Gift the Unexpected, but Useful, This Holiday Season

By Marissa Burr

When the holiday season comes around–now earlier than ever–we often have to make a list of everyone in our lives that we’re going to be shopping for. That’s the easy part. What’s more difficult is having to come up with ideas for what gifts you should get for them. For those of us who have young adults to think about while shopping, it can sometimes be a challenge to find gifts they’ll love and appreciate. They’re at an in-between stage in their lives where some are in college, others have apartments, families of their own, pets, and a million other things that make them different from another person in the same age group.

As a twenty year old living in an apartment while also attending college, I’ve had a couple of years to think about what I’ll ask for from relatives and friends for the holidays. I have so many things already, and the space that I’m living in isn’t too big, so it would be helpful if the gifts I receive are ones I have space for. In my opinion, the best go-to gifts for people my age are the practical ones; yes, it may sound a little boring and seem impersonal, but this way there’s a guarantee they’ll use it and most likely be more thankful than having just received a gift card to buy “gifts they’ll enjoy.” There’s pressure that comes with a gift card because you don’t want to tell someone that you bought groceries or household items with it, so you’ll spend that money on something you probably don’t need. So for all my shoppers out there, buy the helpful gifts yourself and just add in a personal touch that makes the recipient feel special.

The great thing about this unexpected gift is you don’t even need to know many personal details about that person, so they can be used for new additions to the friend group, the in-laws, or a secret santa gift for work. The magic will come from the presentation and the thought you put in by buying something the person always needs.

Get them "The Laundry Basket."

I’ve included a lot of these items on my own personal Christmas list because of how much I need them and how little I want to actually buy them for myself. The great thing about this gift is that the budget can be as small as twenty-five dollars and you can still get a lot of really great items; make sure you choose a store whose prices match the amount you’d like to spend. These items can be bought at the dollar, grocery, or home essential store.

Start with the title item: the laundry basket. Depending on how many items you’re filling it with, it’s important to take size into account. Target, Five Below, Walmart, and Dollar Tree all have regular sized baskets for only a couple of dollars. The ones I am constantly buying for the apartment are these from Target. Next is something that everyone has to use when doing laundry, no matter how little effort they put into it: detergent. There are so many options nowadays between liquids and pods, so it’s up to the buyers discretion. I prefer pods because it’s less messy, but I use liquid detergent just as much because it’s usually a little cheaper. If the person you’re buying for likes the aesthetics like I do, I suggest these. Add something into the basket for the dryer, whether that’s sheets or balls, though the latter have cuter designs and are much better for the environment. Anything you can do to be eco-friendly during the holidays makes a big difference. Now that you’ve got the basics in your basket, the rest can be up to you. I like adding in the extra items that I use when doing laundry because I know they’ll work well, but if you know that the person has a specific reference then feel free to use that information. Your options can include stain remover, scent boosters, fabric softener, wash bags, and any other items you can think of. Even if you add up everything I’ve linked above, the total only comes to around $55.00 and now the person has a ton of great supplies that they can use for a long time. If you include some ribbon, tissue paper, and a card then the gift is all set, and I guarantee they will be so thankful for it.

No matter what you get someone, they’ll appreciate that you put in the effort to get them anything, but in my personal experience, the best gifts are the ones you least expect but are very much needed. There’s no need for the stigma of getting someone household supplies, cleaning products, or something practical like socks and underwear for the holidays. At the end of the day, be the person that got someone a gift they’ll use until it’s gone or broken, rather than one who got something that will sit on a shelf until next year.