming up with great gift ideas isn’t always an easy task. It all depends on who you’re buying for, the occasion, and their age. After all, you might be able to find a great toy or games console for a child, but the same gift probably wouldn’t go down too well with a teen or adult. There are a few things you can do to come up with a great gift idea.

Take a look on gift sites that categories their gifts by age. This is a simple way to see what people are buying for people of the same age. Many also categories gifts by occasion, so you can easily see what there is to buy there too.

If you’re buying for a wedding, christening, or another special occasion, you’ll want to buy a special gift to mark it. Most people go with photo frames, personalized items, or even just cash so they can buy whatever they like. Cash might seem impersonal, but many people prefer. This means they can buy something they actually need rather than having something that will gather dust over the years.

If you’re buying for a birthday, Christmas, or even just because you want to, finding gifts can be a little more difficult. It’s always nice to make sure the gifts are thoughtful, so making a note of the person’s likes and dislikes is a good idea. If you’re unsure, maybe try speaking to somebody close to them and see what they say. It can be pretty easy with a little detective work. You can’t usually go wrong with a nice alcoholic beverage for adults. The infographic below explains why scotch can be a great gift!

Infographic Designed By I Love Scotch

During the holiday season, at the end of the semester and school year, it’s become a tradition for a child to part from their teacher with a gift. It can vary from cute handmade gifts to the elaborate. Sometimes they can cost a few dollars and other time’s Mom’s can spend a fair bit of money. Teacher’s gifts can also become a bit of competition for the moms in the schoolyard. Who spent the most money? Who created the most thoughtful gift?

Notebook image sourced.

Whatever the gift may be, I’m sure the teachers appreciate every thought and effort. However, sometimes you can draw a blank on what to get. So here are a few suggestions for you:

Stationery

What teacher doesn’t love stationery? Bright coloured pens, pretty notebooks and wildlife calendars are all wonderful gifts to receive. Stationery is useful in the teacher profession. No one can never have too much stationery. There are some wonderful items available from notebooks with inspiring quotes to pretty floral pens and paper. There will be something to suit any teacher.

Handmade cards and pictures

Sitting children down for an afternoon with paints, glue, stickers and pens will keep them occupied. But the time could be used wisely to create some masterpieces. Anything handmade shows thought and effort and are always well received. Perhaps take it one step further and hunt around Pinterest for some ideas. There are plenty of unique handmade gifts on there like hot chocolate jars and homemade beauty products.

Alcohol

It depends on the type of relationship someone has with their child’s class teacher as to whether this gift is appropriate. It also depends on how well they know them. A bottle of wine or their favourite drink could be a perfect choice. Just make sure it’s handed over by an adult and not left in children’s hands.

Cupcake image sourced.

Food gifts

If someone knows their child’s class teacher well, they may know what their favourite food would be. Special chocolates or creating cute food hampers could be an excellent idea. Again make sure it’s handed over by an adult to avoid little hands helping themselves in the school yard.

Something personalized

From a shopper’s tote bag to a cute teddy bear, something personalized could be a wonderful gift for any child’s teacher this year. These days anything can be personalized, so it doesn’t have to cost more than a few dollars. For example, a key ring that state’s “Best Teacher” and their name would be an excellent idea and won’t cost that much.

An inspirational gift

Inspiring quotes in the form of prints or postcards are a big trend at the moment and could be a thoughtful gift for any teacher. Just finding a nice postcard with some lovely words online and framing it will create a unique gift.

Accessories

Style is a very personal thing, but knowing a child’s class teacher could give anyone a little insight into what they may like. A patterned scarf or a piece of jewelry picked out by the child would be an excellent gift choice. Not everyone will have confidence in buying this type of gift so it could be a little different to anyone else’s.

Good luck in choosing the perfect gift.