Friendship is a wonderful thing. It’s like a garden that flourishes with time, care, and just the right amount of shared laughter. If you have a new friend, you are in the exciting initial stage of nurturing that budding relationship. A birthday is a great opportunity to express to your new friend that you value their presence in your life. But, let’s face it, finding the perfect gift is comparable to doing the salsa while juggling flaming swords – challenging and potentially perilous – but fear not! I have surfed the online shopping waves, braved the department store stampedes, and emerged victorious with 35 unique gift suggestions, each with its very own short write-up.
The key to finding a great gift is not just about the money you shell out, it’s about understanding their likes, interests, the quirks that make them them. It’s about attentiveness. With that said, our vulnerability is exposed during the process. What if they hate it? What if they’re allergic to it? What if it’s the gift equivalent of a dad joke and they’re simply too polite to let on that it’s screeching at their sense of style? With this guide at your side, prepare to surf the shopping waves like a pro.
I’ve included options for every nook and cranny of this friendship maze. Whether they’re a foodie with a squeaky clean kitchen or a fashion-forward fellow who spends more time in the closet than any monster, there’s a gift in here with their virtual name on it. So no more gift buying anxiety, instead grab a cup of that comforting beverage and settle in. The journey of a thousand gifts begins with one click.
1. Kindle Paperwhite: Readers rejoice! With this waterproof, high resolution, adjustable-light device, your friend can carry a library in their pocket. Downside? You risk turning them into a reclusive bookworm. Upside? They’ll love you for it.
2. Scratch Map: For that friend who gets restless when they’re home too long, this map will let them flaunt their traveller status. Just make sure they don’t scratch off Pisa if they only saw it in passing at the airport.
3. Movie Subscription: Whether it’s Netflix, Hulu, or Disney+, a year’s subscription is a perfect gift for your binge-watching companion. But beware, you might be assisting in a dangerously addictive hobby!
4. Personalized Phone Case: This one’s for the Instagram addicts. A personalized phone case can scream ‘stylish’ and ‘thoughtful’ at the same time. Yes, it’s possible.
5. Air Fryer: For the health conscious, this little kitchen gadget will make them swoon with cooking glee. Only downside? Their Instagram might become swarmed with endless posts of home-cooked meals.
6. Live Streaming Classes: A certificate for a yoga, painting, or cooking class can spark new passions, or fan the flames of existing ones.
7. Fondue Set: Delicious, social, nostalgic… a fondue set is a gift that any cheese or chocolate fan will struggle to resist!
8. Astrology Book: For the friend into cosmic energy and star alignments, an astrology book can provide hours of enlightening fun. Just don’t let them start blaming their late-night texting habit on Mercury retrograde.
9. Succulent Plant Mix: Cute, small, and hardest-to-kill. Your friend can adorn their desk or room, infusing a touch of green. Only problem? They might eventually need a greenhouse.
10. Wireless Bluetooth Speakers: For the audiophile, this is heaven in a small package. Their jam sessions might turn a bit louder, though.
11. Reusable Shopping Bags: Fashionable and eco-friendly! Just remind them not to leave it in the car or their apartment when they go shopping.
12. Gourmet Coffee Sampler: Jaguars may run on leg-power, but humans run on caffeine. A coffee sampler is for the friend who’s serious about their brew.
13. Instant Camera: This is for those nostalgic souls that dream about the ‘good old days’. Help them create memories, just remind them it doesn’t come with a ‘delete’ option like their iPhone.
14. Cheese Board Set: Classy, fancy, and a little cheesy. This gift is perfect for the friend who is always hosting.
15. PopSockets: A small, inexpensive, and surprisingly useful gift that will surely have them poppin’.
16. AirPods: They can groove to their tunes or answer calls on the go. And the best part, no more tangled earphone cables!
17. Portable Charger: We all strive to stay connected. This portable life-saver can rescue them from a dead phone disaster.
18. Candle Making Kit: It’s relaxing and comes with the added benefit of infusing their space with a scent that’s unique, just like them.
19. Personalized Name Necklace: Beautiful, delicate, and just the right blend of personal and stylish.
20. Essential Oil Diffuser: For those friends whose life motto is “inhale the good stuff, exhale the bad stuff.” Just make sure they don’t start using it as their personal perfume.
21. Yoga Mat: For the yogi friend who’s more flexible than a Russian gymnast. Just don’t try and compete unless you’re fine embarrassing yourself!
22. Charcoal Grill: Future BBQs will be on them! Just don’t forget to invite me when they fire it up!
23. Personalized Socks: Because nothing says friends like having each other’s faces on your feet. It’s weird but it’s cute and very, very funny.
24. Mixology Bartender Kit: For the one who’s still practicing how to pronounce ‘Margarita’ correctly, this can give them a head start on their bartending skills.
25. Noise Cancelling Headphones: The gift of silence can be priceless. Though, they may give you deadly looks if they miss their station because they didn’t hear the announcement.
26. Wine Subscription: Whether they’re a wine novice or connoisseur, a year’s worth of global wines would be welcomed! Bonus: they’ll feel obliged to share with the one who gifted it.
27. Organic Tea Collection: Hydrating, calming, and full of antioxidants. Exactly what they’ll need after your all-nighter movie marathon.
28. Custom Portrait: Commission an artist to create a custom portrait. It is unique, thoughtful, and well, kind of hilarious too.
29. The Five-Minute Journal: Great for the friend who wants to focus on positivity and mindfulness in their life. Just wait and see how long they can keep it up!
30. Customized Star Map: A beautiful image of the night sky from a specific date and location. Perhaps from the day you two first met? Sentimental, but borders on being cheesy.
31. Bonsai Tree: Cultivating a little piece of nature can be calming, though a little challenging for the non-green-thumbed.
32. Wireless Sleep Headphones: Top-notch for those friends who can’t fall asleep without listening to music. Just don’t let them wear it to a meeting!
33. Bath Bombs: Does your friend love long, luxurious baths? Then this gift might ‘explode’ their bathing experience.
34. Personalized Puzzle: A picture of their dog, a memorable trip, or a group photo. It will kill a lot of time, though it might also test their patience.
35. Food Delivery Subscription: After all, a way to a person’s heart is through the belly! However, it might make a takeaway/home-cook balance tricky.
Remember, the gift that gets the loudest laugh, the most enthusiastic hug, or even the surprised “I can’t believe you got this for me!” is the best kind of gift. After all, gifts just echo the kindness, compassion, and friendship you already hold for each other. Happy gifting!