Choosing the right holiday gift for everyone on your list is rarely easy. That’s why we created this holiday gift guide to help you with all your gift-giving needs. Whether you’re searching for Christmas gifts, Hanukkah gifts, birthday gifts, hostess gifts or gifts for any other occasion, we can help you save money and avoid common gift-giving mistakes. Here are all of our best holiday gift ideas, designed to help you become a gift-giving guru. If there’s a gift related topic you’d like us to tackle, send us an e-mail and we’ll be glad to give you some tips.

Inspired Gift Giving - How to Choose Fun, Unexpected Holiday Gifts
How to Buy a Gift for the Man Who Has Everything
How to Choose Gifts for People You Don't Know Well
Guilt-free Green Gifting
Top 10 Last Minute Gift Ideas
Top 10 Holiday Gift-Giving Mistakes
Creative Gift Wrapping Ideas

Some men seem impossible to shop for. It’s hard to tell what they’ll like and dislike, and everything they want, they just go out and buy for themselves. Music, movies, gadgets, sporting equipment – you name it, they’ve already got it. So how do you shop for the man who has everything? Here are our top tips to help select holiday gifts for men – they might just help you choose something that’ll surprise him with how cool and unexpected it is.

Beat him to the punch. Listen carefully for references to stuff he wants or likes. If you can grab it before he does, it’ll be a major gift-giving triumph.

One-up him. Look for things he has around his home, office or vehicle that could be updated with something cooler and more interesting. He might not realize that there’s a new version of an old favorite, and he’ll be surprised you managed to out-do him. Keep on top of new items coming out that you think he’d be interested in. Check catalogs and the ‘new arrivals’ section on retail websites. Even the most tech-savvy guy won’t be aware of every new product being released in his areas of interest.

Think one-of-a-kind. Collectible artwork, signed first editions, vintage sports memorabilia and other items that are hard to track down make unique, exceptional gifts. Start scoping out online auction sites and flea markets well ahead of the holidays for the best selection.

Barbecue-related items are nearly always a home run. Most guys love a good cookout and would by psyched to get a nice set of tools, a portable grill for tailgating, a nice looking party cooler and other items to make their BBQs more fun and convenient.

Consider making a donation in his name to a charitable organization. This is a great gift idea for anyone who simply doesn’t need any more stuff. Choose a cause that means something special to him.

If all else fails, there’s always gift certificates. It may not be the most original idea in the world, but they can be life savers if you’ve put off your holiday shopping for a bit too long. See ‘Top 10 Last Minute Holiday Gift Ideas’ for other options.

Mail carriers, teachers, hairdressers, doormen and dog walkers have a secret in a dark closet or cupboard in their homes. World’s Greatest Whatever mugs, popcorn tins, boxes of cookies that might as well be made of cardboard and baskets full of nuts, jars of mint jelly and preternaturally preserved tins of meat sit in dusty silence, exposed to light and fresh air once every December when new items are added to their midst.

They are the kind of people for whom you buy generic, ‘I don’t really know you’ gifts each year, and they want you to put down that catalog. You know the one we’re talking about. Whether it arrived unbidden in your mailbox or your child brought it home from school for a fundraising event, you’ve leafed through it and thought, ‘I could get that for little Molly’s babysitter. Everybody likes Santa-shaped dish soap cozies, right?’

Why not spend your money on things they might actually – gasp – use? Here are some fresh ideas that can help you show your appreciation to anyone on your holiday gift list.

Choose something that anyone can use. Everyday items with a cool twist, whether it’s a designer look or a unique extra feature, are welcomed by practically everyone. Some ideas include an emergency hand-crank radio, a stadium blanket, an insulated travel beverage set or a small desktop fountain with built-in lights.

Gift baskets are great if chosen well. Skip the generic ones and choose high quality gourmet picnic gift baskets instead. Picnic gift baskets come with a selection of gourmet food items such as chocolate, Italian cheeses or margarita mix along with a set of picnic items like tableware and cloth napkins. Everything is placed in a beautiful picnic basket that can be re-used for years to come.

Think about giving gift cards or cash tips. It’s customary in some areas to give cash tips to people in the service industry during the holidays, and they may prefer it to receiving a material gift. If you don’t feel comfortable giving cash, a gift card is a thoughtful option.

Ask about having a voluntary ‘Secret Santa’ party at work instead of giving gifts to all your co-workers. Chances are, everyone will be relieved that they can cross that many more people off their list.

Sometimes a card is enough. You don’t necessarily have to give gifts to everyone you know. If you’ve got a really long list, consider paring down your gift-giving routine. A card expressing your appreciation for everything they do for you is often sufficient.

Whether you’re new to eco-friendly products or have been using them for years, giving them to others as holiday gifts is a great way to spread the word about living a more environmentally responsible lifestyle. Blankets, clothing items, home décor, kitchen accessories and other eco-friendly products make great gifts whether the recipient is familiar with the ‘green living’ cause or not.

The best way to give gifts with an eco-friendly spin is to choose items that will help the recipient see how far green goods have really come – not gifts that come off as preachy. Even though you might be eco-savvy and well aware of the fact that environmentally friendly items are no longer ugly, brown, scratchy, and reminiscent of the 1970’s, many other people still think of them that way. Change their minds without giving them a lecture. Here are some eco-friendly gift giving tips that can help you out this holiday season.

Avoid the kind of stuff that would give them a reason to say that eco-friendly isn’t stylish or comfortable. Look for items that will surprise the recipient with how beautiful, soft, practical and high quality they are.

Don’t give them a book on living green if they haven’t expressed any interest in learning about it – it’ll likely come off as pushy and presumptuous. Instead, give them something they can really use.

Choose items that are undyed, chemical free, made of recycled or rapidly renewable materials and/or fairly traded. Tell the recipient about these special qualities when you give them the gift. They may be surprised to find out, for example, that a shiny new-looking item was made from recycled tires.

Consider the power requirements of any gift you give out this season. When possible choose hand-cranked, solar-powered or rechargeable battery-powered items. Conventional batteries have short life spans and pollute landfills with dangerous chemicals. Giving a rechargeable battery set along with a battery powered gift is a great solution.

Choose high quality items that will have a long life span. Superior craftsmanship and durable materials mean the item won’t need to be replaced as quickly.

Avoid gifts that come with excessive packaging. Instead of buying an action figure that comes in a plastic blister pack, choose a stuffed animal and put it in a fabric bag or simply tie a bow around it.

Hand made items make thoughtful and unique gifts, particularly those made by artists and craftsmen in your area. Buying hand crafted gifts is a great way to support the arts as well as your local economy.

Buy your gifts from responsible retailers that care about the environment. Eco-friendly retailers like Specialty Living have made a commitment to being green so you can feel good knowing your gift has used fewer resources along the way than gifts purchased from conventional stores.

Many procrastinators find themselves at a discount chain store the day before a holiday desperately hoping to find an appropriate gift among the paltry selection that remains on the shelves. You don’t have to resort to buying anything you can find just for the sake of giving a gift. Here are our top 10 last minute gift ideas for Christmas or any other holiday.

1. Gift Card or Certificate - By far, the most popular option for the last minute gift is the gift card or gift certificate, which allows the recipient to choose whatever they want. The hard part is choosing a store where the recipient can actually find something that fits their needs and tastes. Stores that offer a wide variety of items for various personality types are always a good choice. (See our e-gift certificates available on KineticFountains.com, PicnicFun.com and SpecialtyLiving.com.)
   
2. Gift Basket - Gift baskets are great, but can be tricky. Avoid the generic dried-out-sausage-log and assorted-mystery-jellies baskets. They practically scream ‘I had no idea what to get you’. Consider the recipient’s personality. Do they drink a lot of coffee? Are they really into Italian food or wine? You can find high quality gift baskets with gourmet contents that will get eaten, not shoved into the back of the pantry. Many gift baskets can be purchased online and sent directly to your recipient on short notice. Check out our selection here.
3. Wine or Champagne - Packaged in a nice wine tote or just wrapped in tissue paper tied with a ribbon, a bottle of wine or champagne is an elegant gift appropriate for any occasion. You won’t go wrong showing up at a holiday party with one in your hand for the host. A good guideline for giving wine is to choose a well known variety like Chianti, merlot, or chardonnay; it should be priced at the mid to higher end of the selection available at the grocery store.
4. Tickets to an Event - Tickets to a special production, concert or sporting event, chosen based on the recipient’s personality, can be a really fun and unexpected gift that they’ll remember for a long time. Check with your local event venues for schedules to see if there’s anything you think your recipient would be interested in.
5. Quick-ship Items from Online Stores - It’s five days before Christmas and you haven’t bought anything for your sister who lives across the country. What options do you have left? The stores are running low on everything, the post office is a madhouse and you assume it’s too late to buy anything online. On the last count, at least, you’re wrong. Some online retailers have ‘quick ship’ sections full of items that can be shipped the same day you make a purchase. Combine that convenience with expedited shipping, and you can send a last minute gift anywhere in the country without ever leaving your house. Check out our selection of water fountains, eco-friendly goods, home and garden items, picnic baskets and outdoor adventure gear.
6. Magazine or Movie Subscription - Purchase a subscription in the recipient’s name to a magazine you think they’d like, or to an online movie rental service. It’s a gift they’ll enjoy for a year or more. Keep in mind that magazine subscriptions can take up to 8 weeks to begin arriving; you may want to wrap up the current copy of the magazine you’re giving them and let them know there are more on the way. Most online movie rental companies will ship out the recipient’s selections as soon as he or she goes online and starts a queue.
7. The Nicely Wrapped Practical Gift - Pre-made kits for herb gardens, car care, and other items with practical, every day uses can make thoughtful gifts. Consider things like spa gift sets, laptop cases, jewelry organizers or even the unexpected like an emergency hand-crank radio or a high end wine bottle opener. Our all natural starter kits for cleaning, personal care, baby care, dog care and cat care are also great choices.
8. Potted Flowers - Potted flowers are a nice option since they’ll add a touch of color and liveliness to the recipient’s home during the winter holidays, and won’t die quickly like cut flowers. Choose unusual varieties like orchids or lilies in nice looking pots, or re-pot them yourself. A bow tied around the pot is all the gift wrap you need.
9. Regional Specialties - For recipients that live outside your area, consider giving them something your region is known for. Many local areas have at least one item produced locally that represents the culture and history of the community. Wine, beer, cider, jam, wood crafts, ceramics and glasswork are just a few ideas.
10. Charitable Contribution - Make a donation to a charity close to the recipient's heart in his or her name. There are virtually thousands to choose from that benefit causes such as animal protection, hunger, literacy, the disabled, cancer, AIDS, senior citizens, women's rights, the environment, homelessness and many more. Check the reputation of a charity before you donate - websites like CharityWatch.org are a good place to start.
    

Nobody wants to spend their hard-earned money on holiday gifts for friends and family only for said gifts to end up on eBay in January. You may not realize that the items you purchase are incredibly inappropriate or potentially embarrassing, but the damage will be done nonetheless. Here are the top 10 holiday gift-giving mistakes, and how you can avoid them.

1. Getting too personal. It’s rarely a good idea to buy even your wife a negligee, let alone your boss. The same goes for hair removal tools and anything relating to bodily functions.
2. Hours of assembly required. Christmas morning mimosas and egg nog + Cousin Fred + 10 bags full of random parts = a lot of foul language in front of the family on a really inappropriate day. You and Cousin Fred will be apologizing to Grandma for years.
3. Stuff that won’t function without buying more stuff. Unless you want to buy all the accessories that go with it, leave the complicated doo-dad buying to others.
4. Kids’ toys that the parents will want to chuck out the car window on the highway. Don’t be the well-meaning aunt that gives little Billy a fire truck with a blaring siren and bright flashing lights unless you want your sibling to come over to your house and bang cymbals in your face first thing in the morning as payback.
5. Giving acquaintances inappropriately pricey gifts. Your hairdresser is going to feel really awkward if you give her a $300 iPod, especially if she hasn’t gotten anything for you. For better ideas see “The Best Gifts for Co-Workers, Your Mail Carrier, and Other People You Don't Know That Well”.
6. Collectibles that they don’t really want to collect. Just because you spot various bird-related items in their home doesn’t mean they want a house full of bird-related everything. Similarly, don’t buy experts items related to their field of work. Chances are, they’ve either already got it or have no use for it.
7. Clothing. Most people have a hard time picking out clothing for themselves, so don’t assume you know just what they would want. Even if it’s something that looks perfect for them, it might not fit well (and please, never ask them to go try it on and model it for you). Go with a gift card instead.
8. Gag gifts. You may as well light that $20 on fire and flush it down the toilet. Novelty gifts might be funny for a few minutes, but they get old quickly. It’s bound to end up on a table at a garage sale a few months down the line with a $0.99 cent sticker on it.
9. Suggestive items. Don’t give your wife a gym membership or your teenage daughter a tub of acne spackle – it’s the stuff therapy bills are made of. Gifts that highlight a potentially embarrassing characteristic are never a good idea, especially if the recipient opens it in front of a group.
10. Buying things just because they’re on sale. Some people find it hard to pass up a good bargain, but think about whether that money will really be well spent. The drugstore may be having a 75% off sale on Styrofoam boogie boards and sand castle toys, but they won’t do your kids much good if you live in Kansas.

Need better ideas? Cross these ones right off your list and check out ‘Inspired Gift Giving – How to Choose Fun, Unexpected Gifts’.

You could buy the standard printed holiday gift wrap and metallic bows from the store – or, you could create your own original gift wrap that looks artistic and beautiful. You don’t have to be ultra-crafty to wrap gifts that look like they belong on a magazine cover. Here are some great money-saving gift wrap ideas, eco-friendly gift wrap ideas and hand made gift wrap ideas to use this holiday season and throughout the year.

Decorate gift bags scrapbook style. Use a solid colored paper gift bag and some holiday-themed scrapbook ephemera. Start by gluing or taping down a piece of art paper; layer the scrapbook materials on top of it. Keep it simple; don’t make it busy with a lot of sparkly accents and too many patterns.

Use baskets or reusable fabric bags instead of disposable gift wrap. You can often find them for even less than you’d pay for gift wrap – check thrift stores. You can spray paint baskets and thread them with ribbon to give them a whole new look.

Decoupage a wooden box for a keepsake container they’ll love just as much as the gift inside. ‘Decoupage’ is a form of decoration in which clippings of art, photos, decorative paper and other flat accents are glued to a surface and varnished over with a special kind of glue that you can purchase at any craft store.

Make your own cloth bag with a decorative dish towel, scarf, receiving blanket, or other piece of fabric. This works especially well for items that are difficult to wrap due to their shape. Lay the fabric out, place the item on top and gather the ends of the fabric up to cover the gift. Tie with ribbon.

Create a simple, Zen look by wrapping gifts in Japanese rice paper. Tie a black, white or ‘natural’ ribbon or raffia around the gift and insert a small sprig of bamboo into the knot.

Use art paper instead of wrapping paper to make a bold, graphic statement. Art paper often comes in patterns and shades that are hard to find in regular gift wrap, so you can achieve more creative results.

Decorate wrapped gifts with nature. Use evergreen branches, pine cones, holly sprigs and other elements found outdoors for a totally free, great-looking accent.

Recycle paper items you already have. Use old maps, newspapers, calendars, coloring books and other paper items for a unique look.

Mix colors and patterns: Wrap a gift with solid colored wrapping paper and create a fabric or paper ‘runner’ to go down the center. Use complementary colors and tie a ribbon around the runner for more interest.

Attach small toys to the ribbon on gifts for children. You can use dollar store toy cars, dolls, or key chains. The quarter machines located in the front of many grocery and discount stores are a great source for these kinds of items.