Mom and Dad
Scrounge up a copy of your dad’s favorite record when he was your age. Blow up a picture he took in the ‘80s and make a frame to put it in. Does he have any hobbies? Maybe he needs a new camera lens, fishing gear or a part for the car he’s rebuilding. If you’re not sure, ask him about it. If the present idea(s) you come up with end up being too expensive, chat with your siblings and see if they want to pitch in.
Moms tend to be a little easier to buy for than dads, but that isn’t saying much. If your mom loves musicals as much as mine does, then consider buying her tickets to a show (a good present to split with siblings). Moms also usually like presents that look like you’ve been paying at least a little attention to her during your 20-ish years on Earth. So, something in her favorite color, a present to do with one of her hobbies or a book of pictures with a personal message are all great options.
Grandparents
No matter how old you are, your grandparents still want to think of you as a little kid. That’s what’s so great about grandparents … even when you’re 22, they still see you as a 6-year-old. To keep their memories of the baby version of you alive, you can’t go wrong with framing a picture of you and your siblings from 15 years ago. You also can’t go wrong with a nice craft, so try your hand at cross-stitching, making ornaments or painting. If these don’t sound appealing, troll the craft pages on Pinterest for new ideas.
Boyfriend
Boyfriends can be tricky. If his favorite band is touring nearby, consider snagging a couple tickets for a concert. Or, if he has a favorite sports team (within reasonable distance), maybe get seats for a game. If events aren’t his thing, peruse the Eugene Saturday Market’s Holiday Market for something awesomely weird. I have purchased more than one great gift from here. DON’T just buy him stuff. In my experience, boys don’t generally like random things the same way girls do. They won’t know what to do with it.
Girlfriend
Girlfriends can be tricky, too. She wants her mind to be read, but of course this is impossible. Chances are, she’s already hinted at what she wants, (“I saw the cutest sweater on the Urban Outfitters website today”). If you’re still clueless, ask her friends. If they’re also idealess, hand-make a card and get her some jewelry. Remember that it doesn’t have to be expensive at all, it just has to be pretty and thoughtful. Side note: make sure her ears are pierced before buying her earrings. Oh, and if she has a favorite color, take advantage. When all else fails, frame a picture of the two of you and write something cute on the back — it’s cheap and sentimental. DON’T tell her she gets to pick something out at the mall. Eugene has nowhere to shop, and picking out your own present kind of sucks.
For both boyfriends and girlfriends, all of this depends on how long you’ve been dating. So, gift accordingly.
Drunk uncle
The drunk uncle gift is possibly the easiest gift of all. Take note of his favorite beer and indulge him with a six-pack of the good stuff. Bottled, not canned. My drunk uncle likes philosophy. If yours does too, buy him Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell and you’ll be able to spend hours drunkenly discussing the 10,000 Hour Rule together. Oh, the holidays.
Aunt that’s never there
A nice chick flick or the latest Chelsea Handler novel should do the trick. If you aren’t sure what movie to get, “When Harry Met Sally” will allow her to reminisce and talk about the time she saw it in theaters. Also, that movie never gets old.
Evil stepsister
Ideally, you’ll give her the gift of dirty looks from across the dinner table. If you’re trying to be more subtle with your dislike, however, there should probably be something for her to open … something like an ugly Christmas sweater. “I thought of you when I saw this. Red is totally your color!” Obviously, it’s not required to be obnoxious with your evil stepsister gifting. An ugly sweater never hurt anyone, but a Starbucks gift card never did, either.
Annoying younger brother
My younger brother isn’t annoying, but he’s impossible to shop for. I start shopping for him in June because as I said, he’s IMPOSSIBLE, and it’s likely yours is, too. But, if he’s in high school or college, get him a poster or some funky artwork for his room. This is another occasion to take advantage of the Holiday Market. Something else to consider is if there is an outstanding sibling joke to resurrect — my 20-year-old brother will be receiving a Mr. Potato Head this Christmas for that very reason.
If he’s significantly younger, get him something the two of you can enjoy together (movie tickets are always a safe bet) because chances are he misses you. Does he have a favorite sports team or player? Get him a jersey — kid jerseys usually aren’t that expensive.
Older Brother
He probably needs some Duck gear to remind him of what a poor decision not attending UO was. Or to remind him of how great his alma mater is. Either reason works. But head to The Duck Store now and pick something out, because if you wait until the day before winter break to find the perfect Duck-themed present, it doesn’t mean the perfect present will have waited for you.
The drunk uncle guide can apply here, as well. You really can’t go wrong with someone’s favorite beer and a book about how if only you’d spent a few thousand more hours training, you could have been an Olympian.