What to get

Sibling

• A favorite toy-An Olaf stuffed animal or Elsa doll would make any “Frozen” fan excited, a Nerf gun is a classic toy that every kid enjoys, and Lego sets bring out the creative side of anyone in the family.
•  A ceramic or glass keepsake-Your sister might love a glass rose, engraved jewelry box, or a delicate butterfly to display in her room whereas your brother might enjoy having a figurine of a guitar or their favorite animal, whether it be a penguin or a turtle.
• Electronic Accessories-A pair of Beats headphones are great for the music junky in your family. A personalized OtterBox case would be perfect for your klutzy younger brother, and a touchscreen stylus is the go-to gift for anyone who wants more precise writing or drawing with a large device such as an iPad or Android tablet.
• Scented Products-For girls, you can get them their favorite perfume from Victoria’s Secret, some Japanese Cherry-blossom lotion from Bath and Body Works, or a WoodWick candle. For the boys, stick to a cologne you know they use every day, whether it be Armani Code or Axe. Nevertheless, it will be a gift your sibling will love and use all the time.
• Gift Card-Gift cards are great gifts to give a sibling because you can get them for almost any store that your sibling spends a lot of money on, whether it be Starbucks, Urban Outfitters, or Target. You put some thought into what you know they’ll like and use, and they’ll appreciate it.

Parents

• Kindle–If you have parents that love reading, a Kindle will be a more portable way to read on the go. You can even add in a gift card so that their first few books are on you! The Kindle Fire even has Wi-Fi access and options to add in apps, movies, TV shows, and more.
• Spa day–Get them a massage and facial on you and show them their appreciated – if you have younger siblings, offer to baby-sit them for free while they have their special day! There are spas for every price range, varying from spas like Spa Soak, to the more expensive Allyu Spa.
• Calendar with photos of your family–This is a cute personalized gift that they’ll use all year – you can even add in special holidays, like relative’s birthday or when family traditions are held. You can make personalized calendars online, at Shutterfly, or even at your local CVS Pharmacy.
• Scrapbook–You can always play it old-school and make a photo album or scrapbook of your favorite memories with your parents and family members so far. Personalized gifts tend to be the best ones, and something they’ll treasure forever. You can make one yourself and get all the materials at Michael’s Craft Store, or go digital and make your scrapbook on websites like Mixbook or Shutterfly.
• Cologne/Perfume Set–Get your parents a set of their signature scent, or even better, gift them a scent that they think they’d like. Flowerbomb by Viktor & Rolf and J’adore by Dior are popular options for your mother, while Acqua Di Gio Pour Homme by Giorgio Armani seems to be a hit for fathers.

Boyfriend

• Boxed set of his favorite TV show–Not all shows are on Netflix – make sure the boxed set you’re planning to get him isn’t on a streaming service he subscribes to either! “Game of Thrones,” “The Simpsons,” and “Chicago Fire” are all viable options. It’ll make him happy and will also be a great thing to watch on days you stay in!
• Ticket to a sports game or concert-Get him a pair of tickets to see his favorite band or favorite team – bonus points if it’s something you’d both enjoy! Take him to a Bulls game, buy him tickets to a Maroon 5 concert, or even invest in season tickets for the Blackhawks.
•  A date – on you!–Take him out to his favorite restaurant and do an activity that he’s been mentioning he wants to do – pay for him and make him feel extra special! Go ice-skating at Millenium Park and then get sushi at a restaurant downtown, like Sunda.
•  A gift basket of his favorite snacks and favorite movies–Find out his favorite chocolates, candies, chips, drinks, and more – put them all together in a cute basket and call it a day. Add in a DVD of his favorite movie or at least a movie that you think he’d like. “Inception,” “Forrest Gump,” and “Django Unchained” are all popular options to make sure you guys can have a date night with all the things he loves.
•  Clothes–Get him a sweater that you think he’d look really cute in – he’ll appreciate the gesture and the fact that you were thinking of him, and you’ll appreciate how handsome he looks. Forever 21, Urban Outfitters, and H&M are great places to look for cheap sweaters, scarves, and pants.

Girlfriend

• Classic Jewelry– You don’t need spend a lot of money in order to get a thoughtful piece of jewelry for your girlfriend. Everyone loves a silver heart necklace or a sweet charm bracelet.
• Concert Tickets– By getting concert tickets, you are showing interest in what they like and organizing a fun event that you will spend together. There are always fun shows around the holidays, such as the Justin Timberlake concert.
• Movie Snack Basket– Getting your girlfriend a few of her favorite movies like “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and “Clueless” and food shows you are planning a sweet date night!
• Poster and mix CD– Find a poster or two of her favorite bands, such as Arcade Fire or the Black Keys, and make her a mix CD of music. This is a classic gift.
• A cool kitchen appliance– A french fry maker, juicer or donut maker are all examples of cool kitchen appliances. These gifts are interesting and fun and you can enjoy them together.

Best Friend

• Matching friend phone cases– You probably can’t afford to buy your best friend that new phone they want, but you can help them protect their current phone with a fun matching case!
• Selfie Mug-Everyone has a favorite picture of them and their best friend, and chances are, it’s a selfie.  Bring your selfie game to another level with a cool mug. They can now take that photo everywhere with a custom thermos.
• Matching sports jerseys-You and your best friend are probably fans of the same team. There is no better way to show your support for you and your best friend’s favorite team by getting matching jerseys to wear to a game! There are tons of cool Chicago teams from the Cubs and the White Sox to the Blackhawks!
• Friendship scrapbook– There are tons of easy ways to make a sweet book filled with your favorite moments from your friendship. You can fill it with everything from photos to ticket stubs. You can buy a scrapbook at a store like Paper Source or order one online.
• A few of their favorite things– Since you probably know your best friend better than anyone, you can easily assemble a basket of some of their favorite stuff. You can get that cute scarf you know they want or their favorite nail polish and candy.  This will show that you really care and take the time to assemble a full basket!

What NOT to get

Sibling

• Underwear or socks-We all need them, but the last thing your sibling wants to open on Christmas morning is a new pair of Hanes socks or Fruit of the Loom underwear. Give them something that’ll light up their faces when they open it.
• Pajamas or Clothes-Pajama sets, jeans, or a Christmas sweater can oftentimes be a bust when it comes to siblings because you might buy the wrong size, pick something that is uncomfortable, or get them something that they think is just plain ugly.
•  Money-Giving money as a gift is just lazy. It’s impersonal and is usually left to the grandparents to give to the kids for Christmas. Don’t be the one person who wasn’t creative enough to come up with a decent gift for their sibling.
• Stocking stuffers-Little things like nail polish, a new pair earrings, and a few Hot Wheel cars aren’t meant to make much of an impression on the sibling, which is why they’re stocking stuffers along with the chocolate reindeer and candy canes.
• Snow globes-This time of year, many stores are advertising snow globes as the perfect gift to buy someone. The Disney Store and Things Remembered have some, and they’re pretty to look at, but are oftentimes overpriced, and the receiver of this gift won’t be able to do anything with it. You want to get something useful, but still fun for your sibling to enjoy.

Parents

• Digital Frame–The truth is, they probably won’t plug it in that often or really know how to use or update it. It’s just something that they wouldn’t get as much use out of as you would like. Stay away from this aisle at Best Buy and look at the Kindles or iPads instead.
•  Clothes–Your parents have their own style, and what you think they should wear doesn’t always coincide with what they want to wear. You run the risk of getting them something they’d actually hate but only wear to please you – you might not know it yet, but your dad doesn’t actually need an 8^th ugly Christmas sweater – even if you found it on sale at Urban Outfitters.
• Candles–If your parents are the type of people who like candles, chances are that they have more than they can burn anyway – don’t add on to the clutter! Stay away from the temptation to get them Bath and Body Works candles, even when they’re on sale for 2 for $20.
•  Shoes–Shoes are weird – you never know if it’ll fit the size that it claims, or even if it’s something that either of your parents would like to wear. Even if they look like the warmest pair of Uggs in the world, it’s probably better to stay safe and steer clear of these.
•  Small Kitchen/Bath Accessories–Your mom doesn’t need another pair of snowman-themed oven-mitts, and she also doesn’t need to accessorize her bathroom with another set of blue bath towels. Spare her having to put on a fake smile when she receives a present that you actually didn’t get for her, and instead for your house, and get her something that’s actually thoughtful instead.

Boyfriend

• Ostrich Pillow–He’ll have an escape for when you’re in a bad mood and don’t feel like explaining why you’re crying over the latest episodes of “Grey’s Anatomy” – you’ll have a great Instagram post for when he can’t see you taking photos of him looking ridiculous. You will both be annoyed anyway.
•  Gag Gifts–They’ll be funny for a week but soon enough, you’ll find your present shoved in the back of his closet, along with your pride. Also, all bacon themed packages and whoopee cushions are a no-go. They aren’t as funny as you think – stop giving Hot Topic business.
•  Self-Improvement Gifts–Diet cookbooks like “The Eat-Clean Diet for Men” and exercise equipment he hasn’t asked for will probably just have the opposite effect and bruise his ego. P-90X won’t make him the super buff boyfriend that you’ve always dreamed of until he wants to be the super buff boyfriend you’ve always dreamed of.
•  Gift card–Although they aren’t bad gifts, it just makes it look like you don’t care and couldn’t bother with making an effort. You don’t remember who got you the gift card to Best Buy or the Apple store, you remember who got you the gift that you’ve wanted for the whole year. Don’t run the risk of seeming nonchalant, and get him something that you at least think he’ll love.
• “I love you” wall hangings–Christmas is about getting him something that he’ll enjoy – not about proving how compatible you two are as a couple. It might be okay for an anniversary or for Valentine’s Day, but try to make his Christmas present mostly about him, instead of about both of you. Cute paintings that you bought off of Etsy that says “I love you” in 26 different languages is probably pushing it – especially if you have only been dating for a week.

Girlfriend

• A gift card– This is the most impersonal gift of all time. Even if you chose her favorite store, it shows a lack of effort and creativity.
• Shoes– Shoes are a slippery slope because you can never really know what Steve Madden heels or Converse sneakers they have hidden at the back of their closet.
• Flowers and nothing else– Red roses or tulips are a super sweet gift but alone, they show a lack of imagination and thoughtfulness.
• Chocolate and nothing else– Unless your girlfriend has an emotional attachment to Godiva chocolate, no one wants to receive a Hershey bar for Christmas. Try to think outside the box!
• Frozen related gifts– “Frozen” is over a year old and most of this gift ideas are overdone. Everyone probably owns the soundtrack or that Elsa backpack.

Best Friend

• A board game– Unless it is Cards Against Humanity, chances are your best friend already owns Clue or Sorry. This type of gift looks like something that you threw together after glancing around your house. You can just invite him/her over next time you have a hankering for a game night.
• Dollar store gifts– It can be fun to create a bag of fun stuff for your best friend but if they are really your best friend, you don’t want to buy them silly string and a cheap candle. No one is saying that you have to go crazy but there are a lot of more thoughtful and inexpensive gifts.
• Best Friend necklaces– Now that we are in high school, we can move beyond the need to literally be able to attach to your best friend. Subtle matching jewelry can be cute, but the glitter coated hearts are a definite no. Within the same vein, definitely no yin and yang necklaces. That is beyond cheesy.
• Food– You and your friend spend probably a lot of time going out to eat if you are in anyway normal. By buying your friend some Chipotle or Potbelly, you aren’t taking or energy to get creative and get an original gift. If your best friend is food obsessed, try a basket full of their favorite items.
• Hand-me-down gifts– There is no better way to make someone feel bad about themselves than by giving them that cheap pair of socks that your great aunt got you. If this person is truly your best friend, you shouldn’t just pick up an old book off your floor. If you need more time to get a thoughtful gift, tell your friend and they will surely understand.