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Shopping for people who don't really love stuff can be frustrating, especially if you kind of love shopping for, buying, having, and giving stuff.
But as someone who seems to know a lot of these practical, non-stuff-loving folks, and has gone through this roller coaster for many holidays, Mother's Days, and birthdays, I've finally cracked the code and figured out what actually works for people like this.
Here are some of my favorite gifts for people who are hard to shop for:
1. A 6-foot charging cable so they can scroll aimlessly at 100% battery.
3. A set of toothpicks that are infused with tea tree oil and mint.
4. A couple of smart plugs.
5. A super-practical reference book that'll serve them for years.
6. A neck, back, and shoulder pillow that relieves muscle pain with heat and four different massage settings.
7. An electric blanket for their car, which would be a godsend for anyone driving to work or school on those cold winter mornings.
8. Or a heated seat cushion for their car or their office chair.
9. A few pairs of cushy and warm socks.
10. Or a pair of compression socks that are perfect for travelers, nurses, athletes, teachers, and/or pregnant folks.
11. A Squatty Potty.
12. A compression eye mask that's a lifesaver for anyone who regularly gets hangovers, headaches, or migraines.
13. A handheld fabric steamer.
14. An umbrella that actually does its job.
15. A hot water bottle to keep them nice and cozy.
16. This absolute UNIT of coconut oil.
17. A set of containers for anyone who's about the leftover lifestyle.
18. An electric toothbrush.
19. A set of reusable produce bags.
21. A set of beeswax wraps.
22. Some good knee pads.
23. A pillow upgrade.
24. A cold brew coffee maker so they can get their icy caffeine fix at home.
Promising review: "I bought this as a gift for my husband's birthday, not really thinking much of it. He’s a coffee enthusiast and honestly I didn’t think this would become a staple in his coffee making, just another coffee gadget. He LOVES this thing. He fills it will ground coffee before bed, adds water and puts it in the fridge. His only complaint is that it can be a little tough to get all the grounds out into the trash, but that’s just a common problem with diffuser filters like this. He also loves that it’s plastic because he can be pretty accident-prone. It’s thick and so far we have not had any warping or discoloration. We hand wash this only, I don’t think I would put it in the dishwasher. Overall, awesomely priced product and great gift for coffee lovers!" –Steph
Get it from Amazon for $27.99+ (available in two sizes and three colors).
For more info, check out our full review of the Takeya cold brew maker!
25. A big ol' battery pack.
26. A set of five reusable stainless steel straws.
27. A deep tissue massage gun to efficiently relieve aches and pains.
28. A super handy wine (and more) stain remover.
29. A set of reusable bags in fun prints to up their grocery game.
30. A silicone colander that'll snap right onto their pots and pans.
31. A rechargeable electric lighter so they never have to spend $$$ on a fueled lighter ever again.
BuzzFeed Shopping editor Emma Lord raves: "This also comes in other pretty colors, but I am especially partial to this one because I bought it for my parents (their kitchen is entirely pink and one of my favorite places on Earth), and this was SO EASY to use — not to mention super safe! I'm a big weenie about fire (lol, self-preservation) so I've always stuck to extended arm gas lighters, but this is much better for the environment (plus cuter), so I feel a lot better about using it."
Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in five colors).
32. Some Swedish dish cloths they can use for all types of kitchen messes.
Promising review: "I originally picked these up to use in lieu of nasty, nasty dishrags that invoke my inner THIS IS NOT CLEAN demon. Since then, I have used them for everything from cleaning the kitchen to wiping up spills. After use, just toss in the wash and they are ready to go again. They are the perfect size and do an excellent job on every task to which I have applied them. They come in a variety of fun prints and I have yet to wear one out. Paper towel usage has taken a real nosedive, which is a good thing given its relative scarcity at present." —sandra simpson-kraft
Get a three-pack from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in 31 prints).
Looking for the perfect gift for any occasion? Check out all of BuzzFeed’s gift guides!
Reviews for this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.