This is my thinly-veiled request for Christmas ideas for a bunch of people I need to buy presents for - some of whom I don’t see all that often and know all that well. I thought it’d be handy to have a thread of present ideas that we can all crowd-source off each other. The best ideas are going to be neat stuff that people won’t know exists and won’t have already bought for themselves. I’ll end up getting some people obvious stuff like alcohol and nice chocolates. Those aren’t really he ideas I’m looking for.

I don’t want to make rules, but I think we need a couple:

  1. Let’s at least cap them at $50. Telling people you want a Drone, a Steam Deck or PS5 simply isn’t realistic. I’m not looking for ideas in that price range (even though I’d probably love all these, myself).
  2. Avoid intimate stuff. I’m not talking sex toys (though avoid those too - I’m not buying my sister-in-law a dildo), but more things that are really personal like jewellery, watches and stuff that you need to know the person’s tastes to get right.
  • INHALE_VEGETABLES@aussie.zoneEnglish
    16·
    22 days ago

    If they like plants, get them a voucher from a nursery. Bonus points if you choose a native one.

    Everyone loves plants.

    Also, we all chipped in this year and got your sister a rubber fist.

  • Nath@aussie.zoneOPEnglish
    8·
    22 days ago

    To start things off:

    Bluetooth transmitter: Neat little gadget that you plug into your TV and then transmits audio via Bluetooth. The fancier models broadcast two channels - so two people can listen simultaneously. Great for parents with sleeping kids to get some TV time.

    Microfiber glasses cleaning cloth: If your recipient wears glasses, they’ll have a few of these already. But they’re boring. You can get them with nice pictures (My wife has Starry Night by Vincent Van Gough on hers), or you can even get them with custom photos, but that costs a lot more.

    I’ll add to this as I think of more. 😃

    • Australis13@fedia.io
      2·
      22 days ago

      The only issue with the BT transmitters is potential lag. Some models are shocking (I tried one exactly for the purpose you described, but the audio lag was bad enough that I couldn’t use it).

      • Nath@aussie.zoneOPEnglish
        2·
        20 days ago

        I haven’t tried this unit, so can’t speak first hand on it. It has nearly 500 reviews though and people don’t seem to be complaining about lag. This dude says it’s good for whatever it’s worth.

        The one I have used was at work with a meeting room screen and Teams. I didn’t notice any audio lag, but remote people talking over the Internet are a little janky anyway.

      • GuerillaGorillas@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        21 days ago

        Some TVs are nice and will automatically delay the audio so it syncs up, at least on mine. However it only does that for TV apps, unfortunately.

    • Nath@aussie.zoneOPEnglish
      3·
      22 days ago

      Off to Hammerbarn to get me a husband!

      For reals though, I like this one. Assuming they don’t peel and fade by the end of summer when exposed to the elements.

      • Ilandar@aussie.zoneEnglish
        4·
        21 days ago

        Same, I hope they like it too. This year we have tried doing a bunch of these smaller impulse buys throughout the year instead of buying things later that are more expensive, more serious or have been specifically requested. Trying to bring back a bit of that childlike magic and fun to Christmas gift giving for the older relatives, plus it makes shopping less stressful since we don’t have to do do as much in December or manage our money.

  • Taleya@aussie.zoneEnglish
    6·
    21 days ago

    anyone of an eco bent? Check out skipper or biome or ethique.

    Failing that, quality towels. Everyone mocks until they touch them. ohh they are sinful

    • TimeTravellingMonkey@aussie.zoneEnglish
      2·
      20 days ago

      Try removedatoo, you can order large cans off their website and I use them to refill my smaller bottles, truly superb oil for the price and much better than anything you can get at the supermarket. I pivoted to them after I realised most of the Cobram Estate stuff I’d been getting was severely lacking.

    • Ilandar@aussie.zoneEnglish
      1·
      22 days ago

      Olive oil is a good shout, the prices are pretty rough at some supermarkets now that the specials have dried up.

  • shortwavesurfer@lemmy.zipEnglish
    4·
    22 days ago

    A meshtastic node. The ones you put together yourself can be purchased for like 20 or 30 bucks, but the ones that are assembled already can cost anywhere between about 60 and 100.

    • palitu@aussie.zoneEnglish
      1·
      20 days ago

      What about a LoRaWAN node? Add to the free stuff!

      I gave found the usecase for meshtastic outside of your own large property

      • shortwavesurfer@lemmy.zipEnglish
        2·
        20 days ago

        It really depends on just how many people around you also have mesh-tastic and how high their nodes are because if there’s a good high node or a lot of people you can make some very distant contacts.

        • palitu@aussie.zoneEnglish
          1·
          20 days ago

          Ah yes, I just saw your username! The desire checks out :)

          Unfortunately I have none :(

  • anotherspringchicken@aussie.zoneEnglish
    3·
    21 days ago

    Books or bookshop vouchers, vouchers to places they might not think to go (eg CERES in Melbourne - sorry, can’t think of something in Perth), something regularly used but gourmet (like the olive oil suggestion), tickets to events (like galleries or wine/cheese tasting), an unusual t-shirt or 2 (eg from redbubble, but only if you know their taste well enough)

    Am keeping an eye on this thread for ideas!

  • AA5B@lemmy.worldEnglish
    2·
    22 days ago

    An indoor herb garden. I don’t know if they are just gimmicks but I’ve still been cooking since pandemic and would like to try with fresh herbs more immediately accessible.

    I’m told some groceries sell potted herb plants for close to the price of packaged (so a variation could be cheap) but I’ve never seen that near me

    • Nath@aussie.zoneOPEnglish
      1·
      20 days ago

      I’m sad that you’d call this a gift. My family would come out for free to help - this wouldn’t be considered a gift for us. 😔

      • NaevaTheRat [she/her]@vegantheoryclub.orgEnglish
        2·
        20 days ago

        If people were less busy atm (sister has a 2 year old and 2 one year olds) then probably also true. But it’s the offer that would be meaningful, moreso than some random item that’ll collect dust.