Gift Guide: For Acquaintances and People You Don’t Know Well

This is always the hardest category for gift giving! Whether it’s a new significant other in the family, a relative you haven’t spent much time for, or a gift exchange, you may find yourself in a position of needing to think up a gift idea for someone that you don’t really know what they’re into.

Here are some ideas:

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I love the idea of giving something that you have and love, like a luxurious hand cream or your favorite eyeshadow palette. Another great option is to give your favorite cookbook. You can personalize it a bit by marking off your favorite recipes or making any recipe notes the recipient may want to know. Simple, crowd-pleasing gift options include mugs, candles, and a festive notepad.

If you want to give something a little more personal and show a lot of thought, you could fill a cookie jar with your favorite seasonal cookie or create a “movie night at home” kit in a popcorn bowl.

Other gift ideas:

  • You could throw a Starbucks gift card inside a pretty mug
  • Put together a small “favorite things” gift – a lip balm, a pair of earrings, and a mini candle
  • A gift card to a local restaurant or delivery service
  • If the recipient has kids that you’ve spent some time with, you could offer to babysit

Hi there!

Lauren Bown Lifestyle Blog is an online destination where I share my personal style, beauty finds, and bits of life in hopes to inspire other women to feel good in their skin and find the beauty in the ordinary.

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3 Comments

  1. 11.12.20
    Michele said:

    This is great! I’m a teacher and my district was just restructured, shifting a ton of people between buildings and filling my building up with people I don’t know. This will be very helpful come Secret Santa time!

    I also keep a list of random things I notice about work acquaintances so that if I were to pick them for Secret Santa, I know what to get them. It makes me weird, but also makes me real popular come holidays when someone pulls the name of a person they don’t know well;)

    I am such a sucker for lists like these, by the way:)

    • 11.12.20
      Lauren said:

      Great idea of the list! I’m pretty sure everyone appreciates your thoughtfulness!

  2. 11.13.20
    Suzan J said:

    This was so helpful! I love the cutting board – both chic and useful!

    XO
    https://www.suzanj.com